The Rabo Versterkt ('Rabo Reinforces') online platform contains an interactive map of the
Netherlands featuring various local initiatives launched by our banks. There were more than
forty local Rabobanks active on this website at the end of 2014. The examples shown (many in
the form of short videos) relate to themes such as sustainability, economics, housing, healthcare
and sponsorship. The website details how we contribute to the local community and to the
Netherlands as a whole.
Investing in society: worldwide
The investments of our local Rabobanks do, however, extend far beyond national boundaries:
Rabobank Foundation provides the opportunity for participants to 'adopt' social projects
outside the Netherlands. Several banks have opted for this particular investment method.
Customers can also join these initiatives by donating funds or sharing their knowledge.
Rabobank Weerterland decided to support a project based in Indonesia, where it has joined
ten clients in supporting small dairy farmers.
Read more about this project here.
Cooperative dividend
in millions of euros
2014
2013
2012
2011
Cooperative funds (local Rabobanks)
36.4
44.1
42.8
37.0
Donations by Rabobank Nederland and other Group entities
8.0
8.0
4.6
5.2
Rabobank Foundation (in and outside the Netherlands)
19.5
16.4
19.8
15.7
Project fund
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.1
Award money Herman Wijffels Innovation Award
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.1
Share4more
0.8
0.6
0.6
1.1
Total community funds and donations
64.8
69.2
67.9
60.2
Sponsor of sports
As the largest and most socially engaged sponsor of sports in the Netherlands, Rabobank also
assumes its share of responsibility in building a more vital society. The three main sports we
support are hockey, equestrian sports and cycling, ranging from amateurs to world champions.
In addition to endorsing these three sports, Rabobank is also a Partner in Sport of the
Netherlands Olympic Committee*Netherlands Sports Federation (NOC*NSF). We also support
various types of sports for the disabled and we are an official '1% FairShare®'partner, which
involves a programme whereby businesses are asked to invest 1%, in addition to their total
sports sponsorship budget, into sports for the disabled. We also support the Youth Sports Fund,
which provides funds for children from disadvantaged backgrounds to join a club.
By becoming involved in the many sports associations within their field of operation, the local
Rabobanks support an important cornerstone of society and underscore the bank's social
involvement. They contribute in a small way to these clubs, which in turn play an important role
in society.
An initiative organised in the city of Rotterdam last year showed once again just to what extent
sport unites people. When it turned out many children in the working-class neighbourhood of
Feijenoord were not involved in any sports, a resourceful neighbourhood resident decided to
start a hockey club right in the heart of the community. Although field hockey in the
Netherlands has traditionally not been a working-class sport, Rabobank Rotterdam decided to
support the plan and the Flockeyclub Feijenoord continues to welcome many new members
every day.
Meaningful cooperative
