National Multicultural Index – NMI
About
The National Multicultural Index – NMI is a pioneering benchmarking system that evaluates organizations’ commitment to racial equity, cultural diversity, and social justice — both within the workplace and throughout the communities they serve.
Through a rigorous data-driven framework, NMI measures and scores organizations across key dimensions such as leadership accountability, workforce diversity, inclusive practices, supplier equity, and community engagement. The result is a clear, objective picture of how deeply an organization has integrated multicultural values into its operations and impact.
NMI empowers leaders with insight — transforming good intentions into measurable progress. By offering research-based evaluations and comparative national benchmarks, NMI helps organizations turn equity into evidence, transparency into trust, and values into verifiable outcomes.
Mission
To provide a national standard of measurement for organizational equity, assessing real-world progress in racial justice, multicultural leadership, and community accountability
Vision
To build a nation where every organization operates with equity at its core — guided by measurable commitment, transparent action, and sustainable social impact
Welcome
Dear Partners and Colleagues,
Welcome to the National Multicultural Index – NMI — the nation’s leading benchmark for evaluating and advancing organizational equity and multicultural excellence.
Across industries, we see a growing desire to move beyond statements toward systems of real accountability. The NMI was created to answer that call. Our framework measures where organizations stand today — and helps chart a data-driven path toward a more equitable tomorrow.
At NMI, we believe that what gets measured, gets improved. By quantifying performance across leadership, workplace culture, and community engagement, we empower organizations to take informed action that drives authentic change.
Your participation in the National Multicultural Index is more than an evaluation — it’s a declaration that equity, justice, and cultural respect are essential to sustainable business success. Together, we are setting the standard for what it truly means to lead with purpose.
With appreciation,
Executive Director, National Multicultural Index – NMI
How the National Multicultural Index Works
The NMI Scoring Framework evaluates organizations across five key categories:
- Leadership Commitment & Accountability
Measures executive engagement, public commitments, resource allocation, and strategic integration of equity initiatives. - Workforce Representation & Advancement
Assesses diversity across leadership, staff, and pipelines, along with equitable promotion and retention practices. - Workplace Culture & Inclusion Practices
Evaluates organizational policies, training, engagement programs, and employee experiences that foster inclusion. - Supplier Diversity & Economic Equity
Measures investment in diverse vendors, equitable procurement, and community economic empowerment. - Community Impact & Advocacy
Assesses partnerships, philanthropy, and advocacy efforts promoting social justice and systemic equity.
Each organization receives an overall NMI Score — a composite measure indicating its current level of multicultural maturity and equity performance relative to national peers
Training & Professional Development
The National Multicultural Index offers a comprehensive suite of training designed for both emerging and established practitioners. As the field continues to expand, staying current with best practices and new frameworks is essential.
Our offerings include:
- Professional Certifications in multicultural leadership and cultural competence
- Interactive Webinars led by subject-matter experts
- Workshops & Conferences highlighting the latest research, trends, and strategies
- Learning Communities connecting professionals committed to advancing multicultural excellence
Whether you are entering the field or seeking to deepen your expertise, our structured learning pathways support your continued growth. We invite you to participate and expand your impact.
Why NMI Matters
Participating organizations gain:
- Actionable Insights: Data that clarifies where progress is being made — and where gaps remain.
- National Benchmarking: A comparative score reflecting performance against sector and industry peers.
- Comprehensive Reports:Detailed analysis with recommendations to guide continuous improvement.
- Recognition & Visibility: Eligibility for NMI’s annual Equity Excellence Recognition, celebrating top-performing organizations in equity leadership.
Schedule
Certification Training: First Tuesday of Every Month
(July 2025 – June 2026)
2025 Schedule
July 2025
- July 1, 2025 – National Multicultural Index Certification Training
- July 17, 2025 – Cultural Intelligence 101: Understanding CQ in Today’s Workplace (Webinar)
August 2025
- August 5, 2025 – Certification Training
- August 21, 2025 – Building Inclusive Teams Through Cultural Competence (Workshop)
September 2025
- September 2, 2025 – Certification Training
- September 18, 2025 – Microaggressions in Professional Spaces: Awareness, Impact & Response (Webinar)
October 2025
- October 7, 2025 – Certification Training
- October 23, 2025 – Applied Cultural Competency: Real Scenarios, Real Solutions (Workshop)
November 2025
- November 4, 2025 – Certification Training
- November 20, 2025 – Intercultural Communication Skills for Leaders (Webinar)
December 2025
- December 2, 2025 – Certification Training
- December 18, 2025 – Equity-Minded Decision Making for Managers (Workshop)
2026 Schedule
January 2026
- January 6, 2026 – Certification Training
- January 20, 2026 – Annual Launch & Orientation Webinar – Kick off the 2026 Index cycle with an introduction to NMI’s methodology, submission requirements, and updates to this year’s scoring framework
- January 22, 2026 – The Multicultural Workforce: Trends, Data & Future Insights (Webinar)
February 2026
- February 3, 2026 – Certification Training
- February 19, 2026 – The Multicultural Leadership Lab (Workshop)
March 2026
- March 1 – May 15, 2026 – Data Collection & Assessment Period – Participating organizations complete the official NMI Assessment Portal, submitting workforce data, community engagement metrics, and supporting documentation.
- March 3, 2026 – Certification Training
- March 20, 2026 – Cultural Intelligence 101: Deep Dive & Application (Workshop) (A follow-up to the July webinar)
April 2026
- April 7, 2026 – Certification Training
- April 23, 2026 – Microaggressions 2.0: Policy, Prevention & Organizational Change (Workshop)
May 2026
- May 5, 2026 – Certification Training
- May 22, 2026 – Intercultural Communication for High-Performance Teams (Webinar)
June 2026
- June 2, 2026 – Certification Training
- June 10–12, 2026 – NMI Analyst Roundtable (Virtual) – An exclusive online session where analysts, equity officers, and HR leaders discuss emerging
equity trends and data interpretations across industries. - June 19, 2026 – Inclusive Systems Design: Creating Culturally-Aligned Policies (Workshop)
August 2026
- August 1, 2026 – Preliminary Results & Benchmarking Reports Released – Organizations receive their confidential NMI benchmarking report, including national percentile rankings and improvement recommendations.
September
- September 17–19, 2026 – National Multicultural Index Forum (Virtual) – Join industry experts, policymakers, and DEI leaders for discussions on equity metrics,
accountability models, and data transparency in organizational leadership.
November
- November 6, 2026 – Public Release of NMI National Rankings & Insights Report – Publication of the annual National Multicultural Index Report, showcasing sector
performance, national trends, and top-ranking organizations
December
- December 12, 2026 – NMI Excellence in Equity Awards Ceremony (Virtual) – A national celebration honoring organizations that demonstrate outstanding leadership and measurable progress in advancing multicultural and social justice goals
Register
Please click here to register.
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