Details on the DiversityInc Top 50, including in-depth profiles of the winning companies, interviews with their CEOs and their best practices, will be found in the June issue of DiversityInc magazine.

Q. What are the criteria to apply for the DiversityInc Top 50?
A. A company must have at least 1,000 U.S. employees to participate. The head of diversity at the company will fill out our in-depth survey (about 200 questions). If you meet the criteria and want to apply for next year, send contact information for the head of diversity (mailing address, telephone number and e-mail address) to benchmarking@DiversityInc.com.

Q. When is the deadline?
A. The DiversityInc Top 50 survey invitations will go out in October 2009 and will be due in February 2010. Results will be announced in March 2010 at our annual event.

Q. Can you pay to get on the list? Do advertisers receive any special breaks?
A. Absolutely not. The list is completely unbiased and many of the companies on the DiversityInc Top 50 have no business relationship with DiversityInc. Companies that advertise with DiversityInc or have other business relationships receive NO preferential treatment.

Q. How many companies participated?
A. The competition, now in its ninth year, is increasingly competitive. This year, 401 companies participated, up 14 percent from last year and 240 percent since 2003.

Q. What criteria are used for ranking?
A. The DiversityInc Top 50 list is derived exclusively from corporate survey submissions. The survey is divided into four parts: CEO Commitment, Human Capital, Corporate and Organizational Communications, and Supplier Diversity. To make the DiversityInc Top 50, a company must score above average in all four areas. Companies are evaluated within the context of their own industries.

Q. What sets The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity® apart from other companies?
A. The companies that advanced on the list are progressing much more rapidly than their competitors. Especially in an economic downturn, they recognize that diversity is the key to competitive success.