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New program aims to help local clubs stand on own two feet
The Australian Rugby Foundation (ARF) is rolling out a new program to help local rugby clubs stand on their own two feet financially.
The ARF is the national fundraising body for rugby and its funds go towards various projects in Australia, including the Australian schools' recent tour of Europe, the Wallaroos’ 2017 World Cup campaign, Classic Wallabies community work and helping local rugby clubs.
The body recently launched a new fundraising tool kit, an adaption of the Australian Sports Foundation template, to give clubs the ability to create projects for their specific needs rather than going through the national arm.
Currently, clubs rely heavily on funds from state and national bodies but ARF executive director Peter Murphy says this new strategy focused on arming clubs with the knowledge to help work towards their own fundraising efforts.
The Wallaroos have benefited from ARF funding in a boom for women's sport. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyThis year, on top of the tool kits, Murphy will visit states and give clubs workshops on how to encourage more tax-deductible donations from the local community, giving people involved with the club the ability to see their money making an impact immediately.“If I was to find a donor in, say the Hunter's Hill rugby club and ask him or her for $5000 to give to the national body and then the ARF gives that back to Hunter's Hill some way, it was just so far removed,” he said.
“What we want to do is make sure that those in the Hunter’s Hill rugby club are being asked to give to local rugby in Hunter’s Hill and that's where the model comes from.
“If Johnny's playing at his local rugby club in Australia and mum and dad are really engaged with that club, they know they can make a tax-deductible donation and they know it's going to help Johnny with his scrumming, buy a new scrum machine or help with getting new lights or if it's going to help him renovating the change room so girls will have their own change rooms, they're not sharing with the boys.
“All of those issues which are all community based issues and community based programs.”
With almost every club around Australia likely requiring something different, Murphy said the new club first approach would give those communities the ability to target the issues they really need.
“The great thing about it is the club is raising for the needs that they want, they're not being dictated to by Rugby Australia or not dictated to by their state association, they’re dictated by what the club needs, what the club wants on a yearly basis.
“They’ve got more chance of getting investment into their clubs from their closest members and those who are most engaged.”
Clubs will be able to work towards their priorities with the new tool kit. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyThe tool kits, which have all been individualised for each state or territory, are not a one size fits all plan but give clubs a host of options to look at when it comes to asking for donations or fundraising.‘There's developing the projects they may want to fundraise for, maybe they can fundraise for multiple things, there’s infrastructure improvements, there's tournaments - we’ve been in talks with the Kiama 7s at the moment to put together a project to help fund that tournament.
“They're looking at launching their fundraising program early next year.
“We've helped them set that up, that's going to make that much more sustainable.
“Not everyone wants to be a sponsor or is in a position to be a sponsor but they might be able to give a one-off tax deductible donation to help some of the fixed costs.”
In 2018, rugby racked up more than $2.5 million in donations, well behind the national leader AFL ($12.3 million) and Murphy said the sport was keen to keep that growing, though he admitted it wouldn't be an instant change.
“It's going to take a little time, there's no doubting that at all, but I think you're starting with a tool kit, we'll start with the workshops and then we'll keep forging ahead in making and increasing that investment,” he said.
from rugby.com
There’s just something a tad wrong in this new setup. Don’t clubs already rely on their own fundraising as it is? So the RA’s ‘new’ brilliant idea is to make them work harder for it. Way to go RA- that should solve that annoying little ‘money for grassroots’ situation.
Its a joke all right. The Aus Rugby Foundation was going to be the beneficiary of the $50 million Twiggy was gonna donate for grassroots as part of the $68 million he offered to save the Force. Clyne in his infinite wisdom turned this down because Twiggy would not give the $50 million directly to the ARU to piss up against the wall.
I find the tax free bit interesting - I'd assume at the moment that donations to your local club aren't, and donations to the ARF are, and they're trying to make the second apply to the first? (Noting of course that I am not an accountant...)
For any Donation to be Tax-Free. or Claimable on your tax as the Donator. The club or Foundation must be registered with the Australian Tax Office. It then must be approved by the ATO. Its not difficult, or impossible.
At least that how it worked when I worked for them.
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
Well considering how adept the RA are at scams & money diddling exercises, they’re probably the best experts in advising on unique money grubbing methods!
You know you are bitter and twisted when...
Not sure who you're criticising there..... This is fairly typical rats arse behaviour though, sell the sports future for personal gain, remove the force with the promise of turning the savings towards "grass roots", spend it all and more, find a way of making the grass roots fund themselves, thus keeping the alleged 6 million dollar saving along with the couple of million pesky dollars that they were forced to give by virtue of the fact that arf isn't set up to funnel money into Clunes Brown paper bag
C'mon the![]()
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Hmmmm....
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The long sobs of autumn's violins wound my heart with a monotonous languor
Sounds like someone is having identity issues at the Rebels.
think Bakkies has struck a very big nerve ,somewhere!