Target donations shifted away from education

[spk926]

Target is shifting their charitable donations away from education. I didn't know that until it was addressed at my district's school board meeting last night. Our high school alone (so not the middle or elementary sites) will have a loss of around $10,000!

I haven't looked into it yet but I wonder where Target is going to donate to instead.

[halfpint]

Probably The Gays.
Gender neutral, man. Gender neutral.

[cjeanette]

What?! Where is it going? Our elementary school gets a few grand from that each year.

[thebreakfastclub]

What a loss for all the high income schools that attract donations from frequent credit card shoppers.

[spk926]

Sept 24, 2015 17:58:37 GMT -5 cjeanette said:

What?! Where is it going? Our elementary school gets a few grand from that each year.

I just looked it up. Looks like it will be going to Health and Wellness now. When funding is already so hard for many schools losing this money won't make things any easier.  

www.forbes.com/sites/retailwire/2015/09/20/target-disappoints-by-shifting-charitable-giving-away-from-education/

[spk926]

Sept 24, 2015 18:02:23 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

What a loss for all the high income schools that attract donations from frequent credit card shoppers.

I can't tell your tone here but my mom works in an inner city Minneapolis public school where 99% receive free & reduced lunches and they get large donations from Target yearly. This is not a high income area by any means but they still benefit greatly from Target and their donations. 

[thebreakfastclub]

Sept 24, 2015 18:07:27 GMT -5 spk926 said:

Sept 24, 2015 18:02:23 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

What a loss for all the high income schools that attract donations from frequent credit card shoppers.

I can't tell your tone here but my mom works in an inner city Minneapolis public school where 99% receive free & reduced lunches and they get large donations from Target yearly. This is not a high income area by any means but they still benefit greatly from Target and their donations. 

Minneapolis isn't exactly like the rest of the country when it comes to Target though.

The schools I see posted at my local store don't have the greatest need. They have more parents who charge a lot with their red card.

[spk926]

May 10, 2012 13:39:47 GMT -5 AJL said:

I'm MrsAJL. Same as on The Nest. Hi!

No I agree with Target's presence in Mpls compared to other major cities. But I still know Target gives a lot to all schools, no matter the location. Yeah schools in high income areas get more from their parent's spending more $ on the cards but that doesn't mean they're the only schools that Target gives to. Also, think of the Target location you frequent. Is it in a low income area or close by those high income schools? They post the school names and totals that are directly surrounding that Target.

Either way it's a large blow to schools that already struggle with money.

[thebreakfastclub]

Sept 24, 2015 18:44:12 GMT -5 spk926 said:

May 10, 2012 13:39:47 GMT -5 AJL said:

I'm MrsAJL. Same as on The Nest. Hi!

No I agree with Target's presence in Mpls compared to other major cities. But I still know Target gives a lot to all schools, no matter the location. Yeah schools in high income areas get more from their parent's spending more $ on the cards but that doesn't mean they're the only schools that Target gives to. Also, think of the Target location you frequent. Is it in a low income area or close by those high income schools? They post the school names and totals that are directly surrounding that Target.

Either way it's a large blow to schools that already struggle with money.

I worked at Target for 5 years. At the low income store I was at for awhile, a higher percentage of customers can't even qualify for a store credit card, so there was less participation in the program.

I'm not saying it was bad, I think there was a better way to split the money up.

[lilac05]

I'm interested in seeing how this shakes out.

It's really sad that we have to rely on a retailer to directly support education and that when its program ends, we will have big holes in budgets. They had a goal to give $1 BILLION dollars to education. They met that goal & are moving on to another goal. I can't really be mad at them for that. The article said only 10% of cardholders took advantage of the program. I'm guessing Target will continue to support schools, just in a different way. Maybe not directly tied to a voluntary program that requires a customer to select a school. If they support providing healthy meals and/or activity programs in communities, that is still helping education, just in a different way.

I'm not excited that they're canceling the program, obviously. But I'm disappointed to see all of the Target hate out there after they have given so much. It seems they would have almost been better off to have never started the program. Nobody is mad at Kohl's or Costco for "not supporting education."

[AJL]

Sept 24, 2015 18:44:12 GMT -5 spk926 said:

May 10, 2012 13:39:47 GMT -5 AJL said:

I'm MrsAJL. Same as on The Nest. Hi!

No I agree with Target's presence in Mpls compared to other major cities. But I still know Target gives a lot to all schools, no matter the location. Yeah schools in high income areas get more from their parent's spending more $ on the cards but that doesn't mean they're the only schools that Target gives to. Also, think of the Target location you frequent. Is it in a low income area or close by those high income schools? They post the school names and totals that are directly surrounding that Target.

Either way it's a large blow to schools that already struggle with money.

I'm not sure why I got quoted here.