Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs are commonly understood as a small part of a company’s strategy to demonstrate that it acknowledges its responsibility to the society. Many CSR programs are then applied as mere “complementary” implementations, resulting to less optimal results.

CSR programs do not only enhance the image of a company, it also offers lasting benefits, for the people helped, the environment, and the company itself. This is the underlying reason the Putera Sampoerna Foundation (PSF) to transform itself from merely being a philanthropic organization, to be a Social Business Institution.

PSF is the first social businesses Institution in Indonesia embracing the vision to create competent and reliable Indonesian future leaders and entrepreneurs capable of dealing with global challenges. The Putera Sampoerna Foundation is an affiliation of PT Sampoerna Strategic.

The four main pillars of Putera Sampoerna Foundation is quality education for well-achieving, but underprivileged students, job creation through entrepreneurship development programs, public enlightenment through the empowerment of women, and the distribution of aid and relief programs for compassionate and disaster relief. Embracing the main strategy of 'Pathway to Leadership', PSF aims to produce 1,000 future leaders each year destined to improve their society. In carrying out its activities, PSF is supported by strategic partners including Sahabat Wanita, Siswa Bangsa and Bait Al-Kamil, and initiatively establishes ACCESS Education Beyond to promote student exchange programs cooperation with overseas universities. There is also the MEKAR Entrepreneur Network, a comprehensive portal and development center for entrepreneurship in Indonesia.

Since its founding in 2001, PSF has distributed more than 34,600 scholarships; organized training programs for more than 19,000 teachers and principals, adopted 23 schools and 5 madrasah schools (Islamic schools). In 2009, PSF founded a boarding school with international standards, the Sampoerna Academy. There is also the Sampoerna School of Education, an advanced school that creates future generations of educators, which became the first element in the establishment of a world-class university. In 2010, the foundation launched the Sampoerna School of Business. PSF is the pioneer non-profit organization to acquire an ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System certificate. Applying the principles of transparency and accountability in all its activities, PSF has gained trust from more than 300 corporations, organizations, and associations to carry out CSR programs. PSF is periodically audited by independent international auditors, publishing the reports in the Putera Sampoerna Foundation annual book report.

The social business concept that PSF implements aims to change the understanding of business, from the standpoint of "profit seeking" to "help the greater community.” This concept adopts the thought of Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2006, who initiated the Social Business movement.

The social business concept focuses on creating more opportunities for pre-prosperous communities through sustainable programs and increasing the social awareness among business people. Social businesses, however, could not walk alone as they require the participation of both corporations and individuals who care to invest.

Holding the reputation of the first social business institution in Indonesia, PSF serves as a CSR operator for corporations and individuals to run programs that are based on the said four pillars of education, entrepreneurship, female empowerment, and disaster relief.

Hopefully, with more participation from corporations and individuals, equality in education and community empowerment programs will better penetrate areas, particularly for pre-prosperous, well-achieving students. Hence, there will be best quality generations that will excel the nation. As PSF believes, together, we can make a difference!