Frequently Asked Questions

Our quick scan will instantly tell you if you’re eligible to make an application. This page also contains information about our guidelines.

After completing this quick scan, you will be directed to our application form. Once you have completed this form, our program managers will get to work, reviewing your application and deciding if there are opportunities for cooperation.

We will review all applications as soon as possible, and will let you know within two weeks whether we will process your application. If your application does not meet our criteria, we will let you know and will explain why it is not eligible for consideration.

The amounts we contribute vary from €50,000 to €1,000,000. The amount of the funding depends on the impact made by the organization and the type of funding required. In some cases, the funding amount may be smaller or larger. View the average funding amount for 2019.

We use various types of funding, the main one of which are loans. We favor loans because they help people achieve economic independence more quickly due to the fact that loans promote personal responsibility. We reallocate the loan repayments so we can fund a larger number of organizations on an annual basis. We also provide funding in the form of donations, technical support, guarantees (mainly in India) and trade financing.

In 2019, we invested a total of €40.3 million in 390 organizations, ranging from producers’ cooperatives in Africa to social enterprises in the Netherlands. Our Annual Report 2019 details how these funds and the various projects are spread around the world.

We established the Rabo Rural Fund in 2011 and have managed the fund ever since. The fund was created for agricultural organizations that have outgrown Rabo Foundation but are not yet eligible for regular bank loans. The social impact lender provides mainly short-term loans (trade financing), which are used to purchase and process products

As impact financier, we want to know the impact of our efforts and be certain that the projects we fund create positive change in society. We chart the potential impact of each of our investments, and measure this annually through a survey.

Unfortunately, this is not possible, as we work with smallholder farmers and social enterprises, and their time is valuable. However, you can check out our projects, to learn more about our activities and find out how the farmers and entrepreneurs are faring in their various projects.