Laysha Ward

Laysha Ward is president of Community Relations for Target. Ward oversees the corporation’s domestic and international grant making, community sponsorships, cause marketing initiatives, volunteerism and other civic activities. She is also responsible for the Target Foundation, which supports arts and social services organizations based in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Ward began her career with Target in 1991 in store sales and management with Marshall Field’s in Chicago, where she later served as community relations manager. In 1998, she was named director of community relations for the corporation in Minneapolis. She was promoted to vice president of community relations in 2003 and to her current position in 2008. Ward serves on the board of directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the nation’s largest grant maker for volunteering and service; the Executive Leadership Council, a national membership organization for African American executives; and Denny’s Corporation. She is also a member of
the Aspen Institute’s Commission on No Child Left Behind, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and The Links, an international woman’s service organization.

She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University and a master’s degree in social services administration from the University of Chicago.