Rabobank Project Fund
The Rabobank Project Fund supports innovative, sustainable projects in the Netherlands that
bring economic and social benefits to large groups of members. In 2009,17 applications were
successful. The projects included a mini business academy for women from ethnic minorities,
a pay-back test for sustainable innovations in horticulture, and a project to make visual material
relating to genetics and hereditary conditions available online for physicians and patients.
Herman Wijffels Innovation Award
The Herman Wijffels Innovation Award, which is presented once a year by the Herman Wijffels
Fund, is aimed at promoting innovative and socially responsible business practices. In 2009,
we received a record 533 (409) entries. The first prize of EUR 50,000 went to DyeCoo Textile
Systems for a machine that uses carbon dioxide and pure dyes, instead of chemicals and
water, to dye textiles. The entries were assessed and the entrants were given further advice in
association with the Netherlands Patent Office and SenterNovem.
Share4More
Current and retired employees of Rabobank Group can opt to make monthly donations to the
Share4More fund. The Executive Board of Rabobank Nederland doubles any donations made.
The fund uses the donations to help improve the position of women, children and disabled
people in developing countries. Donors are also free to nominate projects. Every year, the fund
supports many small-scale projects that aim to improve healthcare services and the education
system, and reduce poverty and child mortality. Share4More wants to increase the number of
its donors to 10,000 over the coming years.
Rabobank and volunteering
Providing various kinds of support for volunteering activities that lead to social improvements
is another form of cooperative dividend. Many local Rabobanks sponsor or give donations
to associations and foundations, employees serve on boards, facilities are made available,
knowledge is shared, and parties are brought together. Employees of 101 of the 147 local
Rabobanks spent 58,762 (79,000) hours volunteering, while employees of Rabobank Inter
national 21,084 (11,382) hours and employees of other group entities spent 6,632 (4,872)
hours doing volunteer work. On a national level, Rabobank works in partnership with the
Association of Dutch Voluntary Effort Organisations (NOV). It also works with a number of
parties that encourage and support volunteering.
Community sponsoring
Rabobank's sponsorship policy is aimed at building sustainable partnerships that promote a
vibrant, caring society, focusing on culture and sport, in particular cycling, field hockey and
equestrian sport. The long-standing ties between local Rabobanks and many local sports clubs
have provided the clubs with a solid foundation. In 2009, Rabobank Group spent EUR 58
million on sponsorship, with 1% of the sport sponsorship budget being made available for
disability sports. The local Rabobanks spent EUR 7.5 million on cultural sponsorship, and spon
sorship was also provided for the Van Gogh Museum and the major exhibition at Paleis't Loo
National Museum marking the hundredth anniversary of Queen Mother Juliana's birth.
Social ambitions of clients
Interest in contributing to social initiatives is growing among high net worth individuals.
Rabobank can help these clients through the following services:
- The Rabo Charity Desk - Rabobank Private Banking clients who want to donate some of
their wealth to good causes or set up their own foundations can turn to the Rabo Charity
Desk for assistance in working towards achieving their social ambitions. Special advisors
help these clients find appropriate causes to work with or donate to.
- Rabobank Foundation Client Fund - Through this fund, Rabobank clients can either make
donations or set up a fund in their own name to support Rabobank Foundation's projects. In
2009, this fund enabled, among other things, donations to be made in support of projects
relating to the themes of sustainable chain development in developing countries and social
enterprise in the Netherlands.
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Report 2009 Rabobank Group
