AusLeisure

The Australian Sports Foundation has established a new charitable fund which has been awarded Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status by the Federal Government, allowing sport to benefit for the first time from more than $550 million distributed annually by Public and Private Ancillary Funds.

Ancillary Funds currently hold over $4.4 billion in philanthropic assets and are required to distribute a minimum of 5% of assets held every year.

The Sports Foundation, which itself has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, has raised almost $150 million for sport via tax deductible donations over the past four years.

The new Charitable Trust is expected to help the Sports Foundation raise an additional $25-$30 million a year for charitable community sports projects by 2022, rising to over $50 million per year within 10 years.

The Trust’s charitable purpose is to help those with a social disadvantage to benefit through sport.

The Sports Foundation intends to use this new status to inject monies into regional and rural sports facilities, to promote and assist gender equality through sport, and to provide funding for multi-cultural, diversity and inclusion sports programs.

Sports Foundation Chief Executive, Patrick Walker (pictured below), said the establishment of the Charitable Trust is the Foundation’s most significant step since it was created by the Federal Government in 1986.

Walker explained “we believe that every Australian should be able to enjoy the benefits of sport, irrespective of culture, gender or economic circumstances.

“Up until now, sport has been unable to access distributions from most Ancillary Funds, despite around 30% of the programs we support meeting charitable criteria. The Federal Government’s decision will now allow tens of millions of dollars to be injected annually into under-funded community and grassroots charitable sports projects.

“Sport is at the heart of every Australian community and has a unique ability to bring people from different cultures and backgrounds together. At a time of alarming rises in levels of obesity and its associated health issues, this additional funding will improve physical and mental health outcomes for disadvantaged Australians, get more kids and adults active and provide significant community benefits.

“Arts and cultural organisations currently receive over $50 million per year from Ancillary Funds, and we believe that sport should benefit to the same level within a decade.

“Despite its benefits to physical and mental health, and the central role it plays in our communities, sport has not typically viewed itself as a philanthropic cause.

“The establishment of our Charitable Trust will help us promote the benefits of active sports participation and build relationships with Ancillary Funds to help build a healthier and more active and more inclusive Australia.”

For learn more about the Sports Foundation, go to www.asf.org.au

Related Articles

2nd August 2017 - Australian Sports Foundation achieves record $44.75 million fundraising

23rd May 2017 - Widespread support for sport lottery funding plan

4th November 2016 - Australian Sports Foundation raises record funds for sport

29th August 2016 - Australian Sports Foundation reaches $300 million target with record sport donations

27th April 2016 - Netball Foundation campaign aims to ‘Give Every Girl a Chance’

19th February 2016 - Sporting legends back ASF goal to exceed $300 million in sport fundraising

5th May 2015 - Australian Sports Foundation looks for donations boost

1st August 2014 - Mark Stockwell to chair Australian Sports Foundation

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.