Target's Mission Statement

Target, the eighth-largest retailer in the U.S. ranked by annual revenue, has the following mission statement, or purpose, posted on the corporate fact sheet page of its website:

We make Target our guests' preferred shopping destination by delivering outstanding value, continuous innovation, and an exceptional guest experience—consistently fulfilling our Expect More. Pay Less.® brand promise.

Statements of Values

The website has a separate "purpose & values" page, most of which is taken up by a compilation of seven statements of values under the heading "what we believe in." (The website style is to use mostly lowercase letters in headlines.)

great shopping, anytime, anywhere: Whether you're shopping in our stores, online or on a mobile device, we work hard to ensure your experience is always enjoyable and exciting. How do we do it? Friendly service from team members ready to assist with your list; fully stocked products and a speedy checkout process; innovative digital experiences that take your trip to the next level—and that’s just the start. Shop with us and see for yourself.

celebrating diversity & inclusion: As champions of diversity and inclusivity, we're making our business stronger, building our talented team, and working toward a more equal society.

inclusive of all team members

We believe in building a team of people with different backgrounds, distinct experiences, and unique points of view—reflecting the communities where we live and work. Read more about our company culture.

supplier diversity

By developing relationships with minority- and women-owned vendors and suppliers, we invest in the success of businesses across the country. Learn more about our efforts to become industry leaders in supplier diversity.

community engagement

We couldn’t do it alone. We’ve teamed up with key organizations to strengthen the diverse needs of the communities we serve. Whether it’s assisting with innovative programs, sponsorships, or volunteer opportunities, we’re building stronger communities together with our partners.

design for all: It's our belief that great design is fun, energetic, surprising, and smart—and it should be accessible and affordable for everyone. When we talk about our dedication to good design, we don’t just mean how something looks, but also how it satisfies a need, how it simplifies your life, and how it makes you feel. Find out what drives our focus on design and innovation.

community support & engagement: We believe in being an active citizen and good neighbor in our communities. We give our time, talent, and business strengths to make our communities strong, healthy, and safe. We invest in career development and well-being of our team. And from the start, we’ve given 5 percent of our profit, a commitment that does not waver based on the economic climate.

more for your money: We think a lot about your budget and how to give you the best value every time you shop with us. In addition to our already low prices, we offer other ways to save you money, including price matching in our stores and an additional 5% savings when you shop using your REDcard®.

a fun and rewarding place to work: Our team is our greatest asset, so we invest in the growth and development of our team members and leaders and have fun in all we do. We’re committed to building a team that does the right thing for our communities, our shareholders and, above all, our guests.

ethics at Target: As a purpose-driven company, we know how important it is to draw on shared values and behaviors to bring that purpose to life. To help our team members do that each and every day, we’ve created a Code of Ethics that represents our values and the promises we make to our guests, team, stakeholders, communities, and our Target brand.

Community Giving

Target's practice of giving 5 percent of its profits to community organizations in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul goes back to the founder of the company that became Target. George Draper Dayton became a partner in a department store called Goodfellow's Dry Goods Company in Minneapolis in 1902. The next year, he took over the store and renamed it Dayton Dry Goods Company. In 1911, the business was again renamed, as The Dayton Company, and the store was commonly referred to as Dayton's.

George D. Dayton believed in the practice of tithing and donated 10 percent of the company's profits to charitable causes, most of them religious based. In 1918, he created the Dayton Foundation with a $1 million endowment. In 1946, under the leadership of his son, George N. Dayton, the company established its policy of giving 5 percent of its pretax profits to organizations in the community. The Dayton Foundation was renamed the Target Foundation in 2000.