Their goal was to create an organization that could support LGBT business owners and showcase the diversity of talent in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.

NGLCC provides direct links between businesses, corporate partners, government organizations and other community groups that support LGBT economic opportunity.

In early 2004, NGLCC created a "diversity certification program", making the organization a national third-party certifying body for LGBT-owned businesses.

[3] The NGLCC has a network of more than 50 local, state, and international affiliate LGBT chambers of commerce,[4] and serves to represent their economic interests and opportunities.

Currently, California, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania also include certified LGBT-owned businesses, along with major cities like Seattle, Newark, Columbus, and Philadelphia.

In 2011 the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) began including active sourcing of LGBT certified businesses as part of the Corporate Equality Index, a national directory of gay-friendly workplaces.

Previous NGLCC National Dinner Honorees have included: former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, NAACP Board Chair Emeritus Julian Bond, tennis legend and LGBT champion Martina Navratilova, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, actress Judith Light, MSNBC news anchor Thomas Roberts, and NBA player Jason Collins.

Educational programs include keynote speakers, the annual B2B Boot Camp for certified LGBT Business Enterprises, a chamber development track, marketplace expo, and one-on-one matchmaker meetings.

It has previously been held in cities including Washington, DC, Minneapolis, Seattle, Las Vegas (several times), Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Denver, and Palm Springs.

The Supplier Innovation Center is designed to facilitate training opportunities and develop best practice for small businesses, and provide a space for local start-ups to operate.

[29] That year the groundwork was laid for similar inclusion legislation to be implemented in Chicago, the District of Columbia, Nashville, Denver, and other major cities.

Through a variety of resources, NGLCC Global connects LGBT-owned and -allied companies, multinational corporations, and international affiliate chamber leaders and members.

The findings of the week were presented along with awards for top achievement in LGBTI business at the NGLCC National Dinner in Washington, DC, on Friday, November 18, 2016.

NGLCC Global Affiliate Chambers include: Argentina Australia Canada Central & Eastern Europe Colombia Costa Rica Dominican Republic Mexico South Africa Sweden Uruguay Ecuador