South Gippsland Shire Council, Shire of York, Narromine Shire Council and Maribyrnong City Council have more in common than being part of the Local Government network. All registered during 2001-02 with the Australian Sports Foundation Ltd (ASF), a company of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) that recently moved back to its original home in Canberra from Sydney.
Along with more than a dozen other Local Governments, the newly registered Councils have the potential to benefit financially through their participation in the ASF’s scheme. Established by the Federal Government in 1986, this unique organisation has a mandate to support the development of sport in Australia. In doing so, it facilitates tax breaks for businesses, philanthropic trusts and individuals who want to make an unconditional donation to a community sports project.
The ASF has made grants totalling more than $70 million since 1986 and facilitated the donation of over $7 million to some 150 projects in 2001/02 alone.
The ASF has been tasked with growing the business from the $4 million it issued in grants in the 2000/01 financial year. The biggest challenge faced by the ASF is that not enough of Australia’s tens of thousands of local Councils, sporting organisations, clubs, schools, and community groups are aware of the work of the foundation.
Completed projects include the Manning Swim and Leisure Aquatic Centre at Taree and the Katanning Multi-Purpose Sports Facility. But many others are yet to discover how effective it can be in building social cohesion and in achieving community fundraising goals.
How it works is very simple
Any not for profit sporting organisation, Council, club, sporting association, community group or school can register a project with the ASF. Clubs that do not issue a dividend and that put all profits back into their organisations qualify under ASF guidelines. These groups can then begin a fundraising campaign, encouraging donors to make an ‘unconditional’ donation to the ASF.
ASF staff will help in educating fundraisers on how to develop and utilise their database of potential donors. Donations must be ‘unconditional’ to receive a tax deduction under the requirements of the Tax Act. Donors can however, nominate a preferred specific sporting project, though they are not allowed to receive any other benefit, advantage, right or privilege from their donation apart from tax deductibility.
To access the ASF’s fundraising potential, call (02) 6214 7868, email info@asf.org.au or visit the website at www.asf.org.au
