Target is more than just a Target Food Store; it’s a community hub deeply invested in the well-being of the neighborhoods it serves. Through a comprehensive suite of corporate philanthropy programs, Target actively works to strengthen communities, ensuring they are vibrant places for everyone to live and thrive. This commitment goes beyond providing quality goods at a target food store; it’s about building lasting relationships and making a tangible impact where it matters most.
Empowering Communities Through Target Circle
The Target Circle program embodies the spirit of community engagement. It’s not just a loyalty program offering deals at your favorite target food store; it’s a platform for customers to directly influence local giving. Target Circle members can vote to direct Target’s charitable contributions, allowing them to support the causes they care about most within their own communities. This innovative approach democratizes philanthropy, making community impact a shared endeavor between Target and its guests.
Learn more and nominate an organization
Rapid Response in Times of Need
When disaster strikes or a crisis emerges, Target’s commitment to communities shines brightly. Understanding that a target food store is often a vital resource in local areas, Target ensures its infrastructure and resources are mobilized to provide immediate support. This includes ensuring team members and nonprofit partners have the necessary resources to aid affected communities. Target’s efficient global supply chain enables swift movement of essential goods to stores and communities in crisis. Furthermore, year-round donations and funding are provided to relief organizations, demonstrating a continuous commitment to preparedness and support.
Since 2001, Target has maintained a strong partnership with Feeding America, actively fighting to combat hunger across the U.S. Beyond the shelves of a target food store, this partnership translates to millions of pounds of food donated annually, providing crucial meals to families facing food insecurity. In a significant pledge in 2024, Target committed $10 million over five years to Second Harvest Heartland’s “Make Hunger History” initiative. This ambitious program aims to halve hunger in Minnesota by 2030, highlighting Target’s dedication to its home state and addressing critical community needs that extend far beyond the aisles of a target food store.
Spreading Joy During the Holidays
The holiday season is a time for giving, and Target extends this spirit through its “Great Giftogether” program. In 2023, over 2,000 Target stores and 19 supply chain facilities participated, transforming the concept of a target food store into a center for holiday cheer. In collaboration with local nonprofits, Target team members personally shopped for, wrapped, and delivered gifts to over 4,000 families in need. This initiative brings holiday joy directly to communities, reinforcing Target’s role as a caring neighbor, especially during times of celebration.
Localized Support for Neighborhoods
Target’s commitment to communities is deeply rooted in local engagement. Through Community Engagement Funds (CEF), store and distribution center leaders have the autonomy to support local programs and organizations that bring joy and address critical needs within their specific neighborhoods. These CEF grants, offered by invitation, ensure that support is directed where it can have the most meaningful local impact, often reaching beyond the typical offerings of a target food store to address broader community issues.
Furthermore, Local Store Giving empowers individual target food store locations to directly support their surrounding communities. Non-profit 501(c)3 organizations, accredited schools, and government agencies can request Target GiftCard donations directly from their local store. This accessible program allows local organizations to receive timely support for their initiatives. Donations, typically ranging from $25-$50 with a maximum of $500 annually per agency, are available from February through December, contingent on funding. This localized approach emphasizes the connection between each target food store and its unique community.
Note: To request a GiftCard donation, organizations can fill out this form and bring it to their local Target store along with verification of their non-profit or public agency status.
Investing in the Twin Cities Hometown
Target’s dedication to its hometown communities of Minneapolis and St. Paul is unwavering. Beyond the presence of numerous target food store locations, this commitment is demonstrated through a strong legacy of volunteer engagement, corporate giving, and local store giving. Millions in cash grants and in-kind product donations are invested annually in the Twin Cities, supporting local nonprofit organizations. This deep-rooted support underscores Target’s ongoing responsibility to its home communities, addressing present and future needs through strategic investments, even beyond the provision of goods at a target food store. (Investments through this program are made by invitation only.)
Global Philanthropic Reach
Target’s commitment extends beyond national borders to the global communities where team members live and work. Recognizing its worldwide presence, Target provides grants to organizations working to strengthen these international communities. This global philanthropy reflects Target’s understanding that being a responsible corporate citizen extends to all communities connected to the Target brand, whether they are near a target food store or across the globe. (Investments through these programs are made by invitation only.)
Target’s Corporate Giving Philosophy
Fostering Belonging at the Bullseye
At Target, creating a sense of belonging is central to the business ethos. This principle extends to team members, guests, and communities alike, driven by a commitment to inclusion. Target believes that a diverse team, reflective of its millions of guests, is essential to meeting diverse needs. By creating welcoming and joyful experiences for all shoppers at every target food store and beyond, Target ensures everyone feels valued. Building strong relationships within local neighborhoods is paramount, as community well-being and business success are intrinsically linked.
Empowering Communities for Sustainable Growth
Target’s 120-year history is rich with partnership, volunteerism, philanthropy, and local engagement, all contributing to community thriving. Since its inception, Target has operated on the principle of “making ourselves useful in the world,” recognizing that caring for team members, guests, and communities is fundamental for sustained growth. This philosophy drives Target’s commitment to building deep and lasting relationships with the communities it serves, ensuring that the positive impact extends far beyond the transactions within a target food store.
