Project information
To be eligible to apply to register a project with the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF), organisations and projects must meet eligibility criteria.
Organisations eligible to register a project with the ASF must be:
- non-profit or a government organisation
- incorporated in Australia under appropriate legislation
- financially viable
and include:
- clubs
- sporting organisations (regional, state, national)
- schools
- councils
- community groups
- other types of organisations
Projects (Category 1 & Category 2) eligible for consideration for ASF registration must:
- be sport related by being one of the following types
- benefit the community by aiming to increase opportunities for Australians to participate in sport and/ or to excel in sports performance
- be financially viable
*Facility development and facility feasibility study projects are excluded from Category 2.
Category 2 projects will be additionally assessed against the following considerations:
- the nature of the project
- the location of the project
- the existence of alternate fundraising sources
The ASF is unable to accept applications for projects where:
- applications are from commercial entities, unincorporated bodies or individuals
- potential donors may gain a direct benefit, advantage, right or privilege, other than one of an insignificant nature, as a consequence of their donation
- the project relates to operational and administrative expenditure, that is, for salaries, running costs, routine maintenance, repair work etc
- the project relates to retrospective expenditure (apart from the repayment of loans for facilities completed within the12 month period immediately prior to registration).
Projects will only be considered where:
- the organisation has a legal right to develop the facility, that is, it has a renewable lease or ownership of land
- the proposal is not subject to any legislative or administrative claim
- the organisation has addressed environmental impact issues (if applicable)
- planning approval has been given by the relevant planning authority.
Examples of projects that will be considered include:
- building new facilities such as tennis courts, football ovals, hockey pitches and sport centres
- upgrading, extending or relocating an existing facility, such as installation of lighting, irrigation systems, access for people with disabilities, spectator seating
- building ancillary facilities such as toilet blocks, shade structures, change rooms and pontoons.
The ASF is unable to accept applications for facility projects which relate to:
- the development of commercial areas such as bar, catering, retail and gambling
- administration areas
- recreational facilities such as playgrounds and cycle paths.
Facility feasibility study projects
Projects will only be considered where formal assessments will be undertaken relating to proposals for the development of new or upgraded facilities.
The ASF project scope for a feasibility study is limited to $50,000.
Projects will only be considered for non-consumable sporting equipment has a useful life of greater than two years and remains the property of the organisation.
Examples of projects that will be considered include rowing craft, goalposts, hurdles, safety equipment, video analysis equipment, sail training and response boats.
Projects will only be considered where:
- travel is to annual state or national championships by regional or state representative teams, subject to evidence of team lists and the applicable selection criteria
- travel is to international competition by state or national representative teams subject to evidence confirming the nature of the event, team lists and the applicable selection criteria
- as a general rule, based on ATO advice, teams will constitute 5 or more players and can include medical and coaching staff and a manager. However the ASF will exercise discretion in the case of sports where representation may involve fewer participants (eg sailing, gymnastics, boxing, rowing, equestrian)
- organisations agree not to collect donations from relatives, associates of team members or persons reasonably expected to be a team member
- organisations agree to seek declarations from donors certifying that they are not related to, or associated with, team members or persons reasonably expected to be a team member
- organisations agree to apply grant funds to the combined costs and expenses of the team or project as a whole and not to a particular individual
Hosting a major sporting event
Projects will only be considered where organisations have secured the right to host an event of significance to its sport.
Sport Development projects should incorporate programs designed to increase opportunities for Australians to:
- excel in sports performance
- participate in sport
- record sports history
Projects will only be considered where:
- organisations demonstrate a commitment to the enhancement of participation levels or the development of elite programs
- organisations agree not to collect donations from relatives, associates of participants or persons reasonably expected to be a participant
- organisations agree to seek declarations from donors certifying that they are not related to, or associated with, participants or persons reasonably expected to be participants
- selection criteria for participants have been developed.
Examples of activities that will be considered as a Sport Development project include:
- sport courses/clinics/camps of no more than 2 months duration used to promote sport and increase participation levels and excellence
- development programs including where individuals, association, club or school teams gain exposure at a higher level of competition
- sport scholarships
- recording of sports history
If you have any queries regarding the compilation of an application for the Sport Incentive Program, please contact us.
- Sport Development Fact Sheet (
PDF - 98.8 kb)
