The Opportunities…

The opportunities for sporting club or association members to assist their club financially over and above the payment of fees are threefold:

• in Australia, via the Australian Sports Foundation, (ASF), a Federal Government agency, donations can be made for developments or projects at a sporting club or association and donors will receive a tax deduction for these, (once the club’s project is registered with the ASF). The ASF is a public company established by the Federal Government in 1986 to assist Australian sport at all levels and it is listed in Section 30-90 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 which enables donations to the ASF to be eligible tax deductions. The ASF  charges a fee of 5% of the gift for this service,

• through a Bequest in the donor’s Will leaving part of his or her estate to the club for a particular project or fund or for unrestricted use,
• in Australia through the donation of works of art, artefacts or sporting memorabilia whereby a tax deduction would be available to the donor based on a valuation from appropriately approved valuers. This operates under the Cultural Gifts Programme which is jointly administered by the Commonwealth Department of Communications (Office for the Arts) and the Australian Taxation Office. In order for a club to offer deductibility under this scheme it would be necessary for the club to establish and register a museum. The museum at the Melbourne Cricket Club for example is so registered.

With any of these opportunities naming rights could attach to the gift and the adoption of a naming rights policy by the club would help promote the concept of philanthropy within the club.

The Process…

In order to provide members with the opportunity to support their club under one or more of these programmes the Club Committee would need to:

• endorse the concept(s) in principle
• set in train the necessary registration steps
• consider and possibly adopt a naming rights policy
• establish a “Development Committee” or “Foundation” to deal with the registration requirements and to then oversee the philanthropic fundraising activities of the club.

The Next Step…

Washington Services works with clubs to put the necessary structures in place, including ASF registration and advises them on implementing the process of philanthropy within the club.

For further information on this funding opportunity, or for an obligation free initial consultation, contact Frank Opray on +61 (0) 407 316865.

Washington Services

Unit 812, 594 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Vic 3004 Australia

Tel: +61 (0) 407 316 865  Email: frank@opray.net

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