Rabobank Foundation
Rabobank Foundation was established in 1973 to improve the position of underprivileged groups in society and promote an equitable distribution of welfare and prosperity. The fund has now grown from a small charitable foundation into a professional development organisation. Millions of people benefit from the assistance provided by the Foundation, which supports an average of 200 projects every year. Three-quarters of the work concern projects in developing countries, while a quarter are projects for underprivileged groups or groups subject to deprivation in the Netherlands. In 2007, 223 applications for support to projects in the Netherlands were received, and 34 of these were honoured with a total of more than 1.9 million euro. In 2006 this support amounted to 1.6 million euro. Local Rabobanks make an annual donation to Rabobank Foundation and they also regularly contribute to projects and work together with the Foundation in projects. Examples of projects and initiatives that received financial assistance from the Foundation in 2007 are:
- The Reading and Writing Foundation, to help alleviate the problem of low literacy,
- 'Onbeperkt Nederland', a beauty contest for women with a physical disability,
- www.steffie.nl, visual step-by-step explanation of socially relevant topics,
- 'Best Buddies' foundation, a friendship project between people with and without a mental disability, and
- Goede Zaken(r), a workshop for associations and foundations to professionalise their presentations to the business community (partnership with DOEN Foundation).
Project Fund
The Rabobank Project Fund has encouraged innovative, sustainable projects in the Netherlands with an economic and social interest since 1984. The results benefit a large group of Rabobank members and, as a consequence, a large section of Dutch society. Focus is on projects with an innovative character for both the agricultural sector and small and medium-sized enterprises. The Project Fund specialises in the research or development stages of projects in particular. In 2007, 68 new applications were received, 58 of which were considered and 25 honoured at a total value of 1.1 million euro. The following projects were included:
- Stichting nOhandicap: launch of a network for entrepreneurs with a physical disability,
- a study into a new teaching methodology to prevent behavioural and motivation problems in children, and
- development of the Poortwachterscentrum (Gatekeeper's Centre) knowledge platform for entrepreneurs in the province of North-Holland.