Sheletta says Target, Ecolab and 26 other corporations are giving chump change to help small businesses, so she’s stepping up

A pledge to financially support small Minnesota businesses hurt by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in our state isn’t sitting well with Sheletta Brundidge.

“If doing the minimum was the mandate, our Fortune 500s are doing a great job,” said Brundidge, a small business owner in Minnesota and founder of ShelettaMakesaDifference.com (SheMAD).

Brundidge is talking about the $3.5 million Target, Ecolab, and 26 other Minnesota Corporations are pledging to an Economic Response Fund for small businesses, according to a press release from the Minneapolis Foundation.

For Target, this is the equivalent of what's in the coin bucket on the bedroom nightstand,” Brundidge said. “Each of those CEOs could fork over their bonus and dwarf their initial ‘generous’ offer, but they won't!”

Increased ICE enforcement actions (Operation Metro Surge) started in January 2026 and has severely impacted Minnesota small businesses, causing 50% to 100% revenue drops and temporary closures, particularly in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and St. Cloud, according to North Star Policy Action, an independent research and communications institute.

“These are businesses that had to close because they don’t have staff and customers are not coming through the doors,” Brundidge added.

The 28 corporations listed on the press release are Allianz, Allina Health, Andersen Corporation, APi Group, Best Buy, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MN, C.H. Robinson, CHS, Delta Dental, Donaldson, Ecolab, General Mills, HealthPartners, Kraus-Anderson, Land O' Lakes, Inc., Medica, Medtronic, Mortenson, Prime Therapeutics, Securian Financial, Sleep Number, SPS Commerce, Target, Tennant Company, Thrivent, The Toro Company, U.S. Bank, and Xcel Energy.

In response, Brundidge started a GoFundMe to raise $3.6 million for Minnesota small businesses affected by ICE. “Because I'm petty, that's just a little bit more than all those giant companies are giving away, put together,” Brundidge said. “I hope it shames them into doing better.”

Brundige has been supporting small businesses in Minnesota for years, most notably with her Black Entrepreneurs’ Day at the Minnesota State Capitol, which, for three years, has connected Black entrepreneurs one-on-one with legislators to meet and lobby for insurance, family medical leave, and other benefits necessary to run a business, especially since DEI rollbacks in the state.

In February, Brundidge is partnering with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and hosting a free virtual event for food producers in the state to learn how to access grants, support, and resources.

Brundidge announced her GoFundMe campaign for small Minnesota businesses affected by ICE on her social media, where followers agreed that the corporate response in Minnesota is not enough. An open letter, covered in logos from “CEOs of Large Minnesota-Based Companies + Associations,” struck a nerve with Minnesotans who commented on Brundidge’s LinkedIn page.

“They should have just titled the letter, ‘Eh, this is better than nothing,’” commented Lynne MK Morioka. Ashley Oolman said, “Endlessly about PR, never about people.”

Erik Halaas shared Brundidge’s GoFundMe post and added. “Love this audacious goal from Sheletta Brundidge to support Minnesota’s small business owners. Let’s show how community moves - not chump change, but real change!”

When asked about the release, $3.5 million pledge, and resulting disappointment from local business owners, the Minneapolis Foundation sent a written statement from its president and CEO, R.T. Rybak:

“Small businesses in our community are facing tremendous needs right now, and the Economic Response Fund is an important step that Minnesota companies are taking to help mobilize resources for our neighbors. We recognize the needs are much greater and hope that launching this fund will spur additional investment from the business community.”

You can learn more about Brundidge’s GoFundMe campaign for small Minnesota businesses and donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-me-help-minnesotas-small-business-owners