Chick-fil-A to End Donations to Christian Charities after LGBT Backlash

It would be perfectly fine with me if businesses didn’t give to charities and advocacy groups at all. Their service to society is to provide a product people want at a level of quality and price people are willing to pay. That’s it.

Would I rather see them refuse to be intimidated? Sure. But from a business standpoint, if all the media attention is on the latest protest, that eventually becomes your brand. And it’s never a good idea to let the media (or protestors or anyone else) define your brand for you. If I were them, even if I wanted to continue to support FCA, I’d take a few years off and then pick them up again after there has been time to fortifying the business’ identity/brand in other ways.

What they should be famous for is amazing customer service and mighty fine sandwiches.

…and hunger”

OK, apart from an overtly religious mission, the Salvation Army and FCA don’t fit this mold….how?

No argument that abstinence from donations altogether, as Aaron proposes, might be a great idea, but it strikes me at the same time that the unique culture of Chik-Fil-A and its charitable donations may be linked, and (while giving credence to the reality that they employ and serve any religion, etc..) that if they decide that one group is too “Christian” for their taste anymore, they may also end up deciding that their mode of service is also too “Christian” for their taste.

Now granted that this is a bit speculative, but if there is something to this, it could end up being a very expensive way to get good publicity. Their way of service isn’t the only way of doing things in a Christlike manner, but I’d argue their way of service is certainly compatible. You could end up losing more than the ire of LGBTQ groups and the like.

Many years ago my wife and I met S. Truett Cathy when our three daughters performed a private Piano-Trio concert for their family and friends in Atlanta, GA. It was his intent all along that his company would honor God as much as possible in a secular society. I am sure he would be disappointed with this recent announcement. This is just more evidence that the aggressive bigotry of the LGBTQ community knows no limits when it comes to hating Christianity and common decency (Heterosexual marriage has been common for at least 6,000 years). I don’t think there is any legitimate way to put a positive spin on this. By the way, there is much, much more to come. Politics is religion to the radical left. They will never quit; it would be a sin for them to quit. As a side note, about 25 of our high school students from Bethany Christian School work at the Chick Filet near our church. One of our church members is the manager there. It is an excellent place to work. None of our kids miss church to work there. One of my favorite places to eat.

[Mike Harding]

I don’t think there is any legitimate way to put a positive spin on this.

I think the positive spin is that they are choosing to give to organizations that are aligned to their mission in giving, without bringing worrying about controversy. They barely gave any money to the Salvation Army so this really just impacts the FCA. I would say that while the FCA may have reflected the Truett’s personal beliefs, it doesn’t reflect their corporate beliefs. Gay athletes are prohibited from joining the FCA, but they are more than able to apply and work for Chik-fil-A. This is where many Christians get hung up, in my opinion. I think from a standpoint that if the Truetts want to donate money personally they are free to donate to who they wish. But I think from a corporate level they need to align with their overall corporate principles. I think Chik-fil-A goes over an above to serve all people, and in most cases they do it better than anyone else. Trying to support organizations that are not only controversial (even within Christian circles), but also not aligned to the corporate purpose is self destructing.

There purpose is stated as:

“To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A.”

I don’t see how the support of the FCA was a positive influence on all of the customers (regardless of creed and background) who come into contact with their organization. Now if they want to change their Corporate Purpose, great, than they can do it. But as the organization stands now, I applaud them for aligning to their organization.

Dave,

If the company donated to a conservative Christian college or seminary, the left would be just as outraged. “Education” is a noble goal, provided that education can actually glorify God. I know quite a few solid Christian education institutions that could use the kinds of donations this company could give. The issue really isn’t the Salvation Army or FCA; the issue is that the LGBTQ community is pressuring organizations like Chick Filet not to use their money to benefit the Christian viewpoint on the family. Pure bigotry on their part, and like I said before, this is only the beginning. Much more to come.

Sure, we knew it was coming. The problem is not really one group or another, it is that groups now have an outsized voice as a result of the internet. I am not a big fan of corporations giving money to promote certain causes. I am more for companies giving to causes that benefit wide audiences and that are aligned to their mission and customer base. In my opinion Chik-fil-A probably made the change as a result of alignment with their values and less on pressure. It became a lot of noise for a scenario/issue that was tangential to what they were trying to accomplish. The backlash that was present had little to no effect on them, they continue to grow at a very rapid pace, distancing themselves from their peers year over year. I have felt for a long time that there giving to these organizations did not really make much sense for them.

