Target is among the most inspiring companies this year, according to a new survey.
 
The Minneapolis-based retailer was ranked third for its education grants that it gives to K-12 school field trips, early childhood programs and book donations for libraries, as well as employee volunteer programs and disaster relief efforts.
 
The ranking comes from Performance Inspired, a firm that helps companies engage consumers to improve relationships and sales. To determine the rankings, participants were asked to read about a fictional, inspirational company and then asked to compare it to real companies that they admire, according to Forbes.
 
Target’s ranking comes despite the massive data breach a year ago. In fact, Forbes notes that the company’s response to the breach may have helped matters.
 
“Consumers appreciated the sense of ownership and responsibility and transparency and their ability to ask questions,” Performance Inspired CEO Terry Barber told the magazine.
 
Finishing above Target this year was Tesla Motors Inc., a Palo Alto, California-based maker of electric cars, in first place and the Monrovia, California-based Trader Joe’s grocery chain.