Target's Purpose And History

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Purpose & History

Hello! Welcome. We’re so glad you’re here.

With stores in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, 75% of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a Target store. The Target Team in your community collaborates with partners around the world for one important reason …

To help all families discover the joy of everyday life.

That’s our purpose. Target is the place to find affordable, everyday essentials, fun, ease and inspiration at every turn, no matter when, where or how you shop.

That quest to bring joy is at the center of every business decision we make. It gets our teams excited to come to work each day. And we bring it to life in so many ways.

1962

First Target store opened in Roseville, Minnesota

5% Of our profits go back into communities* 1 Million

Team member volunteer hours completed for charitable causes in 2024

Explore Purpose & History

Our purpose is rooted in the vision our founders, anchors our strategic commitments and guides today’s leaders tasked with driving Target toward the future.

Serving & Strengthening Communities

Our success is interdependent with the prosperity of the communities we serve. Explore our efforts that empower people and communities to pursue joy in everyday life. Visit section

Our Commitments

We’re dedicated to being a good neighbor and working with our communities and partners to make life better everywhere we do business. Visit page

Our Corporate Strategy

Our durable business model is designed to stand the test of time and differentiate us in the marketplace. Visit page

History Timeline

We’ve been one of the world’s most beloved brands since the first Target opened in 1962, but our story starts way before that. Visit section

Shared Success

See how we serve and strengthen communities

* Since 1946, we have given 5% of our profits to communities in products, cash and through the Target Foundation, which today equals millions of dollars a week. Calculated based on the average of the prior three years of Target’s pre-tax profits. Giving includes Target’s product and cash donations and Target Foundation’s cash donations. Excludes cash donations from Target to Target Foundation.