If you're a diverse business owner watching the news, you might be confused. One day you hear that major corporations are backing away from DEI initiatives. The next, you learn that Fortune 500 companies are spending record amounts with diverse suppliers.
So which is it? The reality is more nuanced than either headline suggests—and understanding the current landscape is critical if you want to position your business for success in 2026 and beyond.
I've spent the past several months analyzing the data, talking to supplier diversity professionals, and reviewing corporate spending reports. Here's what I've learned about where we are, where we're headed, and what you can do to capitalize on the opportunities that still exist.
Let's start with the facts that matter most to your business: money is still flowing to diverse suppliers at unprecedented levels.
According to Supplier.io's 2025 State of Supplier Diversity Report, more than 500 organizations collectively spent $122.7 billion with small businesses in 2024—generating an estimated $202.7 billion in total economic output and supporting over 828,000 jobs across the United States.
The Billion Dollar Roundtable, a coalition of 28 Fortune 500 companies that each spend at least $1 billion annually with minority and women-owned suppliers, has seen total diverse supplier spending grow by more than 150% over the past decade.
Walmart alone spent over $13 billion with diverse suppliers in 2023 through its Supplier Inclusion program. Microsoft reported its highest annual spending in the 20-year history of its Supplier Diversity Program in fiscal year 2024, topping $18 billion with more than 700 diverse and small businesses globally.
The Shift in Corporate Messaging (But Not Necessarily Action)Yes, some companies are changing their language. McDonald's announced in January 2025 that it was setting aside its representation goals and renaming its DEI team to a "Global Inclusion Team." Meta Platforms abandoned specific DEI goals in hiring, training, and vendor selection.
Of the Fortune 500 publicly held companies, only 36 published a DEI report last year—down significantly from previous years. In an environment skeptical of explicit equity goals, many corporations are limiting public statements to avoid political backlash.
But here's what the data actually shows: 87% of executives continue to support supplier diversity programs, and 51% consider them strategically important to their business—not just a social initiative.
The difference? Companies are increasingly framing supplier diversity around business outcomes rather than social goals:
- Supply chain resilience: 50% of programs now prioritize this
- Economic impact: 49% focus on community and regional economic development
- Competitive advantage: 64% tie diversity to supply chain competitiveness
The smart play in 2026 isn't to retreat—it's to adapt your approach. Here's how:
1. Lead with business value, not just certification status. When you approach corporate procurement teams, emphasize what you bring to the table beyond your diverse ownership. Talk about your competitive pricing, quality standards, delivery reliability, and innovation capabilities. Your certification opens the door; your business case closes the deal.
2. Focus on supplier discovery channels. According to the latest data, supplier discovery is now the number two program priority heading into 2026. Companies are actively looking for new diverse suppliers, especially in categories where they lack options. Make sure you're visible in the places where procurement teams search: certification body directories, corporate supplier portals, and platforms like ours.
3. Pursue small and local opportunities. Procurement offices are expanding small-supplier engagement programs in 2026. If you've been focused only on landing national contracts, consider regional opportunities where your local presence and responsiveness can be a competitive advantage.
- Update your company profile on all certification body databases
- Register with supplier portals of your top 10 target corporations
- Create a one-page capability statement highlighting business value
- Identify regional corporate facilities within 100 miles of your location
- Research Tier 2 opportunities with prime contractors in your industry
Here's a reality check: while 53% of America's largest public companies have a diverse supplier policy, only 22% share how much they actually spend with diverse suppliers, according to JUST Capital's analysis of Russell 1000 companies.
This transparency gap creates both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge: it's hard to know which companies are walking the walk versus just talking the talk. The opportunity: companies that do report substantial diverse spend are signaling genuine commitment—and those are where you should focus your energy.
When evaluating potential corporate customers, look for:
- Published diverse spend goals and results
- Membership in organizations like the Billion Dollar Roundtable
- Active participation in certification body events
- Dedicated supplier diversity staff (not just a checkbox on someone's job description)
Based on current trends and conversations with supplier diversity professionals, here's what I expect in 2026:
Continued strong spending, quieter messaging. Corporate diverse spend will likely continue growing, but you'll hear less about it in press releases. Companies are focusing on execution over announcements.
More focus on small and local. The political environment is pushing companies toward "small business" framing rather than explicitly "diverse business" language. If you're a small diverse business, lean into both identities depending on your audience.
Tier 2 expansion. Large companies are increasingly pushing diversity requirements down their supply chain, requiring their prime contractors to engage diverse subcontractors. If you can't get in the front door, the side door through a Tier 2 relationship might be even more accessible.
Technology-enabled discovery. Expect more corporate investment in platforms and tools that help them discover and vet diverse suppliers efficiently. Make sure your digital presence is optimized for these systems.
Resources to Stay InformedWant to dig deeper? Here are the sources I rely on to stay current:
- Supplier.io Annual Reports: The most comprehensive data on corporate supplier diversity spending
- NMSDC and WBENC: Both organizations publish regular updates and host conferences where you can connect directly with corporate buyers
- The Billion Dollar Roundtable: Their member list is essentially a target list of companies with proven diverse spend commitments
- Corporate sustainability and ESG reports: Many companies bury supplier diversity data here even when they've stopped standalone DEI reporting
The bottom line: 2026 is not the year to give up on supplier diversity. It's the year to get smarter about how you pursue it.
