Faith-Based Socially Responsible Enterprises: Selected Philippine Cases

Abstract

Faith-based organizations (FBOs) have long played a role in international development and are increasingly involved in sustainability initiatives. Since they are motivated by a distinctive set of values, have particular modes of operation and governance, and hold a unique place within communities and the larger society, these organizations are poised to be distinctively successful and sustainable. In the case of the Philippines, the situation is unique in the sense that there are a large number of Christian business leaders and entrepreneurs who put their faith "to the plow." Based on a review of the literature on faith-based social enterprises as well as on an in-depth descriptive analysis of three sample ventures from the Philippines, this study proposes a descriptive framework for their success and sustainability which consists primarily of two elements: a) Christian social capital and b) spiritual leadership.