Walmart donates $14M to promote racial equity

 

By Lisa Fickenscher

Walmart handed out more than $14 million to organizations that promote racial equity as part of a larger pledge this summer in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

The largest retailer in the world, along with the Walmart Foundation, gave grants to 16 organizations, including $1 million to the Student Freedom Initiative, which supports historically black colleges, and $1 million to the Association of Black Foundation Executives, which promotes philanthropy in black communities, the company said on Monday.

The grants are part of Walmart’s $100 million pledge over five years to support racial equity after George Floyd was killed on Memorial Day. In June, Walmart announced its Center for Racial Equity, which will oversee these efforts and grants.

At the time, Walmart’s chief executive, Doug McMillon, said the company will also step up recruitment efforts of people of color. In September, Walmart released a mid-year report on Culture, Diversity and Inclusion, shifting from an annual report to twice per year.

About 12 percent of the company’s managers and 7 percent of its officers are black, according to the report.