Australian Sports Foundation and Aussie Athlete Fund Join Forces
The Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) and Aussie Athlete Fund (AAF) have combined to become our newest national team.
By uniting to equip Australian athletes with the tools to build a financially sustainable community through tax-deductible fundraising opportunities, the partnership is set to benefit current and future sporting generations.
The two organisations share common goals and complementary strengths.
The Aussie Athlete Fund seeks to nurture, develop, empower and sustain athletes on their journey from emerging to elite, through education, a connected community, and financial support opportunities.
The Australian Sports Foundation provides the nation’s only tax-deductible platform for local sports clubs and athletes to fundraise, share their stories, and engage meaningfully with their supporters.
Together, ASF Chief Partnerships Officer Ryan Holloway believes this will be a winning combination.
“The Australian Sports Foundation is thrilled to start this important collaboration with the Aussie Athlete Fund and help facilitate its vision for athlete support, education and financial wellbeing,” Holloway said.
“We are committed to ensuring sport is accessible to all regardless of gender, background, ability or culture and, by aligning with AAF, the ASF will be able to deliver better outcomes to more athletes at all levels.”
Aussie Athlete Fund founder, Nat Cook OAM OLY, said the AAF aimed to stimulate individual athlete economies to drive both performance-based outcomes and the ability to acquire the skills and connections to sustain them in life beyond sport.
“Aussie Athlete Fund is proud to partner with the leading non-profit sport fundraising and charity body, the Australian Sports Foundation,” said Cook, five-time Olympian and 2000 Olympic beach volleyball gold medallist.
“For too long, our Aussie athletes have battled for every cent and they still retire in debt. Together with the Australian Sports Foundation, we aim to provide access to all our athletes with an easy and accessible fundraising platform that is tax-deductible and supplies the tools to build a sustainable athlete economy.
“This partnership is a golden step towards creating a better pathway for our athletes, and together we can really change the game.”
One of several key AAF initiatives is the annual $1 Million Challenge, powered by Ampol, which aims to pair 100 businesses with 100 athletes with the goal of raising $10,000 per athlete.
Elevate 20 Program is a masterclass for 20 selected athletes (selected from the $1 Million Challenge participants) who will be invited to join the next phase, expanding their fundraising knowledge, brand building, networking opportunities and taking their confidence to tell their stories to the next level both written and verbally.
As athletes expand their knowledge and build confidence throughout their fundraising experience, along with understanding the power of their personal brands and stories, AAF expects athlete activity through the ASF to grow, resulting in a significant improvement in athlete financial security.
Nat Cook also urged businesses or individuals to show their support by making a tax-deductible donation, one-off or recurring, via the fund’s ASF page.
For more information
Linda Pearce – Stamping Ground
0419 539 357
linda@stampingground.com.au
About the Australian Sports Foundation
The ASF is Australia’s national non-profit sports fundraising organisation, and the only organisation in Australia to which donations for sport are tax-deductible.
ASF focuses on supporting a thriving Australian sporting sector, where everyone has access to the health and social benefits of sport, regardless of gender, background, location, ability or culture.
ASF has been helping athletes, clubs and organisations to fundraise for 37 years. Since its inception, the ASF has distributed nearly $700 million through its online fundraising platform and community sport grant rounds.