Inclusivity is a core value at Target and we’re proud of our work to be an open and welcoming company. In the summer of 2020, we established the Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) committee to accelerate our diversity, equity and inclusion strategy for our Black team members and guests as our data revealed we had significant work to do for this community. This work is led by a group of senior leaders from across Target who have job responsibilities that reflect our key areas of focus and represent a diverse range of perspectives and expertise.
REACH is aligned to four key areas of focus: Helping our Black team members build meaningful careers and experience success at every level, creating an environment where our Black guests feel more welcome and see themselves represented at Target, finding new ways to support Black communities across the country and working with policymakers on key issues that impact Black Americans.
Together with everyone across Target, REACH has initiated important progress since its launch with significant commitments in all four areas.
Building an inclusive work environment for Black team members
- We also simultaneously announced various systemic changes to increase retention and advancement, activating a network of mentors and sponsors, and ensuring our benefits and partnerships drive wellness and safety for Black team members.
- Target joined the OneTen coalition to train, hire and advance 1 million Black Americans across the country.
Creating an inclusive guest environment for Black Americans
- We committed to spending more than $2 billion with Black-owned businesses by 2025 to enhance our retail operations and shopping experience, as well as help our Black-owned vendors grow and successfully scale their businesses in mass retail through our Forward Founders program. As of spring of 2022, we’ve increased our investments with Black-owned businesses and suppliers by 50% and supported more than 30 up-and-coming entrepreneurs through Forward Founders, with thousands more receiving free resources through the program.
- Target committed to investing 5% of its annual media budget with Black-owned media by the end of 2022. This investment will help our Black-owned business partners further compete in the advertising industry and extend their reach, while also creating a more vibrant media ecosystem for all. We also launched the Roundel Media Fund in May of 2022, which will award more than $25 million in media to Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) brands by 2025 to help offset the costs of marketing programs at Target. More than 50 brands have already been offered grants through the program.
Supporting Black communities
- Target and the Target Foundation together committed $10 million in June 2020 to support rapid relief and rebuilding, address inequality in Minneapolis, and affect long-term change through national social justice initiatives.
- In April 2021, we proudly launched our Target Scholars program, in partnership with the UNCF (United Negro College Fund), to support students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities with scholarships. In May 2022, we expanded the program to include extensions and additional support for the nearly 1,000 Scholars, and in November 2022, launched a new Target Scholars Sophomore Internship program.
- Building on our initial $10 million commitment, in October 2021, Target and the Target Foundation announced an investment of $100 million through 2025 to help fuel economic prosperity in Black communities across the country. We’re doing so by supporting local, Black-led organizations to ensure that resources are specifically designed for the communities they serve. This investment will provide scholarships and support to students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the country, expand our funding of Black-led nonprofits, and sponsor programs that elevate Black stories and voices. With this investment, Target is a founding supporter of the PENSOLE Lewis College of Business & Design, the nation’s first re-opened historically Black college and the first historically Black college focused on design.
Convening partners to impact civic discussions
- We are working to be a catalyst for action in civic engagement, focused on building greater trust, transparency and accountability and acting as a convener of partners to create change, inclusive of our voting rights principles so that everyone’s voice is heard.
