Diversified dollars: 7 corporate programs

Consumer goods manufacturer Georgia-Pacific's supplier-diversity program is a relatively new effort, one without fixed quota goals. Right now, 59% of the money it spends with diverse suppliers goes to firms led by Caucasian women, 35% funnels to minority-owned businesses, and 6% goes to minority-led businesses owned by women.

"We literally went around and asked for advice from companies who were doing well with [supplier diversity]," says Lissa Owens, manager of workforce and diversity strategies. She cites IBM, Bank of America and Procter & Gamble as some of the companies that offered advice and inspiration.

Wait - Proctor & Gamble? The archrival?

Yep. "It's a smaller community than you'd think," Owens says. "We're all working towards the same goal, so there's a willingness to consult despite the competition factor."

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