Sports Philanthropy in Australia

For decades, Australian philanthropy has invested in health, education, inclusion, wellbeing and stronger communities - outcomes that sport is uniquely positioned to deliver.

Yet sport has rarely been considered a natural home for strategic philanthropic investment.

That is changing.

EXPLORE WHAT SPORT CAN MAKE POSSIBLE

Your priorities.
The right opportunities.
Meaningful impact.

Whether you have an established giving strategy or are exploring sport for the first time, we can help you identify opportunities aligned with the outcomes you want to create.

Request a Conversation

SPORT CREATES MORE THAN PARTICIPATION

The final whistle. The winning goal. The personal best.

A growing number of foundations, families and advisers are recognising what the evidence increasingly demonstrates: sport is not simply a participation activity. It is a powerful platform for building healthier, more connected and more resilient communities. [1]

Yet compared with the scale of that opportunity, strategic philanthropic investment in sport remains disproportionately low.

The Australian Sports Foundation exists to close that gap - connecting philanthropic ambition with credible opportunities to create social impact through sport.

Sport's greatest impact is often found long before and long after those moments.

It builds confidence and resilience in young people. It creates belonging and reduces isolation. It strengthens physical and mental wellbeing and connects communities across age, background, geography and ability.

These are not simply sporting outcomes. They are social outcomes.

Australian and international evidence increasingly demonstrates that sport can contribute to healthier communities, stronger social connection, improved wellbeing and greater social cohesion. [1][2]

Whether your focus is young people, health and wellbeing, gender equity, social connection, disability inclusion or regional communities, sport can provide a platform through which those outcomes can be pursued.

Why now

Australia's sporting sector is under genuine and growing pressure.

Rising costs, volunteer shortages and increasing demand - particularly in communities experiencing disadvantage - mean access to sport can no longer be taken for granted. [4]

At the same time, the evidence supporting sport's broader social value continues to grow.

Philanthropic investment has the potential to expand access, strengthen the organisations delivering community sport and help ensure the people and communities who stand to benefit most are not left behind.

WHY PARTNER WITH ASF

The Australian Sports Foundation has spent 40 years at the intersection of giving and Australian sport.

We are uniquely positioned to help philanthropy navigate this emerging opportunity.

Through the ASF Charitable Fund, we provide a pathway through which eligible philanthropic investment in sport can be facilitated tax-effectively, including investment from Private and Public Ancillary Funds, charitable trusts, family foundations and individual donors.

But infrastructure alone is not what we offer.

We provide access, advisory expertise and assurance.

Access to Australian sport

Our relationships extend across the breadth of Australian sport - from community organisations and emerging initiatives through to state and national sporting bodies.

This reach enables us to identify opportunities that may otherwise be difficult for philanthropy to find or navigate.

Advisory grounded in your priorities

We start with what matters to you.

We take the time to understand the outcomes you want to create, the communities you want to support and the way you want to give.

From there, we help identify opportunities where sport can be a genuine vehicle for achieving those ambitions.

Assurance through governance and evidence

Effective philanthropy requires confidence in where funding is going and what it is achieving.

We support appropriate due diligence, governance, impact measurement and reporting to help philanthropists make informed investment decisions.

Importantly, we also work alongside sporting organisations to strengthen their capability to articulate, measure and demonstrate their social impact.

HOW WE WORK WITH YOU

Every philanthropic journey is different.

Talk to us

Some funders come to us with a clearly defined giving strategy. Others are exploring sport for the first time. Some want to address a particular social issue or support a particular community. Others want to understand where their investment could create the greatest impact.

Wherever you begin, our approach starts in the same place: we listen first.

We seek to understand your priorities, values and philanthropic ambitions before considering the role sport might play in achieving them.

From there, we can help:

• identify opportunities aligned with your philanthropic priorities

• navigate the breadth of Australian sport

• undertake appropriate due diligence

• determine suitable giving pathways and structures

• connect you with sporting organisations and initiatives

• establish appropriate impact measurement and reporting

• build relationships that can develop beyond a single grant or investment.

Who we work with

Major donors and families seeking to create lasting social impact through significant philanthropic investment.
Trusts and foundations seeking evidence-backed opportunities aligned with their funding priorities.
Private and Public Ancillary Funds looking for appropriate charitable opportunities through sport.
Family offices building long-term and multi-generational philanthropic legacies.
Philanthropic advisers seeking trusted, well-governed opportunities aligned with their clients' objectives.
Corporate foundations and businesses investing in healthier, more inclusive and connected communities.

CASE STUDIES

Philanthropy
in action

The potential of sports philanthropy is best understood through the change it makes possible.

Across Australia, philanthropic investment is helping sporting organisations create opportunities for people and communities who may otherwise face barriers to participation, belonging and connection.

Whether your focus is health and wellbeing, inclusion, young people, regional communities or social connection, ASF can help identify where sport can contribute to the outcomes you want to achieve.

Whatever your starting point, our role is the same:

to help you invest with confidence and create meaningful, measurable impact through sport.

Creating opportunity through the Bibbulmun Fund

The Bibbulmun Fund demonstrates how philanthropy and sport can come together to create meaningful opportunities for communities.

