NEW YORK — A conservative group that had called on supporters to boycott Wal-Mart's post-Thanksgiving Day sales to protest the retailer's support of gay-rights groups withdrew its objections yesterday.

Wal-Mart said it would make changes in the way it contributed to such groups, earmarking money only for specific causes it supports, such as workplace equality, rather than giving unrestricted gifts.

The American Family Association, which had been asking supporters to stay away from Wal-Mart on Friday and Saturday — two of the busiest shopping days of the year — said it was pleased by the change.

But a prominent gay rights leader, Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign, said the change was minor and praised Wal-Mart for sticking with its commitments to diversity and equality.

"I don't see it as backpedaling by Wal-Mart," Solmonese said.

However, another group critical of Wal-Mart was skeptical.

Wal-Mart's statement "is a confusing contortion of words that makes it completely unclear whether Wal-Mart still supports equal rights for the (gay and lesbian) community or not, and worse, raises real questions as to whether they caved to the pressure from the religious right," said WakeUpWalMart.com's Chris Kofinis.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Mona Williams said the company would continue working with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and other gay-rights groups on specific issues such as workplace equality. She indicated, however, that the company would henceforth avoid unrestricted donations that might be used for causes Wal-Mart does not endorse.

"Going forward, we would partner with them on specific initiatives ... as opposed to just giving blanket support to their general operating budget," she said.

The changes, she said, resulted primarily from concerns expressed by customers and employees, not from the boycott threat.

There was no immediate word from a second conservative group, Operation Save America, on whether it was reconsidering its plans for prayer-and-preaching rallies outside many Wal-Mart stores on Friday.

Wal-Mart paid $25,000 this summer to become a member of the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and donated $60,000 to Out and Equal, which promotes gay rights in the workplace.