In the wake of controversy surrounding contributions to a politically conservative action committee during the 2010 elections, Target Corp. has announced new policies concerning future political giving activity.
Jessica Carlson, a spokesperson for the popular retail corporation, explains that the company’s revised giving protocol was enacted after a meeting between the corporate responsibility committee and board of directors to discuss public policy engagement. Target’s new political giving procedures, available for review on the company’s web site, include the formation of a policy committee to guide decision-making and ensure balance between the company’s business interests and the priorities of employees, customers and shareholders.
LGBT interest groups may stand to see benefits from Target Corp.’s politically balanced giving plan. While Carlson noted that the company has “a long history” of supporting the LGBT community, she also admitted that the company hopes to “evolve” its political giving outlook.
This hoped-for evolution is in part a result of Target Corp.’s 2010 contribution of $150,000 to MN Forward, a group in favor of then Minnesota gubernatorial candidate and same-sex marriage opponent Tom Emmer. Members of the LGBT community expressed frustration with the decision to support Emmer’s stance on gay marriage, and Carlson now describes the incident as lending “perspective” to the company’s subsequent policy revisions.
Past collaborations between Target Corp. and the LGBT community include donations to Project 515, a Minnesota LGBT group, and employee volunteer work in support of last year’s LGBT rights conference “Creating Change.” Additional contributions on the immediate horizon include support for 2011 Pride events in both San Francisco and Chicago.
