Thanks to our co-operative roots, Rabobank has a rich history of community engagement. With the launch of the Rabo Community Fund in 2021, we can make an even bigger impact in the communities where our clients live. This dedicated fund specifically supports community-led initiatives, that enhance the vibrancy and resilience of rural Australia and New Zealand through tangible, meaningful programmes.

The Rabo Client Councils are intrinsically linked to Rabobank’s cooperative culture. A Client Council is a group of diverse Rabobank clients who have conversations and meet regularly to identify and discuss challenges facing the agricultural sector and help to develop initiatives that contribute to a sustainable food and agribusiness industry. The Client Councils enable Rabobank to work directly with the community to reach common goals, share information, experiences and knowledge.

Applications for the Rabo Community Fund and Rabobank Client Council funding are now open for 2026.

Our community initiatives are centred around six themes as identified by our Client Council Members.

Application Process 

Applications for funding will only be considered if received via this online application form. For this intake, the key dates are;

Application Criteria

Applications for funding must meet all of the following criteria:

• The initiatives must support the ongoing vitality of the agricultural industry and/or rural and regional communities;
• The initiatives must meet one or more of the six Rabo Client Council themes (refer to the Client Council themes above);
• Applicants must be a New Zealand organisation or programme;
• The initiative must require a minimum funding amount of $5,000 including GST. 
• The initiative must not exceed the maximum funding amount of $15,000 including GST. 

Applications will not be considered for any of the following;

• Programmes that do not align to the six Rabo Client Council themes (refer to the Client Council themes above);
• Business as usual activities, including but not limited to marketing, commercial sponsorship and/or business development opportunities;
• Ticketed table/per plate ticketed events (including but not limited to galas, balls, dinners);
• Individual applicants or personal expenses;
• All Government entities (and associations);
• Retrospective requests, general fundraising appeals or commercial sponsorships;
• Religious or sectarian education (however, programs, including education programmes by religion-based organisations that support a non-religious purpose are eligible to apply);
• Political support or political originations;
• Animal and plant pest control;
• Bequest programmes;
• Foundations that are grant-making bodies;
• Sporting (including animal sport) programmes/activities.

Terms and Conditions

Please read the following terms and conditions before submitting this Application Form to Rabobank New Zealand Limited (“Rabobank”). All applicants must be eligible and meet the criteria to apply for the Rabo Community Fund and/or Rabobank Client Council Fund (“Funding”).

1. Applicants must complete the Application Form, including all required fields. Failure to complete all required fields in the Application Form may mean your Application Form cannot be considered. 
2. Applications for Funding are open to New Zealand organisations who meet the following conditions:
   1. The initiative must support the ongoing vitality of the agricultural industry and/or rural and regional communities;
   2. The initiative must meet one or more of the six Rabobank Client Council themes (please refer to the themes listed above):
      1. Long-term industry capacity and agricultural education; and/or
      2. Environment sustainability; and/or
      3. Rural / urban connection; and/or
      4. Rural wellbeing; and/or
      5. Adaption / disruption; and/or
      6. Natural disaster resilience (community resilience and in response to).
3. The following applications are out of scope for Funding, and will not be accepted for consideration by Rabobank:
   1. Programs/activities that do not align to the six Client Council themes recorded at clause 2 above;
   2. Business as usual activities, including but not limited to marketing, commercial sponsorship and/or business development opportunities;
   3. Ticketed table/per plate ticketed events (including but not limited to galas, balls and/or dinners);
   4. Individual applicants or personal expenses;
   5. All Government entities (and associations);
   6. Retrospective requests, general fundraising appeals or commercial sponsorships;
   7. Religious or sectarian education (however, programs, including education programs by religion-based organisations that support a non-religious purpose are eligible to apply);
   8. Political support or political organisations;
   9. Animal and plant pest control;
   10. Bequest programs;
   11. Foundations that are grant-making bodies; or
   12. Sporting (including animal sport) programs / activities.
4. Rabobank (together with the Rabo Client Councils, as applicable) will determine, at its sole and absolute discretion, whether an application for Funding is approved. Rabobank’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the decision.
5. Rabobank may request additional information from an applicant regarding the initiative that the Funding has been applied for. If requested, Rabobank will advise the applicant of specific information required and the timeframe within which the additional information must be received by Rabobank. Should the additional information not be provided to Rabobank within the timeframe required, the application will be declined.
6. Applicants may on written request from Rabobank, and at Rabobank’s sole discretion, be required to provide Rabobank with a completed Health and Safety Risk Assessment for the initiative that Funding is being requested for. Any Health and Safety Risk Assessment must be completed in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
7. Successful applicants will be required to enter into a Sponsorship Agreement, initially provided by Rabobank, outlining the terms and conditions of the Funding and how the Funding will be spent.
8. Applicants must disclose in the Application Form whether any Rabobank board member, employee, client council member (or their immediate family) has any interest or involvement in the applicant’s organisation, or the event, project or activity being held, which the Funding will be used for
9. Funding amounts granted by Rabobank will be inclusive of GST.
10. Rabobank is not responsible for applications that are undeliverable due to a fault or delay in any electronic transmission.
11. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Rabobank excludes all liability for any losses or damages, whether direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential, including any loss of profit, loss of opportunity arising in any way in connection with the application for Funding. Rabobank will not be responsible for any incorrect, inaccurate, or incomplete information communicated in the course of or in connection with the application process if the deficiency is occasioned by any cause outside the reasonable control of Rabobank.

Privacy Notice

1. By providing Rabobank with the personal information associated with this Application form and request for Funding, you understand that Rabobank will collect, use, hold, and disclose the personal information provided to other organisations and persons (including to companies related to Rabobank and Rabobank Client Council members) for the purposes of processing and considering the relevant application for Funding. Rabobank therefore requires this personal information to carry out the above purpose. If all the information required is not provided, Rabobank may not be able to consider your Application Form or request for Funding. This personal information will be stored securely and will only be accessible by Rabobank and Rabo Client Council members in Australia and New Zealand.
2. If, as part of this application for Funding, you disclose any personal information about other individuals, Rabobank expects you to inform them about this Privacy Notice. You can do so by providing this Privacy Notice to them directly. 
3. Personal information will only be used in accordance with the Rabobank Privacy Statement which can be found at www.rabobank.co.nz, which includes information about individual rights such as access to and/or correction of the personal information which we hold, and how an individual may make a privacy related complaint.  

This declaration relates to all information in this Application Form received by Rabobank, from you or the organisation you are making the application on behalf of, during the assessment of the application and anytime thereafter.

I hereby declare that: