Target Rewrites Donations Policy

After suffering through a long year of negative press and calls for boycotts over their sizable donation to an anti-gay group, Target has published new guidelines to corporate giving. The new policies appear to install tighter executive review of proposed donations. The Washington Blade's Chris Johnson reports:

Jessica Carlson, spokesperson for Target, said the change was enacted within the last month after the company’s corporate responsibility committee and board of directors conducted a review of policies regarding public policy engagement. Among the new changes, which have been posted on Target’s web site, are establishing a policy committee made up of senior executives to guide decision-making for financial support of political activities. “The policy committee and our CEO are responsible for balancing our business interests with any other considerations that may be important to our team members, our guests or other stakeholders,” Carlson said. Carlson added the new policy committee will determine whether Target will make political contributions directly to candidates, political parties or to other groups such as 527 or 501(c)(4) committees.

According to Johnson's above-linked report, unnamed sources have confirmed that Target consulted LGBT rights groups prior to issuing the new guidelines. The company has a generally positive record regarding its treatment of LGBT employees and has supported gay pride events.