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RMB Fund

As one of South Africa's leading investment banks, we continually strive to be a good corporate citizen, and we work to secure a sustainable future for our business, local communities, the environment and our country. The RMB Fund is our CSI vehicle, and a member of the FirstRand Foundation (FRF).

Key Focus Areas

Education Programme – Mathematics Excellence and Outreach

RMB's Maths Education Programme builds on learning from extensive engagement and research into the most effective ways to increase the number of school leavers with high level mathematics qualifications, supporting centres of excellence in Maths leadership and literacy and upgrading teaching skills. Funding has also been provided to Independent Schools' Outreach Programmes, which often involve supplementary mathematics classes for under-resourced schools.

The FirstRand Foundation South African Maths Education Chairs Initiative is an outcome of the commitment of the FRF, in partnership with the RMB Fund, to mathematics education in South Africa, with a special focus on teacher training and improvement of learner performance. The FRF SA Maths Education Chairs Initiative has four interrelated objectives:

  1. To provide leadership in mathematics education and increase the dialogue around solutions for the mathematics crisis
  2. To research sustainable and practical solutions to the national mathematics crisis
  3. To improve the quality of teaching of in-service mathematics teachers at selected secondary schools
  4. To improve the mathematics results (pass rates and quality of passes) in selected secondary schools, as a result of quality teaching and learning

Expressions Programme - Arts, Culture and Heritage

This programme seeks to support and celebrate our country’s diverse heritage and is structured to encourage a healthy balance between the creation of equitable access to arts and heritage, whilst continuing to promote the achievement of excellence; developing and exposing young talent through programmes in music and dance.

Partners in this programme include:

  • Apollo Music Trust
  • Black Tie Ensemble - Incubator Scheme
  • Cape Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Cape Town Opera
  • Drakensberg Boys' Choir School Educational Trust
  • Durban Music School
  • Moving into Dance Mophatong
  • National School of the Arts Trust
  • Orchestra Company
  • Sibikwa Community Theatre Project
  • Zama Dance School Trust

Environmental Programme - Education and Conservation

Our Environmental Programme continues to support the preservation of the lesser known but important "habitat-indicator species", including the Blue Swallow, Ground Hornbill, Giant Bullfrog, Riverine Rabbit, Blue Crane, Oxpecker and Cape Leopard. We also participate in climate change initiatives and environmental programmes that demonstrate strong local community development and buy-in, as well as environmental education projects aimed at school children. In addition, grants are made towards capital, soil and water conservation programmes.

Partners in this programme include:

  • Bateleurs
  • BirdLife South Africa
  • Cape Leopard Trust
  • Durban Botanical Gardens
  • Endangered Wildlife Trust - habitat indicator species
  • Kruger Park Bird Project
  • Jewish National Fund of Soluth Africa
  • Rhino and Lion Wildlife Conservation
  • U/OFS - Leseding Project Okavango Delta
  • Wilderness Foundation
  • World Wildlife Fund - South Africa

Safe Communities

We maintain strategic relationships in support of a united fight against crime.

The RMB Fund spent in excess of R20m on programmes in the listed focus areas during the 2007/2008 financial year, with a further R10m being allocated to the launch of FirstRand Foundation South African Maths Education Chairs Initiative.