"The Atlanta-based fast-food chain announced a major overhaul of its charitable giving, consolidating donations toward three causes — hunger, homelessness, and education — and pledging $25,000 to a local food bank in every city it opens while directing multi-million-dollar gifts to Junior Achievement USA and Covenant House. The shift is framed as a one-year commitment (with possible renewals or future changes) and includes a promise that funds will not go to anti-LGBTQ groups. It follows years of controversy over past gifts to evangelical organizations, most notably a reported $1.6 million donation in 2017 to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and further contributions in 2018 (including $800,000 to the FCA and $115,000 to the Salvation Army), which prompted public backlash, attempts by San Antonio and Buffalo airports to block new locations, and a Texas “save” bill. Company leaders present the change as clarifying their identity as they expand into markets like the Bay Area and the UK, but critics say it looks like a branding move while noting the company remains led by Dan Cathy, whose past anti-gay advocacy has not been clearly repudiated." - Tim Forster