About
How We Got Here
Our Purpose
This cross-association advocacy board will be responsible for gathering and making available resources that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within our organizations; through financial support and community action in underserved communities where we live and hold events; and education and awareness activities that foster career opportunities [Diversity and Inclusion Programs], and business opportunities [Supplier Diversity Programs] within our industry.
About
Three areas of focus:
Education & Resources
We will provide access to resources and tools for members to listen, learn, and apply best practices to include, accept, and embrace all stakeholders in a safe and welcoming environment.
Representation & Access
We strive to reflect the organizations, people, and marketplaces we serve by inviting members from every diverse background and orientation.
Communication & Awareness
We commit to keeping members informed and aware of educational events, tools, and resources for fostering dialogue and advocating for DEIB best practices within our industry and markets we serve.
We know we are stronger and better voices of the gift card industry when we are open to ideas and insights from all members.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Code of Conduct
Members of the Retail Gift Card Association (RGCA) and the Incentive Gift Card Coalition (IGCC), a strategic industry group of the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA), recognize that these Associations act as a catalyst for the education, communication, and professionalism of their Members within the gift card industry. Members of the RGCA or IGCC/IMA acknowledge that these Associations are neutral entities without favoritism toward any individual, brand, or company within their membership. By joining the RGCA or IGCC/IMA Members agree to abide by the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Declaration as well as the codes of conduct for each association they belong to.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Declaration
The Retail Gift Card Association (RGCA) and the Incentive Gift Card Coalition (IGCC), a strategic industry group of the Incentive Marketing Association(IMA,) know we are stronger and better voices of the gift card industry when we are open to ideas and insights from all members.
Our Associations strive to reflect the organizations, people, and marketplaces we serve. We invite members from diverse backgrounds – including but not limited to national origin, language, race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, gender, gender identity, age, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, veteran status, family structures and people with disabilities.
We endeavor to continue listening, learning, and applying best practices to include, accept, and embrace all stakeholders. We commit to fostering ongoing dialogue and working to provide educational support, tools, resources, and opportunities in safe and welcoming environments.
Note: the Codes of Conduct for each organization are outlined below.
A key pillar of the RGCA is to use our unified voice and standing to protect the closed-loop gift card industry for the benefit of retailers and consumers. Our members protect the industry by abiding by the following RGCA Codes of Principles, which promote best practices and enable our leaders to advocate for policies effecting retailers and consumers:
Applicants for RGCA Membership and Members of the RGCA recognize that the RGCA acts as a catalyst for the education, communication, and political/legal positioning of its Members within the gift card industry. Members of the RGCA acknowledge that the RGCA is a neutral entity without favoritism towards any individual, brand, or company within its membership. By joining the RGCA, Members agree to abide by the following:
- RGCA members will be committed to the growth and preservation of the closed loop, stored value industry.
- RGCA members will support, wherever possible and reasonably practical, consumer-centered policies and procedures that will continue to foster consumer confidence and satisfaction with closed loop stored value products.
- RGCA members agree not to charge dormancy or other administrative fees on any closed loop gift cards and to eliminate any expiration dates or conditions on such gift cards, except for any funds provided as part of a promotion.
- RGCA members commit to continuous improvement in the areas of increased security against fraud and greater protection in the event of business reorganization or bankruptcy.
- RGCA members will reasonably and respectfully engage with consumers, interest groups, and media to work on solutions to challenges that face the stored value industry and to ensure optimal customer experiences with member products and services.
- RGCA members will not discriminate in any way due to race, color, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, disability, or veteran status.
- RGCA members will not discredit or disparage products, programs, or services of competitors by providing inaccurate or confidential information or by making derogatory remarks about fellow members or their products and services.
Violations of these principles may result in the removal of individuals from RGCA benefits and/or the removal of the brand from the RGCA membership.
