$1 Million Challenge
2024 APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!
Applications close May 9, 2024
Athletes: For more information and how to apply Click Here
Businesses/employee: for more information on how you can team up with an Aussie athlete Click Here
Aussie Athlete Fund was created to raise hopes, funds and support to power dreams and create pathways to give talented athletes the best chance at success, regardless of their financial circumstances.
We aim to create a sustainable athlete economy so our next generation and those who follow can wear the Green & Gold and can retire, not in debt, but with the education, connections and skills to use outside of sport.
The athlete reality
The costs involved to compete at an elite level can be overwhelming. There's a perception that elite athletes are well paid, but that is a privilege not afforded to many. The reality is, it’s near impossible to earn a living wage from sport, or hold down work that fits around training, competition and travel schedules.
Almost half of Australia's best athletes earn below the poverty line threshold, with an annual income of less than $23,000. (Ref: ASF, 2003 research studies)
Many talented athletes are denied the opportunity to pursue their dreams to represent Australia because they or their families simply can’t afford to fund the escalating costs associated with training and competitions.
Athletes are expected to win gold medals on less than the minimum wage. Balancing elite training, competitions, recovery, work, study and day to day life isn’t feasible. Many athletes quit, burn out or both.
About the $1 Million Challenge
The Aussie Athlete Fund $1 Million Challenge (referred to as the ‘Challenge’) will help to break down athletes' financial barriers by providing fundraising education along with assistance from businesses and/or employees of businesses.
The Challenge is to pair 100 athletes with 100 businesses with the purpose to raise $10,000 for the athlete. As a team, the athlete and business/employee work together to fundraise for the athlete's sporting journey. The quicker the fundraising, the faster incentive rewards are achieved (eg fuel card, SIM card, merchandise etc).
The $1 Million Challenge provides athletes with education modules, mentoring support, guest speaking opportunities, incentives for hitting financial targets and support for their fundraising journey.
Athletes won’t be doing this alone!
Nat Cook OAM OLY, along with some of her fellow athletes who have navigated this journey before, will support athletes via online mentoring/coaching calls to help with ideas, hints and tips.
This is a partnership and we will work together to help athletes raise money for their sporting endeavours and provide fundraising skills and the confidence they will need to achieve financial sustainability.
ALL THE MONEY RAISED IN THE $1 MILLION CHALLENGE GOES DIRECTLY TO THE ATHLETES (via the athlete's ASF page)!
Australian Sports Foundation is a non-profit sport fundraising and charity body. For donations of $2 or more, donors are eligible to claim a tax deduction.
- Athletes and businesses (corporates, small and large businesses, employees of businesses, individuals and philanthropists) are invited to complete an application to participate in the $1 Million Challenge. Aussie Athlete Fund will assess each application and select our Challenge pairs.
- Up to 100 Aussie athletes (from all sports, competing at a national level) will be paired with 100 businesses/organisations.
- Aussie Athlete Fund will connect and pair athletes and businesses/organisations and get pairs started on their fundraising journey. How pairs conduct their fundraising will be a matter for them (Aussie Athlete Fund will provide tips and hints along the way).
- Once selected, athletes will be required to create an Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) page where their fundraising money will be collected. Aussie Athlete Fund will assist athletes to set up their ASF page.
- Athletes will receive fundraising education, mentoring support, opportunities to hear from guest speakers, incentives for hitting fundraising targets and support throughout the $1 Million Challenge journey.
- Athlete and business pairs will work as a team, using the ASF platform (100% tax deductible resource) to receive funds raised. As a team, they will be encouraged to create innovative ways to raise funds for the athlete.
- The goal is to raise $10,000 per athlete, within a specified time, to be used to support the athlete's sporting journey, eg flights, accommodation, coaching, equipment, recovery, nutrition etc.
- Athletes may earn incentives for reaching fundraising targets along the way (eg fuel card, SIM card, merchandise).
The Challenge is an opportunity that goes beyond just fundraising. The program will provide skills and education to athletes and their families on how to raise funds, with the goal to achieve some financial independence and confidence.
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.