Coffee Chain

Honey Dew Donuts

Private company (no public ticker)
Low Alignment
0/ 100

Honey Dew Donuts is a New England–only quick-service chain with roughly 140 locations across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. A privately held, family-operated business, Honey Dew has virtually no public record on LGBTQ+ workplace policy, community giving, or public stance. Its score reflects the near-total absence of documented LGBTQ+ engagement rather than active opposition.

Score breakdown

Five pillars · 100 points total

Workplace EqualityNon-discrimination policies, equitable benefits, inclusive culture
9/25
  • No publicly available non-discrimination policy documentation that explicitly covers sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • As a small family-operated franchise business, Honey Dew does not participate in the HRC Corporate Equality Index or any equivalent benchmark.
  • No documented LGBTQ+ employee resource group, trans-inclusive healthcare benefit, or DEI initiative.
  • The company's scale (~140 locations) and private family ownership mean most HR policies are not publicly disclosed.
  • Score reflects the Massachusetts state law baseline (Chapter 151B prohibits discrimination on sexual orientation and gender identity) rather than any proactive employer commitment.
Community SupportPhilanthropy, sponsorships, nonprofit partnerships
6/25
  • No documented charitable giving or partnerships with LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations.
  • No recorded Pride event sponsorship, LGBTQ+ cultural institution support, or community grants.
  • Honey Dew's charitable activity focuses on local community causes (food banks, youth sports); no LGBTQ+-specific programming found.
  • No seasonal LGBTQ+ visual campaigns or Pride-themed product offerings documented.
Political ActivityCorporate PAC activity, lobbying, trade association memberships
14/20
  • No US corporate PAC activity or federal/state lobbying disclosures found for Honey Dew Donuts or its parent entity.
  • The private, family-owned structure limits political contribution tracking; no FEC or state records identified.
  • No documented membership in trade associations with documented anti-LGBTQ+ positions.
  • Score avoids heavy deduction due to absence of documented negative political activity, but limited transparency prevents full credit.
Public StanceLeadership voice, brand campaigns, response to LGBTQ+ legislation
6/20
  • Company leadership has made no documented public statements on LGBTQ+ equality.
  • No public response to LGBTQ+ legislation at the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or federal level.
  • Brand communications focus exclusively on product and local community; no LGBTQ+ representation or advocacy visible in marketing.
  • The silence is particularly notable given the brand's New England base, where public support for LGBTQ+ rights is broadly mainstream.
Transparency & ReportingDEI reporting, benchmark participation, public disclosure
3/10
  • No sustainability, DEI, or ESG report has been published.
  • No participation in any third-party LGBTQ+ accountability benchmark.
  • As a small private company, minimal disclosure is legally required — but the complete absence of voluntary transparency is a meaningful accountability gap.
  • Minimal credit for operating under Massachusetts state non-discrimination law, which provides a legal floor.

LGBTQ+ Giving Record

Named donations, sponsorships & partnerships · based on public disclosure

📭
No documented LGBTQ+ charitable giving on record
We found no publicly disclosed donations, sponsorships, or charitable partnerships with LGBTQ+ organizations. This may reflect limited transparency rather than an absence of giving.

Sources

Informational only. Scores are based on publicly available information and third-party benchmarking as of the date of publication. They may not reflect recent changes in company behavior or policy. This is not investment advice.
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Moderately Aligned

Dunkin'

Private company
LGBTQ+ Score53/100

Dunkin' — now owned by private equity firm Inspire Brands alongside Arby's, Sonic, and Buffalo Wild Wings — offers minimal public visibility on LGBTQ+ issues. The brand has made occasional Pride-themed marketing gestures, but has not published meaningful LGBTQ+ workplace data, does not participate in HRC's Corporate Equality Index, and has no documented ongoing LGBTQ+ nonprofit partnerships. As a privately held franchise-heavy business, transparency on benefits, political contributions, and internal policies is extremely limited. Dunkin' is not known for anti-LGBTQ+ activity, but its overall engagement on equality issues is among the lowest in the coffee category.

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Highly Aligned

Starbucks

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LGBTQ+ Score85/100

Starbucks has one of the longest and most public records of LGBTQ+ support among American retail brands — offering comprehensive transgender healthcare benefits since 2012, earning HRC Corporate Equality Index 100/100 scores across multiple years, and running annual Pride campaigns since at least 2012. The company's PRIDE Alliance Partner Network is one of the largest LGBTQ+ employee resource groups in corporate America. A 2023 controversy — in which some baristas reported being told to remove Pride decorations — drew attention, but corporate leadership reaffirmed the company's official support. Some PAC contribution patterns warrant scrutiny, keeping the score from perfect.

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