The Australian Sports Foundation is now partnering with Golf Australia’s Club Support to provide tailored tax deductible fundraising assistance for member clubs.
Golf clubs can take advantage of the ASF’s unique Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status by which donations of $2 or more to registered club projects are tax deductible.
To take advantage of the ASF’s DGR status, golf clubs can register fundraising projects with the Sports Foundation’s Fundraising4Sport (F4S) program at www.asf.org.au
“What this effectively means is if a F4S golf club project is registered with the ASF, donors can make their donation to the project via us. We pass on the donation to the golf club for the project and the donor receives a tax receipt from us,” ASF chief executive, Patrick Walker said.
“We know many golf clubs are struggling because of declining memberships and higher operational costs. Therefore, new ways of generating revenue for key club programs are essential.
“For example, new members are the lifeblood of golf courses. So a club could generate funds to conduct come-and-try golf days, or introduce a junior golf program to try and increase participation levels,” he said.
Walker said many fundraising revenue solutions often come from within clubs.
“Instead of levying members for course or clubhouse upgrades, a club can register the project with the ASF and request members to make a tax deductible donation.”
Heading the ASF’s golf program is Marcia Wallis, who enjoyed a decorated amateur golf career in the United States where she was California Amateur champion, finished eighth at the NCAA national championship and had several top 10-finishes on the Futures Tour.
“Golf is in my blood having lived on Pasatiempo Golf Course in Santa Cruz. I also know the challenges golf clubs around Australia currently face and I want to help clubs and their members,” Wallis said.
Wallis said there are 1497 golf clubs in Australia, but only 120 golf projects are registered with the ASF.
“There is massive opportunity for golf clubs to partner with us and generate new revenue streams to assist with much-needed club projects,” she said.
Wallis said clubs that have taken advantage of the ASF’s DGR status have generated great fundraising results.
“A South Australian club identified $2.6 million for major clubhouse redevelopment and a course upgrade. A direct mail campaign to members outlining a three-year donation program has already raised $1.2 million this financial year.
In Victoria, a club issued debentures to members to upgrade the clubhouse. The members made loans to the club and, when repayment was due, the club asked members if they would donate the loan to the project as a tax deduction. The response from members was very high and all project money was raised.”
Wallis said sport was only tapping into around one per cent of the estimated $2.5 billion Australian philanthropic market.
“In 2014-15, the ASF raised over $24 million for sport, but this is well short of the eight per cent which is raised by the arts,” she said.
“Sport has, and always will be, a key part of Australian life. And when you consider to health and community benefits participation in sport provides, the overall benefits are immense,” she said.
“The Sports Foundation will gladly accept calls or emails from clubs and is happy to meet with clubs or attend a workshop to provide specific advice how golf clubs can effectively raise funds for much needed projects.”
If you would like to read past articles from Golf Business Bulletin go to http://clubsupport.golf.org.au/news