Criticizing CFA for discontinuing donations to Salvation Army, FCA, or anyone else does not mean I think those organizations are worthy of financial support. The issue is not the groups CFA is no longer helping financially but the reasons why CFA is doing so. And the reasons are obvious to anyone paying attention over the last few years: Caving in to very public pressure from groups which promote immorality. The “alignment with their values” defense from CFA is only a cover to disguise their capitulation to the culture. They are putting their business success ahead of Biblical moral values. Discontinuing Sunday closing will come eventually. Granted, CFA is a business and not a non-profit. But they saw that financial support for organizations which refuse to condone immorality is a drag on their business. So now they avoid that problem by changing the criteria they use to donate. But that won’t work as their new focus will itself create problems when the new recipients of CFA money support homosexuality, etc. Most businesses of any decent size are encouraged (pressured?) to donate to various causes. Not doing so is bad PR. If CFA decided not to donate to anyone, that is bad PR. If they donate to pro-Biblical values organizations, that is bad PR. If they decide not to donate to pro-Biblical values organizations, that is bad PR. In today’s polarized culture, you can’t win. Somebody will be mad no matter what you do. The question then becomes “Which group can you tolerate being mad at you?” . Apparently CFA decided they can survive the disappointment of Christians more than they can the wrath of the ungodly. The snowball is getting bigger as it rolls down the hill.

Over-rated and over-priced. Christians are obsessed with it. Bizarre.

I haven’t experienced that kind of customer service anywhere else… not even close.

… and there is probably something formulated for addiction in that dipping sauce. Fortunately for my arteries, there’s only one CFA in the area and it’s on the wrong side of the metro area, relative to my commute. Still… I hear it calling me. I’ve been on the wagon for a while, but I’m still hooked.

I disagree that CFA’s chicken is over-rated. A little pricey? Yes. But their chicken is so good you don’t need any sauce. As far as “bizarre”: Yes, I guess some are obsessed with CFA. But as far as this topic thread: CFA has long stood for (in popular Christian thinking) resisting secular culture by their open support of Christian organizations (and the Sunday closing). So when CFA does something to raise doubt about that support and resistance, the company will receive criticism and skepticism about its reasons. The Twitter furor over CFA’s decision reflects disappointment with the company and sadness that such a public Christian witness (generally speaking) is changing. Some Twitter comments have hoped that CFA will change its mind. That won’t happen. And the pro-homosexual, etc. groups will not be satisfied with today’s announcement.

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2019/11/chick-fil-a-caves-to-the…

It’s too bad: it isn’t as though the dimwitted left-wing Chick-fil-A boycotts hurt sales. On the contrary, Chick-fil-A is America’s fastest-growing restaurant chain. So the company’s caving in to the far Left wasn’t, apparently, an economic decision. Maybe it is another instance of corporate executives caring more about their standing within their peer group than about the well-being of the organization they lead, a phenomenon that Glenn Reynolds has described many times.

Again, it’s about brand clarity. CFA’s latest statement tries to explain that. Not sure they’re going to succeed, because they’re already pretty far down the accidental rebranding road.

Businesses should just do business and stop trying to be social justice advocates… and stop asking me for donations at the drive through.

Every time any organization, religious or secular, caves in to the cry bullies on any issue, it diminishes freedom for all of us. Whether you think CFA should be donating to Christian organizations or not, you should mourn this decision. Whether you think FCA and Salvation Army are worthy of support or not, you should mourn this decision. There is no concession or surrender that will satisfy the radical opponents of traditional belief and morality. There will always be another demand. And they are eventually going to be coming after you. You may think that you are safe or somehow exempt, but you are mistaken. They disagree with you what you say, and will defend to the death their right not to hear it. This decision is very bad news. It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last or the worst, but it is bad. CFA caved. It won’t be enough. There will be a new target and new demands. Soon it won’t be enough to not give to “offensive” organizations. Corporations will be boycotted and shamed if they don’t actively fund evil. It’s coming to a town, a company or a church near you soon.

No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

I was waiting for someone to pint out that CFA was donating to Christian groups that weren’t “fundamental” and were probably new evangelical but decided to stifle that impulse.

As to being open on Sunday. I worked for IKEA for nearly a decade and they often wondered why their store in Paramus, New Jersey, which is closed on Sunday, had virtually the same yearly sales as surrounding IKEA stores, including Elizabeth, NJ, that are open on Sunday. Chick-fil-A is the most profitable fast-food franchise chain in the United States and the gap to number two (which just so happens to be McDonald’s) is a cool million dollars per store every year. Why open on Sunday?

I am surprised by all of the concern. Just because the LGBT community was against this and putting pressure, doesn’t mean that the change they are making is not the right one. It is almost that everyone here just feels that they should have continued to do this, just to spite the LGBT community. The pressure was not hurting their sales or their growth. In fact, both have been record breaking. They have been putting pressure on Chik-fil-A for a long long time and it hasn’t impacted anything. Yes, the pressure probably played some role in this, but probably in light of the fact that it exposed a poor donation model. I find the new model much more aligned to Chik-fil-A’s values and they provided clarity that in the future they are not going to ignore any types of organizations.