Just got this today in my email: Subject: The Salvation Army Dear Joseph, Like many nationwide retailers, Target Corporation has a long-standing "no solicitation" policy that it consistently applies to all organizations across all of its stores. We receive an increasing number of solicitation inquiries from non-profit organizations and other groups each year and determined that if we continue to allow the Salvation Army to solicit then it opens the door to any other groups that wish to solicit our guests. While some of our guests may welcome the opportunity to support their favorite charity or cause, allowing these organizations to solicit means that Target would also have to permit solicitation by organizations whose cause or behavior may be unacceptable to our guests. We notified the Salvation Army of our decision in January 2004, well in advance of the holiday season, so the organization would have time to find alternative fundraising sources. Target also asked the Salvation Army to look at other ways that we could support their organization under our corporate giving guidelines. To this date they have not provided a proposal that fits those guidelines. Local Salvation Army chapters can apply for grants through their local Target stores. For decades, many non-profit organizations across the country have successfully worked with Target in this manner. We are asking the Salvation Army to work with us in the same exact manner as the other groups and organizations who ask to solicit our guests. This decision in no way diminishes Target Corporation's commitment to its communities. Target has one of the largest corporate philanthropy programs in America, donating more than $2 million per week and hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours each year to the communities in which it does business. Sincerely, Jennifer Hanson Target Executive Offices
Makes sense. You wouldn't want a certain race related group sitting in front of your local target trying to get money.
What ever happened to our right of choice? The right to choose who we want advertising on our property, etc.! The court-legal system in this country has gotten rediculously riddled with idiots. I dread the day that something major should happen in my life that I depend on a judge for my future................. I know I'll be screwed. This politically correct stuff needs to go somewhere else! Mike
Good point Mike. I can see how Target wouldn't want to set precident to allow everyone. However, its not a government-run company, so they can choose which groups they want. I suspect the reason's aren't quite about allowing everyone. It seems more likely that it reduces the headaches involved with all the requests they might get; how to handle request, who to choose, how to choose, avoiding bad PR of not choosing a group for reasons not related to agreement with the group (logistical, for example), etc. If its just for the Holidays it shouldn't present them with too many problems, and the "traditional" holiday charities that collect this way are relatively few - so I don't see how it could be a big problem for them to make a choice.
