Athlete Applications

Learn How to Fundraise!

$1 Million Challenge Applications for 2024 have now closed.

Please keep subscribe to our newsletter or follow our social channels to keep up to date when 2025 applications open.

The Aussie Athlete Fund (AAF) $1 Million Challenge, powered by Ampol aims to pair 100 athletes with 100 businesses and as a team, aim to raise $10,000 directly for the athlete.

The Challenge provides education modules, mentoring support, opportunities to hear from guest speakers, incentives for hitting fundraising targets and support throughout your journey.

Fundraising is a skill you can learn and you won’t be doing this alone.

Nat Cook OAM OLY and some of her fellow athletes, who have navigated this journey before, will support you in the process via mentoring/coaching calls to help you with fundraising ideas.

This is a partnership and we will work together to help you raise money for your sporting endeavours and provide you with the fundraising skills and confidence to carry with you beyond the $1 Million Challenge.

Find out more about the $1 Million Challenge here

Athlete Eligibility

Applications are open to sportspersons of all ages who meet the following criteria:

Are an Australian Citizen
Are a member of a national team (where applicable)
Are participating in a sport recognised by the Australian Sports Commission

What’s involved and how does it work?

As an athlete, you must firstly complete an application form.
If chosen, you will be part of the $1 Million Challenge - along with up to 99 other athletes where your goal is to raise $10,000 for you within a specified time (via the Australian Sports Foundation [ASF] website).
Chosen athletes:
- AAF will aim to pair you with a business/organisation who will invest time and resources to assist you.
  - Please note not all athletes will be paired with a business. If the athlete has a business in mind, AAF will work with the athlete to get the business on board.
- All athletes and businesses will have an initial induction call with the team at AAF.
- AAF will introduce the athlete to their business/organisation to discuss how and what fundraising activations you would like to do as a team.
- Athletes will be provided with access to the Challenge information page where they will find all the Challenge resources.
  - For example, the first resource and incentive will be a 10-module fundraising academy (online) thanks to etrainu, with the first module being how to create an Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) page.
- The athlete will receive guidance and support throughout their fundraising journey and be rewarded with incentives when they hit certain fundraising targets visibale on their ASF page. These incentives continue throughout the $10,000 Challenge.
  - Example incentive: athletes who reach $1,000 on their ASF page will receive FREE socks with thanks to Grip Star.

What you put in is what you get out, plus much more.

Do I have to find the business to partner with?

Aussie Athlete Fund will in their best endeavours find you a Challenge business partner, however the athlete is encouraged to seek their own business by networking. AAF and the athlete will work together to find a business partner for the athlete.

Is there a limit on how much we can raise?

There is no limit.

Our goal is for athlete/business pairs to raise $10,000 per athlete. However, the more money a pair can raise for an athlete the better: more competitions to enter, more high level training camps, better equipment and other items to help them perform at the highest level.

How do I apply?

Ensure you meet all of the eligibility criteria and complete an application form.

Time to forge your path off the court, field, pool, to set you up for financial sustainability for your present and future!

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