Through a strategic approach to giving, the Fund shows how philanthropic investment can extend beyond supporting participation alone - helping sport contribute to broader social and community outcomes.

Read the Bibbulmun Fund case study

Building connection through the Victorian Indigenous Surfing Program

The Victorian Indigenous Surfing Program demonstrates sport’s ability to create connection, opportunity and culturally meaningful experiences.

It is an example of how targeted support can enable sporting initiatives to reach communities in ways that reflect their needs, while using sport as a platform for participation, belonging and broader social impact.

Read the Victorian Indigenous Surfing Program case study

BUILDING STRONGER PHILANTHROPY AND STRONGER SPORT

Our role does not end when funding is provided

Sustainable philanthropic impact requires strong organisations capable of delivering, measuring and communicating the change they create.

That is why ASF works with sporting organisations to strengthen the foundations that support long-term philanthropic investment - including governance, impact measurement, evidence and reporting.

Better evidence creates greater confidence.
Greater confidence attracts investment.
Investment strengthens organisations and expands impact.
Stronger organisations create better outcomes for communities.

The opportunity in numbers

$118.8 million

donated to Australian sport through ASF in FY25

72% growth

in philanthropic trust and foundation giving year on year

84,600+ donors

supporting clubs, schools, sporting organisations and athletes across Australia

40 years

connecting giving with Australian sport

These figures demonstrate the scale of generosity already flowing through Australian sport.

They also point to the opportunity ahead:

to build on that foundation and grow strategic philanthropic investment in sport as a vehicle for social impact.

Download the Giving for Sport Report

Frequently asked questions

Is my gift tax-deductible?

Yes. The Australian Sports Foundation is Australia's leading non-profit sports fundraising organisation and operates a registered charitable fund that facilitates tax-deductible giving to eligible sporting organisations and charitable initiatives.

We'll work with you to identify the most appropriate giving pathway based on your philanthropic objectives and the nature of your investment.

Can my trust, foundation or ancillary fund support sport?

Yes.

ASF works with private and public ancillary funds (PAFs and PuAFs), charitable trusts, foundations, family offices and corporate foundations to facilitate strategic giving through sport.

Depending on your objectives, giving may be made directly to eligible organisations or through the ASF Charitable Fund. We'll help identify the approach that best aligns with your philanthropic strategy.

What kinds of social outcomes can sport help achieve?

Sport is a powerful platform for achieving many of the outcomes already prioritised by Australian philanthropy.

These include:

• improved physical and mental wellbeing

• youth development and education

• opportunities for women and girls

• greater equity of opportunity

• stronger social connection and community cohesion

• inclusion for people with disability

• stronger regional and remote communities

How does ASF identify opportunities?

Every partnership begins with understanding the outcomes you want to create.

Drawing on our relationships across Australian sport, we identify organisations and initiatives aligned with your philanthropic priorities, undertake appropriate due diligence and connect you with opportunities capable of delivering meaningful social impact.

How will I understand the impact of my investment?

We believe confidence comes from evidence.

ASF works alongside funded organisations to strengthen impact measurement and reporting, helping ensure investments are supported by meaningful data, transparent reporting and stories of change that demonstrate the outcomes being achieved.

This provides greater confidence for philanthropists while strengthening the capability of sporting organisations to communicate their social impact over time.

Why partner with ASF instead of approaching organisations directly?

Many philanthropists know the outcomes they want to create but are less familiar with the breadth of opportunities across Australian sport.

ASF combines almost 40 years of experience, trusted relationships and sector expertise to help philanthropists identify the right opportunities, navigate appropriate giving pathways and build long-term partnerships that create lasting impact.

How do I get started?

Every partnership begins with a conversation.

We'll take the time to understand your philanthropic priorities, discuss the outcomes you're seeking and explore how sport may help achieve them.

From there, we'll recommend opportunities aligned with your goals and outline the most appropriate next steps.

There is no obligation-just an opportunity to explore what's possible.

LET'S START A CONVERSATION

Every philanthropic partnership begins with understanding what matters to you

Whether you are exploring sport for the first time, seeking opportunities aligned with an established giving strategy, or considering how sport could contribute to a broader philanthropic legacy, we would welcome the opportunity to understand your goals.

References

[1] Australian Sports Commission. The Value and Benefits of Sport (2025)

Supports evidence that sport contributes to improved health, wellbeing, social connection and stronger communities.

[2] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Social cohesion and social connection (2025)

Supports evidence relating to belonging, participation, trust and community cohesion.

[3] UNESCO. Impact Investment in Sport (2023)

Supports the positioning of sport as a credible impact investment capable of delivering broader social outcomes.

[4] Parliament of Victoria. Community Sport and Active Recreation in Victoria: Changes and Challenges (2025)

Supports evidence relating to participation pressures, rising costs and challenges facing community sport.

[5] Philanthropy Australia. The Future of Giving: Why Australia's Next Generation Matters Now (2026)

Supports commentary on evolving philanthropic practice and donor expectations.

[6] Philanthropy Australia. A Blueprint to Grow Structured Giving

Supports commentary on structured giving and strategic philanthropy.

[7] Australian Sports Foundation. Giving for Sport FY25 (2026)

Supports ASF fundraising figures, donor participation, philanthropic trust and foundation

Sports Philanthropy