Code of Business Conduct for Members of the Incentive Marketing Association and Procedures for Review of Member Conduct
Preamble
IMA, the Incentive Marketing Association (Association), is a not-for-profit 501(c)(6) trade association formed to promote, develop, educate, and otherwise further the field of incentive marketing. IMA’s membership consists of organizations and individuals engaged in providing goods and services for incentive buyers and suppliers.
The business and affairs of the Incentive Marketing Association are managed under the direction of the IMA Board of Directors (Board). The Board is responsible for furthering IMA’s Mission to promote “high standards of professionalism in the incentive field.” To accomplish this objective, the Board has identified and endorsed a “Code of Business Conduct” for Members of the Incentive Marketing Association” (Code).
IMA acknowledges that each Member may have formal policies that serve as a mandatory code of conduct for their organizations. The IMA Code is not designed to supersede any Member organization’s code of ethics or business conduct guidelines.
IMA also acknowledges that in today’s business climate, organizations face conflict of interest and ethical dilemmas on a regular basis. To this point, IMA ‘s Code will serve as a barometer to help Association Members resolve these challenges.
The following IMA Code sets forth and advocates best practices in dealing with customers, business associates, and competitors.
Code of Conduct for Members of the Incentive Marketing Association
Applicants for IMA Membership and Members of IMA recognize that IMA provides a platform for education, corporate outreach, professionalism, and new business opportunities. Members of IMA, acknowledge that IMA does not deal with competition among its members and within the scope of their authority, accept this code and agree to abide by it.
- IMA members shall support the purpose and goals of IMA.
- IMA members will promote the incentive marketplace and the Association in a credible manner.
- IMA members will not discriminate due to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or marital status.
- IMA members will conduct business in a fashion which does not purposely create conflict between attention to profit and attention to ethics.
- IMA members will maintain and provide accurate representation of products and services and shall not intentionally misinform or mislead a client or business associates relative to their ability to deliver a product, program or service.
- IMA members will not discredit or disparage products, programs, or services of competitors by providing inaccurate or confidential information or by making derogatory remarks about fellow suppliers or their products.
- IMA members will uphold business commitments in a timely fashion.
The IMA Code of Conduct serves as a recommended model of business conduct for Members of the Association. The Code includes procedures for filing a complaint and review and resolution of complaints by the Business Conduct Review Committee.
Resources
What is DEIB?
- Harvard Implicit Association Test
- What Diversity & Inclusion is REALLY About – Simon Sinek
- The Business Case for Supplier Diversity & Inclusion – WEConnect International
- Inclusion Revolution – Daisy Auger Dominguez | TEDxPearlStreet
- What is Supplier Diversity? – Think Business
Why Use DEIB?
What are the positive outcomes of implementing a DEIB policy?
- TED Masterclass 2020 – Diversity and Inclusion is Good for the Bottom Line
- How Diversity Makes Teams More Innovative – Rocio Lorenzo
- How to Foster True Diversity and Inclusion at Work (and in Your Community) – Rosalind G. Brewer
- The Importance of Using Inclusive Language – Fahad Saeed
- Inclusive Diversity: The Game Changer – Toni Carter | TEDxIdahoFalls
- Neurodiversity – the key that unlocked my world – Elisabeth Wiklander | TEDxGoeteborg
Guiding Principles
What are the guiding principles that will make your DEIB plan a success?
- DEI Compliance Toolkit – Paycom
- Why Corporate Diversity Programs Fail – and How Small Tweaks Can Have Big Impact – Joan C. Williams
- How to Get Serious About Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace – Janet Stovall
- Challenging the Perception of Belonging – Kathy Vinokurov
- How to Reduce Bias in Your Workplace – Kim Scott & Triwer Bryant
- Employee Resource Groups: How to make an Impact! – Dr. Cheryl Ingram
- How Diversity Heaven Can Be Inclusion Hell – Fadzi Whande | TEDxPerth
- How to Create and Sustain Thriving Employee Resource Groups – The Culture Conference
How to Practice DEIB within Your Business
Practical examples; diversity and inclusion in the workplace
- How Embracing Discomfort Leads to Change – Luvvie Ajayi Jones
- 3 Ways to Be a Better Ally in the Workplace – Melinda Epler
- The Myth of Bringing Your Full Authentic Self to Work – Jodi-Ann Burley
- Dr. Damon A. Williams Talks Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and How to Scale Up!
