The cooperative in society
As a cooperative, Rabobank Group aims to be a driver and an innovator
that contributes to the sustainable development of prosperity and well-
being. This aim is expressed in our mission statement. We put a great deal
of money and effort into achieving this ambition, year after year. Rabobank
distributes cooperative dividend to the community, both on a local level
and a national scale, through community funds, donations and sponsorship
of community initiatives. In 2009, more than EUR 112.6 million was distri
buted in cooperative dividend, EUR 56.4 million of which in the form of
donations and social funds, and EUR 58 million via community sponsoring.
This figure does not include investments in the form of volunteering, the
provision of equipment and resources, media and networks.
Cooperative dividend (in millions of euros)
www.rabobank.com/rabobankfoundation
Total sponsorship of community initiatives
Rabobank Nederland, Communications Department
Rabobank International and other group entities
Local Rabobanks.
2009 2008
.54.6 44.9.
25.8 20.4.
...3.3 3.8
24.3 16.8
0.8 3.7
0.10.1
0.3 0.3.
58.0 .65.8.
22.6 21.4
10.9 1.6.4
24.5. 28.0
Total community investment funds and donations
Cooperative funds (local Rabobanks)
Donations by. Rabobank International and other, group entities.
Rabobank Foundation (in and outside the Netherlands)
Project Fund
Herman Wijffels .Innovation Award prize, money
Sha.re.4IVlore
Local cooperative dividend
In 2009,99% of the local Rabobanks had a cooperative fund for distributing cooperative dividend.
Rabobank members play a key role in considering and determining how the available money
is spent. More and more members are becoming involved in this process via virtual channels.
Rabobank Foundation
Rabobank Foundation was established in 1973 to help underprivileged people, both in the
Netherlands and elsewhere. This autonomous foundation had developed from an initiative by
local Rabobanks into a group-wide organisation that provides structural and sustainable
support. Rabobank Foundation has 0.5% of group profit as its annual budget. It aims to spend
approximately 25% of the available funds on projects in the Netherlands, and approximately
75% on projects abroad.
Rabobank Foundation in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, Rabobank Foundation supports a range of groups within the community,
such as homeless people, teenagers with problems, people with a mental or physical disability,
and people who are unable to read or write, with the aim of helping them to participate in
society and the economy. During the year under review, Rabobank Foundation focused on the
themes of people and society, work and education, and sport and leisure. Some 49 projects
were given support totalling EUR 3.2 million in 2009.
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The cooperative in society