The growing power and influence of the private sector has brought with it new demands and expectations from society.

The public in general and consumers in particular demand that companies should do more than earn a profit and lend their expertise to helping solve the many ills plaguing the country.

These developments have made corporate social responsibility an even more important part of the way companies run their business as it can affect future sales, reputation and relationship with consumers.

These are some of the points that Bradley Googins, head of Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship, is expected to discuss during his talk, which is one of the highlights of the coming CSR conference of the League of Corporate Foundations.

To be held from July 16 to 18 at the Shangri-la Hotel in Makati with the theme “CSR is Everyone’s Business”, the conference centers on LCF’s call for all companies to adopt and integrate into their business activities.

LCF, an association of over 70 corporate foundations and corporations practicing CSR, is now on its seventh year of organizing the CSR Conference.

Also taking part in the conference are ASEAN Foundation executive director Dr. Filemon A. Uriarte Jr. who will talk about how CSR is practiced in the region; LCF president Pacita U. Juan, who will give a report on the private sector’s contribution to social development; and former Socio-economic planning Secretary Solita C. Monsod who will talk about the state of the economy.

A much-anticipated portion of the LCF Conference is the discussion on the business case for CSR, to be participated in by top business leaders and professional organizations such as the Management Association of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, the American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines and the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines.

"LCF helps companies realize the value of CSR and it hopes to give tools to help companies implement better and more sustainable CSR programs," said Roberto Calingo of TeaM Energy Foundation, who also chairs CSR Conference 2008.

"CSR Conference 2008 hopes to transform business leaders into CSR advocates by defining the strategic relevance of CSR for their businesses. The conference will showcase best practices in the CSR field that executives can emulate in their own companies," he said.