- How We Can Reduce Prejudice with a Conversation – David Fleischer
- Accenture Inclusion & The Power of Diversity – Accenture
- How to Foster True Diversity and Inclusion at Work (and in Your Community) – Rosalind G. Brewer
- How Reverse Mentorship Can Help Create Better Leaders – Patrice Gordon
- How to Become and Inclusive Leader – Meagan Pollock, PHD | TEDxWolcottCollegePrep
How to Practice DEIB with Businesses You Work With
Practical examples; diversity within the supply chain and businesses you work with
- How to Foster True Diversity and Inclusion at Work (and in Your Community) – Rosalind G. Brewer
- The Business Benefits of Doing Good – Wendy Woods
- Why Diverse and Inclusive Supply Chains are Needed and Three Tips to Make it Happen – Forbes Business Council, Rod Robinson
- What is Supplier Diversity? – SupplierDiversity TV
- How to Create a Successful Supplier Diversity Initiative – 5 Steps to Get Started
- Supplier Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Challenges and Opportunities
- Where Are They Now? feat. Aaron Robertson – Supplier Diversity Manager
- Supplier Diversity is Not a Handout – Jill Davis Kone
- Tipping Point: How to Communicate the Value of Supplier Diversity – Lawrence Wooten
- How to Earn Advocacy in Supplier Diversity – Bianca Hester
- The Walt Disney Company – Supplier Diversity and Sustainability
How to Practice DEIB in Your Community
Practical examples; social and economic impact in the community
- Best Buy filmmaker collects stories on Black trauma, hopes to inspire empathy – Best Buy
- Nice White Parents podcast series – Serial Productions and The New York Times
- How to Raise a Black Son in America – Clint Smith
- Queer & Muslim: Nothing to Reconcile – Blair Imani
- Michelle Obama Shares Advice for Obama Fellows
- Barbie and Nikki Discuss Racism – Barbie Vlogs
- What’s Your Zip Code Story? Understanding Class Bias – Christopher Gloss
- Diversifying Gender Representation in Bollywood & Beyond – Shiva Raichandani
- Identity and Inclusion During Covid-19 – Dr. Oluwafereranmi Okanlami (“Dr. O”)
- What White People Can Do to Move Race Conversations Forward – Caprice Hollins
- Interview with an Educator: 4 Paths for Productive Conversations About Bias – Amber Cabral
- How to Talk (and Listen) to Transgender People – Jackson Bird
- Anti-Semitism, Intersectionality, and Wokeness – Emma Milner-Gorvine
- Where Do We Fit? – Jess Fong
- Teach Girls Bravery, Not Perfection – Reshma Saujani
- Blindspots: Challenge Assumptions
- WOW 2017 – Intersectionality for Beginners
- Privilege, Queer-ness, and Transition with Jackson Bird! – Intersectionality Chats
- LGBTQ+ Terminology: The Importance of Educating Yourself
- Kimberlé Crenshaw – On Intersectionality – keynote – WOW 2016
- Autism and Neurodiversity: Different Does Not Mean Broken – Adriana White | TEDxPaloAltoCollege
- Neurodiversity: The New Normal – Cynthia Coupé | TEDxOcala
- Caribbean Culture Explained with Food
DEIB Inspiration Stories
- The Apollo Story | Motivated + – Steve Harvey
- Transgender: A Mother’s Story – Susie Green
- My Identity is a Superpower – Not an Obstacle – America Ferrera
- How to Turn Moments into Momentum – Renee Montgomery
- Kids Talk Black History – Global Citizen
- The History of Black History Month – Good Morning America
- Mental Health Doesn’t Discriminate feat. Lil Wayne – Uncomfortable Conversations with Emmanuel Acho
- White Parents, Raising Black Children – Uncomfortable Conversations with Emmanuel Acho
- White Allergies? w/Matthew McConaughey – Uncomfortable conversations with Emmanuel Acho
- How I Stopped Hating Myself – Life Lessons
- Indigenous In Plain Sight | Gregg Deal | TEDxBoulder
- You don’t have to look black to be black’: The complex racial identity of a tiny Ohio town
- We Talk to Interracial Couples 50 Years After Loving v. Virginia (HBO)
Allyship
- Don’t Be An Activist | Fong Tran | TEDxUCDavis
- Your journey to true allyship | Talisa Lavarry | TEDxSeattleWomen
- QueerAbility – Be an ally to LGBTQ+ people with disabilities
- The 14th Amendment: Understanding its crucial legal impact
- Intersectionality: Considerations in counseling
- Things People with Disabilities Wish You Knew
Would you like to share something for our members to read, watch, hear, or experience?
