50 signatures reached
To: Target CEO and Board of Directors
Petition to Reinstate Target’s DEI Programs
Dear Mr. Cornell and Members of the Board,
The undersigned are writing as loyal customers, employees, business partners, and community members to urge Target to fully reinstate its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. These initiatives are both a moral imperative and a strategic necessity for Target’s continued success in today’s diverse and competitive marketplace.
For years, Target has been a beacon of inclusivity in corporate America. Your DEI programs—such as increasing Black workforce representation by 20%, supporting minority-owned suppliers, and donating to social justice causes—have positively impacted countless lives while enhancing Target’s brand reputation. Scaling back these efforts risks alienating employees and customers who value inclusivity and social responsibility.
The Power of Stories: Why DEI Matters
Target’s DEI initiatives have transformed lives. Employees have found opportunities to grow their careers in inclusive environments, customers have felt seen and valued through inclusive marketing campaigns, and minority-owned businesses have thrived thanks to your supplier diversity programs.
We invite the public—employees, customers, business partners, and community members—to share their stories about how Target’s DEI programs have impacted them. Whether it’s about career growth, feeling represented as a customer, or seeing your community uplifted by Target’s efforts, your story can make a difference. See more about this below.
The Business Case for DEI
The evidence supporting DEI is clear:
- Diverse Teams Drive Innovation: Research shows that organizations with diverse teams are 70% more likely to capture new markets and experience higher profitability.
- Consumer Preference: Studies indicate that 76% of consumers prefer brands committed to social equity. By retreating from DEI goals, Target risks losing its competitive edge and eroding stakeholder trust.
- Employee Engagement: Inclusive workplaces foster higher employee satisfaction, retention rates, and productivity.
- Reputation Management: Companies that scale back on DEI often face backlash from employees, customers, and investors. Conversely, companies like Costco have reaffirmed their commitments to inclusion despite similar external pressures—and continue to thrive as industry leaders.
The Risks of Scaling Back
Reducing DEI efforts could harm Target’s reputation as a socially conscious leader. In an increasingly diverse world:
- Employees may feel undervalued or excluded, leading to lower morale and higher turnover.
- Customers who value inclusivity may choose competitors who align with their values.
- Communities that benefited from Target’s investments may lose trust in the company.
Target has always been a leader in corporate responsibility. Now is the time to stand firm in your values, not retreat.
We call on Target to:
- Fully reinstate Target’s DEI programs with transparency about progress toward these goals.
- Publicly reaffirm your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as the company's core values.
- Continue investing in initiatives that support underrepresented communities, minority-owned businesses, and inclusive hiring practices.
By taking these steps, you will uphold your legacy as a socially conscious leader and ensure sustained success in an increasingly diverse world.
Why is this important?
This petition matters because diversity and inclusion aren’t just nice ideas—they’re about real people’s lives and opportunities. When big companies like Target back away from supporting underrepresented communities, they close doors for talented employees, small business owners, and customers who deserve a fair chance. By standing together, we can remind Target that their commitment to diversity isn’t just good business—it’s about doing what’s right.
Target Employees, Customers, Business Partners -- We Need Your Stories
We’re collecting real stories to show Target’s leadership and the human impact of their DEI programs. These personal narratives will demonstrate how diversity and inclusion initiatives create tangible, meaningful change in people’s lives—from career opportunities to community support.
We aim to compile these stories into a comprehensive report accompanying the petition when delivered to Target’s CEO and board of directors. We'll provide compelling evidence of why DEI matters beyond abstract statistics by sharing authentic experiences from employees, customers, and business partners. Each story is a powerful testament to the real-world consequences of corporate inclusion efforts.
Stories will be carefully curated to protect individual privacy while highlighting the broader impact. We’ll select narratives illustrating how Target’s DEI initiatives have created opportunities, fostered belonging, and driven positive change across different communities and professional environments.
Target Employees, Customers, Business Partners -- We Need Your Stories
We’re collecting real stories to show Target’s leadership and the human impact of their DEI programs. These personal narratives will demonstrate how diversity and inclusion initiatives create tangible, meaningful change in people’s lives—from career opportunities to community support.
We aim to compile these stories into a comprehensive report accompanying the petition when delivered to Target’s CEO and board of directors. We'll provide compelling evidence of why DEI matters beyond abstract statistics by sharing authentic experiences from employees, customers, and business partners. Each story is a powerful testament to the real-world consequences of corporate inclusion efforts.
Stories will be carefully curated to protect individual privacy while highlighting the broader impact. We’ll select narratives illustrating how Target’s DEI initiatives have created opportunities, fostered belonging, and driven positive change across different communities and professional environments.
How it will be delivered
We’ll deliver the petition and stories directly to Target’s headquarters in Minneapolis, creating a powerful document that shows the human impact of diversity programs. Professionally bound and organized, these real experiences will demonstrate how inclusion changes lives and why walking away from these commitments matters to people across the country.