1.  Disparities are an Important National Issue and Business Need.

• With the country growing more diverse, disparities cannot be ignored, and firms need to be seen as addressing the needs of diverse populations.
• Working on disparities is the "right thing to do" and addresses community commitments.

2.  Enhanced Effectiveness by Collaboration.

• Efficient way to share expertise with others.
• Gain multi-stakeholder support for standardized national data reporting requirements related to race/ethnicity.
• Working together provides "cover" for firms from perceived risks in collecting racial/ethnic data.

3.  Knowledge Development to Support Action.

• Opportunity to learn from one another .
• Opportunity to assess firm's efforts against others and align to emerging national practice.
• Want to understand size and drivers of disparities.
• Want to learn what works to reduce disparities.
• Want to understand how to collect data on racial/ethnic disparities.

4.  Participation Used to Gain Leverage for Making Disparities Important Internally.

• Hope to use the Collaborative to enhance high-level firm commitment to action and to prioritize reducing disparities within the firm.
• Internal staff champion was interested and pushed participation.

5.  More "Mundane" Considerations.

• AHRQ's request would be hard to decline.
• Participation could enhance commitment to obligations associated with nonprofit status.
• Enhance reputation and further national aspirations through being part of a collaborative with national firms.