Send your recommendation to info@thergca.org.
DEIB Posting Guidelines:
- All content must be approved by the committee.
- All content must be submitted by the 15th of the month to be published the following month.
- The submitter of the content will be notified in writing by the last day of the month if content will be posted.
- Links to existing information, articles, books and videos are acceptable provided the content is approved by the committee.
- Posting of original materials requires written permission from the content owner in addition to being approved by the committee.
- Any comments or concerns regarding posted materials should be submitted to info@thergca.org.
Prohibited content:
- Paid content.
- Content that promotes or suggest unlawful or illegal behavior.
- Content that infringes on the freedom and rights of individuals as outlined in our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Declaration.
- Content that does not align with the goals of the DEIB committee.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Advisory Board
Focus Brands
Growing up as someone who is mixed race and also Jewish, I’ve always had challenges with feeling included so expanding DEIB is something I’m very passionate about and I have worked on DEIB initiatives for multiple organizations.
Resource recommendation: the filmed version of American Son. Currently available on Netflix. It’s an eye opening look at how racial profiling factors into police procedure.
Savvy
As a “legal Alien”, I’ve been fairly shocked by both the blatant and institutional racism evident in the US. Through our church Mission Team, we’ve been actively working on supporting local community groups focusing on issues related to inequity. The RGCA/IGCC DEIB Board continues this involvement, to ensure our own backyard is clear of inequity and that our Industry is a positive force for good.
I recommend Be the Bridge. It’s a program based around the book Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation. It has a background in Faith, and asks questions about beliefs and racial equity, but it’s broader than that. The courses associated with the Be the Bridge look to educate by creating groups, meeting regularly, to share experiences and discuss issues, guided by the book, in a safe environment. I’ve learnt so much and made wonderful new friends.
Loop Commerce
I am participating in the DEIB Advisory Board to do my part to help foster a more inclusive culture & environment and to continue to learn from the experiences and knowledge of others in an effort to be a more sensitive, caring, and productive human being.
dataXport
Born in the US, moving to Mexico and later and returning to the US as a co-entrepreneur – with all the intricacies of starting a business – have provided a singular bi-cultural life-long experience. Living and working in a border community where diversity touches and enriches everything from family, religion, education, culture and entertainment, to business and work; all with their own challenges, have shaped in me a passion to make a difference within the diverse communities, including in the church community where I serve, at the Southwest-National Minority Development Council, and in business communities that seek to increase awareness and make a difference in DEI. This IGCC/RGCA-DEI group has given me that opportunity to make a difference, particularly on Supplier Diversity as a strategy to empower diverse communities while promoting the expansion of the supplier base and pursuing operational excellence.
