Does corporate reputation play a mediating role in the association between manufacturing companies' corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance?

The main objective of this research was to analyze the variable of corporate reputation as a mediating variable to determine the relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance. Simple random sampling was used in the study to obtain 300 respondents from Bangladeshi manufacturing companies. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 23.0 was used to analyze the data. To evaluate the hypotheses in this study, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. The results demonstrated that corporate social responsibility positively influences corporate reputation and financial performance, while corporate reputation is statistically significant for financial performance. Environmental contribution, philanthropic responsibility, legal responsibility, ethical responsibility, economic responsibility and social responsibility are listed in order of significance as corporate social responsibility factors. It was determined how corporate reputation influences the link between corporate social responsibility and financial performance. However, it may be logical to conclude that there is a considerable correlation between corporate social responsibility and financial performance based on the data analysis. The results of corporate social responsibility practices in manufacturing organizations in developing nations, particularly Bangladesh, have significant consequences for businesses, entrepreneurs, communities, researchers and policymakers in understanding the outcomes of sustainability. The conclusion has drawn implications for sustainability practice and future research.