Safe Families & Communities
Targeting the Community
At Target, our giving goes far beyond the simple act of writing a check. We look to strengthen families and communities wherever we do business by building programs and taking partners to create measurable social impact. As a result, we help our nonprofit partners achieve a more profound and lasting impact in our local communities across the country.History of Giving
Since 1946, we have given 5 percent of our income to programs that support education, the arts, social services and volunteerism. Today that equals more than $3 million each and every week. Community giving and support has been a part of the Target legacy well before the company officially opened its doors.
- 1909: Founder of the Dayton Hudson Corporation (original owner of Target) came up with the idea of establishing a charitable foundation, setting aside 5 percent of profits for the “moral uplift of humanity”
- 1946: The 5 percent donation became an official policy, making Dayton Hudson the second company in the U.S. to do so
- 1962: The tradition of giving continued with the opening of the first Target store in Roseville, Minnesota
- 1976: Target became the founding member of the corporate “Five Percent Club,” which commits to giving 5 percent of income to support local communities
- 1997: Target launches two of its most ambitious and innovative community efforts – Take Charge of Education® and Target House
- 2007: Target reaches a major milestone, giving more than $3 million a week to programs that support education, the arts, social services and volunteerism
- 2009: Target House, a free long-term housing facility for families of patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, celebrates its ten-year anniversary.
Throughout the country, Target provides support for education, the arts, social services and volunteerism. We play an active role in supporting education, especially resources for teachers, and classrooms and early childhood reading. We also sponsor programs, exhibits and performances that make artistic and cultural experiences more accessible and affordable to families nationwide. And at Target, we know that strong communities begin with strong families and safe homes, so we’re committed to funding programs that support the basic needs of families and provide disaster relief.
We know that this is a time to collaborate, to leverage our strengths and serve our communities. And our reputation is built on our legacy of service: service to our guests, service to our team, and service to our community. We look to potential partners to develop programs on both a local and national level, that open people’s eyes and hearts to a more vibrant, forward-thinking community. In turn, we broaden our partners’ reach by engaging our team members as volunteers and lending the vast talents and expertise of our organization. To date, Target team members and retirees have volunteered millions of hours to community projects.
Contact: Kristen Jones, IMRE, (410) 821-8220
May 2009
Communications, Target, (612) 696-3400
May 2009
Communications, Target, (612) 696-3400