Commitment to society
Rabobank Group aims to be a driver and an innovator that contributes to
a sustainable increase in prosperity and welfare, as expressed in our mission
statement. We put a great deal of money and effort into achieving this
ambition every year. One of the ways in which Rabobank seeks to achieve
this aim is by distributing cooperative dividend to the community, both
on a local level and a national scale, through community funds, donations
and sponsorship of community initiatives. In 2010, some EUR 121 million
was distributed in cooperative dividend, of which EUR 61 million was
distributed in the form of donations and community funds and EUR 60
million through sponsorship of community initiatives.
Cooperative dividend (in millions of euros)
Local cooperative dividend
2010
2009
2008
Total community funds and donations, comprising
61.0
54.6
44.9
Cooperative funds (local Rabobanks)
28.3
25.8
20.4
Rabobank Nederland and other group entities
4.2
3.3
3.8
Rabobank Foundation
26.8
24.8
16.8
Project Fund
0.9
0.8
3.7
Flerman Wijffels Innovation Award prize money
0.1
0.1
0.1
Share4More
0.7
0.3
0.3
Total sponsorship of community initiatives, comprising
60.0
58.0
65.8
Rabobank Nederland
24.1
22.6
21.4
Rabobank International and other group entities
11.8
10.9
16.4
Local Rabobanks
24.1
24.5
28.0
Total cooperative dividend (funds, donations and sponsorship)
121.0
112.6
110.7
In 2010, the local Rabobanks spent EUR 28.3 million from their cooperative funds on supporting
social projects. Rabobank members play a key role in considering and determining how the
available money is spent. They are able to exercise influence via virtual channels.
Rabobank Foundation
Rabobank Foundation was established in 1973 to help disadvantaged people, both in the
Netherlands and elsewhere. This community investment fund developed from an initiative by
local Rabobanks into a group-wide organisation that provides structural, 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.
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 29 projects in
the Netherlands were given support totalling EUR 2.9 million in 2010.
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Commitment to society
