A brief summary of certification process is as follows:

• A business entity submits an application, along with the necessary supporting documentation and non-refundable processing fee.
• Assigned NGLCC staff member reviews the application to ensure the applicant's file is complete (meaning all documentation pertinent to the business and legal structure has been received) and prepares the application for review by the Certification Committee
• A virtual site visit with an NGLCC trained site visitor is conducted at a pre-determined time with the majority business owner. The site visitor will corroborate the information in your application and learn more about your business in the process.
• At a Certification Committee meeting, a final determination is made regarding the applicant's eligibility. Our National Certification Committee meets monthly and will review your application to certify your business as LGBTBE.

Certification as a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise lasts for three years from the date certification is granted.

NGLCC waives the certification fee ($899) and recertification fee ($499) for applicants who submit proof of valid, current membership with their local affiliate chamber of commerce. By joining your local affiliate chamber, you can network with local LGBTQ+ and allied business owners, have access to local programming and events, and can take advantage of local business opportunities. Become a member of your local affiliate chamber to not only leverage local membership benefits but also take advantage of complimentary national certification. An applicant does not necessarily need to be based locally in order to be a member of an affiliate chamber. Applicants who wish not to join their local affiliate chamber will be prompted to pay a non-refundable certification/ recertification fee when completing the application for certification.
View the affiliate chamber list here.

Once your complete application is received by the NGLCC, it will take 60 to 90 days to process. Please note that failure to submit a complete application will result in delays in that processing time and that a site inspection is a mandatory element of the initial certification process.

All physical documents received are securely stored under lock and key and destroyed within 24 hours. Uploaded documents are not retained after certification approval. The NGLCC staff that has access to those documents is limited to those who play an integral role in preparation for Certification Committee meetings and in informing applicants of the status of their application. Any committee members in a competitive industry do not have access to the file, nor are they present during any discussion of your application. All members of the NGLCC staff and the NGLCC Certification Committees sign the NGLCC Confidentiality Agreement.