Australian Sports Foundation’s fundraising report shows a record level of donations was needed to keep athletes on the field
Aussie sporting clubs and athletes are relying on donations to be able to compete, according to a new report that found “many families are having to make tough decisions around participation”.
Australian sporting clubs and athletes relied on a record $118.8m in donations to ensure they could play and compete in 2024-25.
A national report released on Monday reveals the amount of financial support being sought in donations from clubs and individual athletes last financial year was up 20 per cent from the previous year, when it was $98.8m.
The Australian Sports Foundation’s State of Sports Fundraising report shows it was the sixth consecutive year that a record level of donations was needed to keep athletes on the field, up from $41.9m in 2018-19.
Aussies dug deep to help bankroll everything from facility upgrades to travel costs, grassroots participation programs and Olympics training.
Australian Sports Foundation interim chief Ryan Holloway said the report exposed the fact “sport is thriving on the field but struggling off it”.
“Participation costs are increasing, meaning many families are having to make tough decisions around participation,” he said.
“Australians are giving more often, even in smaller amounts, and it’s that generosity that is assisting in the sustainability of our clubs, backing our athletes and ensuring sport remains accessible – but it proves fundraising is essential.”
A record 30,500 donors contributed to community sporting clubs last year, driving the total value of grassroots donations to $40.3m, a 6 per cent increase.
There was a 12 per cent growth in donations to community sport, a 19 per cent increase in sponsorship of individuals and a21 per cent rise in the number of sports fundraising campaigns.
Aussie Rules football attracted the largest share of donations at $40.5m, while soccer recorded the strongest growth, up $11.1m to $20.3m.
Footscray United Rangers soccer club president Nathan McLean said donations were crucial to subsidising player fees and ensuring “all people could play”.
“When you’re charging $1000, $2000, $3000 like some clubs do in Victoria do for children, it means that they can’t participate,” he said.
“We very much rely on people like the Australian Sports Foundation to help us raise funds … our club really benefits from the generosity of people.”
Victoria reported an $8.5m increase in donations, with a total of $45.6m for FY24-25.
But NSW took top spot for most sporting funds raised in FY24-25, with $45.7m in donations, an $11.3m increase, with significant contributions to soccer, golf, rugby league and rugby.
More athletes asked for assistance too, with total funds raised by individuals growing six per cent to $7.3m and the number of donations increasing by 19 per cent.
“While Paris 2024 inspired many donors, the 19 per cent increase in individual donations tells a broader story,” Mr Holloway said.
“Australians are backing athletes at all levels of sport.
“With major events like the Winter Games in February 2026 and Brisbane 2032 on the horizon, that grassroots support is what turns potential into performance on the world stage.
“Looking ahead, we need that support to keep growing.”
The record donation tally is more than $74m higher than it was in 2018.
The Herald Sun in 2023 revealed a radical call by Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley to shake-up Aussie sports funding via lottery finances.
Mr Tiley proposed a UK-style sports lottery to support sporting codes governing grassroots through to professional talent in uncertain economic times.
“There is no country that has sport like this country,” he said.
“In my view we should be dominating the Olympics, we should be dominating world sport, dominating tennis.
“I definitely believe there is a way to do that.”
The Australian Sports Foundation is the nation’s only non-profit body that enables tax-deductible donations to sport.
The number of sports fundraising campaigns by clubs increased by 21 per cent, another record.
Originally published as Australian Sports Foundation’s fundraising report shows a record level of donations was needed to keep athletes on the field
