In a statement released by CEO Tim Tassopoulos, Chick-Fil-A announced they would “no longer make multiyear commitments” and will be “reassessing its philanthropic partnerships to allow a maximum impact.” This decision included a reduction in funding to organizations such as FCA and The Salvation Army, which ignited a claim that the decision was due to faith based stances.
Many immediately criticized Chick-Fil-A’s corporate office for the decision, saying that they had strayed from their famed Christian stance on issues. Following the decisions that caused an online outrage, some failed to make not of organizations now being endorsed by the fast food chain. One of these charities being Covenant House, a Catholic Charity that has taken a stronger stance on same-sex marriage than any organization who lost funding yesterday.
Despite many reports, the decision to pull funding had nothing to do with an anti-LGBTQ stance from any organization, but everything to do with a “more focused giving approach.” Chick-Fil-A released in a statement on Monday that “Our goal is to donate to the most effective organizations in the areas of education, homelessness and hunger. No organization will be excluded from future consideration — faith-based or non-faith-based.”
Instead, Chick-Fil-A will now be allotting their money to more specific, local in-scope charity groups such as Covenant House International, Junior Achievement USA, and a designated distribution to food banks for each city where a new restaurant for the Chicken Sandwich Empire opens
Doubling down on false claims of the fast food chain removing funding because of their stance, the Salvation Army is in fact not anti-LGBT. Earlier this year, the faith based group stated “[though] some may disagree with our position, we hope they can come alongside us in supporting efforts to meet human needs.” The organization has indicated previously that they do have a Biblical stance on homosexuality, but also notes that here is no scriptural support for demeaning or mistreating anyone for reason of his or her sexual orientation.
