Reaching a Diverse Franchise Audience: IFA™s Minority Outreach

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Franchising World June 2008


The International Franchise Association, through the IFA Educational Foundation, is committed to fostering increased representation of minorities in the franchising industry. IFA is proud to provide this important service to the franchising community.



The Diversity Institute

The Diversity Institute was established in 2005 to promote and foster diversity and inclusion in the franchising community. The Institute is chaired by Eric McCarthey, president, The Coca-Cola Company.



Stan Friedman, CFE, president of ACI Franchising/RetroTax, is first vice chairman and Norman Jenkins, senior vice president of Marriott International, is second vice chairman.


MinorityFran

Under the umbrella of the Diversity Institute, MinorityFran, now in its second year, serves as a minority recruitment initiative. The program includes Franchise Opportunities for Women and Minorities Seminars in major cites around the country offering members participation as presenters or exhibitors. A calendar of upcoming seminars is available at www.franchise.org.


Minorities in Franchising Committee

The mission of the IFA’s Minorities in Franchising Committee is to increase the number and success of minorities in franchising, including franchisors, franchisees, suppliers and employees. The committee is chaired by Friedman and Reginald Heard, president and CEO of Bankers One Capital, who is vice chairman.


Diversity-Related Scholarships

The Minority Entrepreneurs Scholarship Program is sponsored by the foundation and Marriott International to help and recognize minority students by providing scholarship funds to college students who are enrolled in business, franchising and/or entrepreneurial studies. Five $3000 scholarship awards are presented annually



The Franchising Entrepreneurship Program Minority Scholarship Awards are sponsored by the foundation and the PepsiCo Foundation. The Minority Scholarship Awards Program encourages the study of franchising by minority students. The program seeks to recognize and support academic achievement among minority students. In addition, the program seeks to encourage educational institutions to focus on entrepreneurial and franchising studies.



The Franchise Law Diversity Scholarship Award is sponsored by the foundation and DLA Piper US LLP to recognize and support academic achievement among diverse law students. Additionally, the program seeks to encourage diverse law student to enroll in courses that are oriented toward franchising. 


Visit the IFA Web site, www.franchise.org, for more information on these programs.

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