“Business must be run at a profit, else it will die. But when anyone tries to run a business solely for profit…then also the business must die, for it no longer has a reason for existence.” Henry Ford.

Corporate Philanthropy was once referred to as Cheque-book philanthropy wherein a donation or sponsorship was freely made to a charity without the expectation of a return. Today it has evolved into commercially driven partnerships which have material benefits for both parties, the corporate sponsor & the seeker of financial support or sponsorship.

These corporate partnerships are outcomes driven, having objectives that are clearly articulated and measurable. True partnerships are of a more long-term nature than traditional sponsorships. They are more inclusive, involving a company's relationship with the community in which it operates, the natural environment, its employees and other stakeholders. Partnerships built around these relationships are growing among corporations and non-profits. The benefits for both are well documented in the case studies.

For business, these tangible benefits include:

The triple bottom line contribution to ensuring the long-term sustainability of business operations would appear to be making its mark. Business performance in the financial social and environmental domains are becoming imperatives. The rise in ethical investment funds may well be a key indicator of that performance.

In June 2010 Australian Business Leaders and Government joined together to promote world’s largest Corporate Citizenship initiative.

It encourages businesses to align their operations with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption - not as a charitable add-on but as an integrated core business activity.