National Diversity Council Launches NDC Index, Announces Participating Companies

HOUSTON, August 21, 2020, /3BL Media/ – The NDC Index, an initiative of the National Diversity Council, is an annual measurement of organizational commitment to diversity and inclusion among companies in the U.S. The National Diversity Council is pleased to announce the 17 companies that participated in the inaugural 2020 NDC Index and 2019 NDC Index pilot: 

• American Water

• Broward Health

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

• Children’s Health

• Clark Dietrich

• Comerica Bank

• CSX Transportation

• DTE Energy

• Henry Ford Health System

• Honda of North America

• Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

• JC Penney

• NFP

• UCB

• University of Phoenix

• White Castle

The NDC Index rates companies according to diversity best practices in five assessment areas: CEO engagement; benefits, policies, and initiatives; supplier diversity; community engagement; and corporate social responsibility. In 2021, the index will begin publication of the company scores and recognize companies with a score of 90 or above as the Best Companies for Diversity in the U.S. 

Dennis Kennedy, founder and chairman of the National Diversity Council, praised these companies for their efforts to benchmark their diversity and inclusion strategy at a time when most companies’ priorities have shifted to accommodate COVID-19 contingency plans. 

“I commend the companies that participated in the 2020 NDC Index in the midst of this global pandemic,” Kennedy said. “These are challenging times for all of us and diversity should be at the forefront of business strategies to remain competitive and sustainable amidst growing economic and political uncertainty.”

Angeles Valenciano, who serves as chief executive officer at the National Diversity Council, said that undertaking the process to respond to a survey during this time “speaks volumes of leadership commitment to diversity.” Companies that recognize the importance of benchmarking are able to move the needle in their diversity and inclusion efforts, she added.

Companies that participate in the NDC Index receive a free scorecard and comprehensive analytical report to help them identify strengths and opportunities in their diversity and inclusion strategy.  Additional benchmarking services are available for a fee. To register for the 2021 NDC Index, please visit www.ndcindex.org.

About the National Diversity Council

The National Diversity Council is a non-profit organization committed to fostering a learning environment for organizations to grow in their knowledge of diversity. The council affords opportunities for organizations to share best practices and learn from top corporate leaders in the areas of diversity and inclusion. More information about the National Diversity Council is available at: www.nationaldiversitycouncil.org. 

About the NDC Index

The NDC Index is a yearly measurement of a company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The NDC Index scores all companies on a scale from 0 to 100 according to diversity best practices and provides a score for each area assessed. To participate, companies must have a minimum of 500 employees or be a Fortune 1000 company with subsidiaries in the United States. There is no fee to participate in the NDC Index or to receive the complementary scorecard and report. The NDC adheres to strict confidentiality guidelines in the survey submission process. For more information, please visit: www.ndcindex.org.