Talking to Strangers by Malcom Gladwell. This is a great book that provides perspectives into the how and why we interact with others the way we do. The author describes how we seek to fit people into profiles that we have created and when others don’t behave the way we expect, we get into dangerously flawed thinking. He opens our eyes to how we can misinterpret people based on our own experiences, causing suspicion, or what he describes as mismatches. I agree that as a society we need to go back to assuming the best about one another; as Gladwell points out, this is the trait that created modern society. He also encourages us to fix the collective society failures that perpetuate our assumption-making.
Ashley Jackson
The Fletcher Group
I want: my two mixed sons to grow up in a world that accepts and celebrates them; to find ways to challenge exclusionary behaviors, mindsets, and beliefs as status quo; to BE the change.
Books that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion for kids — we can help shape tomorrow’s minds to encourage DEI from the very beginning!
AMJ Business Solutions
I joined the DEIB task force to expand my overall knowledge and infuse our learnings into the incentive industry. I enjoy learning new things, connecting with people, and understanding what makes everyone who they are. This team has amazing depth, focus and desire to incorporate DEIB into our industry, as well as our everyday lives. I’m honored to be a part of it!
I enjoy the ‘library’ of resources offered by Ted Talks, like that fresh content is being added all the time. I appreciate the visual presentations, and the connected feeling the presenters have on their topics. Check ‘ em out!
Home Chef
As I reflected on 2020 and my personal experiences with racism, I questioned what could I do? How can I make positive change? I can start in my pond… to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion within our industry.
Watch How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them by Vernā Myers. While this video was created in 2014 – sadly, it still applies in 2020. More than ever, we need a safe place to have the tough conversations needed to educate ourselves (and others) about different races, religions, cultures, and lifestyles so that we can be allies in the fight against injustice. We can make a difference – both personally and professionally – through overcoming our own biases, being allies, and teaching younger generations that their lives MATTER and they have a seat at the table. They can be their own authentic selves and reach their dreams. It starts with us setting the table by creating the space to learn, educate, and live authentically ourselves.
SVS
As a thoughtful and, hopefully, broad thinking citizen of the Planet Earth, I am shocked and disappointed that we are still dealing with race, gender, ethnicity, religious, sexual orientation, etc issues in 2021! I figure I will learn on this board and hopefully we will make an impact in the industry that we work in and care about.
Reading The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead and recently watching the TV series by Barry Jenkins was a raw reminder of what was and can never be again. The fact that the story takes place over 150 years ago, but still resonates as a contemporary issue is hugely disappointing and a ground level effort needs to ramp up in the face of white extremism rising all over the globe.
GiftCard Partners, Inc.
I joined the group because I am proud to be part of the IMA/IGCC and the RGCA organizations that emphasize diversity and inclusion as part of their core values. These organizations can play a critical leadership role that demonstrates honestly valuing differences and listening to one another. The result is that these organizations become stronger in the marketplace. Today, people are being targeted because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, and political and religious views, something I never thought I would see again in this country. Unfortunately, discrimination still exists and is on the rise! The DEIB group represents a safe space where we can discuss diversity in the workplace and set mission and membership statements for the industry.
Our company respects and values differences of opinions on what diversity is. To me, it all comes down to respecting another human being and valuing differences. When you value differences with respect, you listen to more to ideas, and I believe that makes our company stronger.
cxLoyalty
The gift card industry is a wonderful industry with great career options. I would like to introduce this industry to upcoming college students and young professionals especially withing the minority community.
Become friends with someone from another background and learn to understand their experiences and life challenges.
AMC Theatres
As a mother of young children, I feel the weight of raising them to be their true self in a safe, supportive world. That desire extends to every individual- I want our society to be a safe, accepting place for everyone to live in harmony, free to express their true self in a way that is celebrated and supported.
Transgender: a mother’s story by Susie Green. Until recently, I had not taken the time to understand the transgender experience. I am thankful this mother shared her story as it provided insight in a way that directly impacted my heart and gave me insight to how I can support those walking this journey.
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