FAQs
On the Australian Sports Foundation’s (ASF) FAQ page, you will find answers to questions regularly raised with us. If you have a query that is not listed below and you cannot find the information elsewhere on this site, please contact us using our on-line form.
- Why haven’t I heard about the ASF before?
- What does it cost to work with the ASF?
- It all sounds too good to be true – what’s the catch?
- I want to donate to sport, why do I have to make the donation payable to the Australian Sports Foundation?
- I want to nominate a particular organisation as the recipient of my donation. How do I know that these funds will go to the organisation nominated?
- What do I need to do to make a donation?
- Will I be issued a receipt for my donation?
- What if our organisation does not reach our intended ASF donation target?
- What promotional material can our organisation use to promote the ASF project?
- Why does the ASF have to ‘clear’ all project promotional material prior to publication?
- Does the ASF retain funds or are they all returned to sport?
Q. Why haven’t I heard about the ASF before?
A. The ASF has been providing a service to sport since 1986. The sports industry is a transient place with high turnover at administrative and committee levels. Effectively marketing the ASF to sport, communities, local government and schools is a constant challenge and a priority. The visibility of the ASF via website referrals, promotion via state sports departments and councils, project meetings and attendance at relevant conferences and trade shows has markedly increased its profile but we are keen to do better. We are testing and exploring other effective ways of reaching sport and communities particularly in regional and rural Australia . The ASF appreciates the support of its projects in referring it to other prospective clients.
Q. What does it cost to work with the ASF?
A. The ASF is funded by the Australian Government to provide its service to organisations with sports development objectives. Apart from the initial application fee of $275 GST incl (which is refundable if the registered project achieves a fundraising target of $5000 in the first 12 months) there are no other costs to the project for the services provided by the ASF. The ASF applies an administrative charge of 2% for all credit card donations, charged to the project.
Q. It all sounds too good to be true – what’s the catch?
A. There is no catch. It is a tried and true process that enables sport and communities to work in partnership with business to achieve sports development outcomes. In fact since 1986 over $150 million has been issued in the form of discretionary grants to registered projects, as a result of fundraising undertaken. There currently are 539 projects registered with the ASF. Australians have the capability to support the development of sport by making unconditional donations to the ASF that are tax deductible. Donors can nominate a project of their choice as their preferred beneficiary.
Q. I want to donate to sport, why do I have to make the donation payable to the Australian Sports Foundation?
A. The Australian Sports Foundation Ltd was established by the Australian Government in 1986 to assist sporting organisations raise money through tax deductible donations. The ASF is a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) through its listing in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA). This enables donations of $2 and over to the ASF to be eligible for a tax deduction. The ASF is the only organisation with DGR status listed in the ITAA able to offer this support to eligible sporting and community organisations.
Q. I want to nominate a particular organisation as the recipient of my donation. How do I know that these funds will go to the organisation nominated?
A. In line with taxation law, all donations must be made unconditionally to the ASF. Donors may nominate a registered project as a preferred beneficiary, however donors cannot insist or direct that their donations benefit a specific project. Similarly, the ASF cannot guarantee donations will be directed to a specific project. If the ASF were to give such a guarantee, the tax deductibility of the donation would be compromised.
The ASF Board must exercise discretion but will consider donor preferences when making discretionary grants to registered projects.
Q. What do I need to do to make a donation?
A. Contact us. All ASF donors are required to complete an ASF approved donation form to enable a receipt to be issued.
Q. Will I be issued a receipt for my donation?
A. Once all ASF requirements are met, the ASF will issue a receipt. All ASF donors should be aware that all claims for a tax deduction are subject to acceptance by the Commissioner of Taxation. Any donor who is uncertain of their position is encouraged to seek independent advice.
Q. What if our organisation does not reach our intended ASF donation target?
A. The ASF fundraising target is your suggested amount only; the ASF does not ‘hold’ your organisation to that amount. If your organisation does not reach the targetted amount, the ASF may suggest other fundraising approaches to help you achieve the goal. The ASF fundraising target figure may be revised at any time during the life of the project.
Q. What promotional material can our organisation use to promote the ASF project?
A. The ASF has a number of ‘best practice’ templates to provide project organisations with examples of suitable promotional material. Project registration enables access to these as part of the ASF service. Your ASF project officer can also provide promotional ideas from other ASF projects which your organisation may find useful. Please note that the ASF must approve all promotional material prior to printing and distribution to ensure all ASF requirements have been met (see below).
Q. Why does the ASF have to ‘clear’ all project promotional material prior to publication?
A. The ASF works with project organisations to develop appropriate material designed to promote the project objective while adhering to the taxation guidelines that underpin the Sport Incentive Program. For example, it is important to distinguish clearly between donation and sponsorship. Inaccurate references unintentionally made in promotional material could jeopardise the ability of the ASF to issue a receipt to a donor, even if the contribution is bona-fide. Misleading or mischievous promotional information could result in the project being suspended or terminated, in accordance with the grant agreement between the organisation and the ASF.
Q. Does the ASF retain funds or are they all returned to sport?
A. The ASF returns funds to sporting and community organisations in the form of discretionary grants. These grant rounds are held up to six times per year. The ASF has a philosophy and practice of wanting eligible sports projects to benefit from these funds sooner rather than later. In fact apart from the 2% charge for credit card donations, all donations received become the available funding pool for consideration as part of the discretionary grant process.
