Rabo Impact Foundation: a new tool for tackling societal challenges

The need is clear – and urgent. Climate change, a shortage of affordable housing, dependence on fossil fuels, biodiversity loss, pressure on the food system, the necessity of circular economies, and rising social inequality: each of these challenges requires structural solutions. Not isolated projects, but system change. That often demands investments that are too risky for a bank—no matter how socially engaged – to responsibly finance. This is precisely where the Rabo Impact Foundation steps in.

“We see, for example, that housing cooperatives consistently face a financing gap,” says Lizette Wolters, interim CEO of the Rabo Impact Foundation. “Even when banks, government, and members contribute as much as they can, a structural shortfall remains. That portion is nearly impossible to finance. By taking on exactly that part, we can get these projects off the ground. That allows us to create new housing models that remain affordable and support strong communities. We lower the barrier today so that these projects can be financed conventionally in the future – meaning we ultimately will no longer be needed for this type of funding.”

“As a foundation, we always critically assess whether an investment can truly contribute to system change,” she continues. “Our goal is for market financing to take over in the long run. And any investment must demonstrably serve the public good – not a single company or individual benefiting from the foundation’s funds.”

The new foundation focuses on six domains with significant societal impact potential: the energy and food system transitions, circularity, water – and in the Netherlands, healthcare and affordable housing. These are fields where promising, innovative concepts are emerging, yet financing remains a challenge. Think of cooperative housing, nature-inclusive farming, regional heating networks, or new healthcare models focused on prevention. Often promising, yet difficult to fit within traditional risk frameworks.

Lizette explains: “System change often moves slowly because the investments involve relatively uncharted territory. Banks’ risk models are based on events and data from the past. But for major transitions, that historical data simply doesn’t exist – even though this is exactly where large investments are needed. And that’s where the Rabo Impact Foundation comes in. The same applies not just to housing cooperatives but also to other domains: new heating solutions for households, more decentralized energy generation to strengthen national resilience, building with biobased materials, or using water-saving technologies. Due to various developments, clean drinking water – even in the Netherlands – is no longer guaranteed. For these kinds of issues, where the need is clear but historical data is lacking or business cases are still emerging, the foundation can play a decisive role by enabling innovation.”

The foundation focuses on three types of activities. First, investments in large-scale projects that develop new sustainable markets or infrastructure – so called impact projects. “Second,” Lizette explains, “we finance new sustainable and innovative concepts. And third, we support enterprises that have moved beyond the start-up phase but are not yet attractive to conventional investors. These are our impact ventures.”

In practical terms, the Rabo Impact Foundation aims for around twenty investments per year, spread across direct financing, indirect lending, and impact ventures. These are not small, local grants, but substantial investments in projects and businesses capable of accelerating true system change. For impact projects and innovative sustainable concepts, the foundation provides impact loans starting at EUR 2 million. For impact ventures, it targets (equity) investments starting at EUR 1 million.

The Rabo Impact Foundation complements the long-standing work of the Rabo Foundation, which for more than fifty years has operated in over twenty countries, providing loans and donations to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable groups. By supporting organizations in early stages, Rabo Foundation strengthens the position of smallholder farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and in the Netherlands it empowers people with limited access to the labor market through social enterprises.

The Rabo Impact Foundation adds to this ecosystem but operates with different instruments and priorities. Through new initiatives, it focuses on system change and large-scale infrastructure. Together, both foundations contribute – each in their own way – to building a more sustainable economy.

As a public-benefit foundation (ANBI), the Rabo Impact Foundation – like the Rabo Foundation – exists to serve the public good. Rabobank remains involved as a donor and knowledge partner. There is no automatic annual contribution; each year Rabobank decides what portion of its profits will support societal initiatives. This intentional flexibility ensures alignment with both pressing societal needs and the financial health of the cooperative. At present, the expectation is that annual donations will be of a similar scale, allowing Rabo Impact Foundation to grow to EUR 1 billion.

Do you know someone – or are you someone – who might qualify for funding?

Check the criteria on the website: Ontdek Rabo Impact Foundation