Essendon last week announced a series of options for access members to maintain their membership in 2020, which will be communicated to members this week.

Among the options is converting your membership to a tax-deductible donation, which the club will facilitate through the Australian Sports Foundation on your behalf.

Below is what you need to know about the donation.

What is the Australian Sports Foundation?

The Australian Sports Foundation was established as a deductible gift recipient by the Australian Government over 30 years ago, meaning that donations of $2 or more to sport are tax-deductible. As the country’s leading non-profit sports fundraising organisation and charity, the Sports Foundation has helped Aussie sport raise hundreds of millions of dollars to strengthen local communities and develop an inclusive and active sporting nation.

What’s the connection between Essendon Football Club and the Sports Foundation?

The club has partnered with the Sports Foundation for some of its fundraising activities to enable donations from members and supporters to be tax-deductible.

How can my membership package be tax-deductible?

Generally, membership payments are not considered to be tax-deductible donations. This is because members are receiving material benefits such as seating, hospitality and merchandise, so the payment is not a 'gift' in the eyes of the Australian Tax Office. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the club is unable to fulfil membership benefits for the 2020 season, so will provide members with the option of transitioning the cost of their membership to a tax-deductible donation. This process can be easily done and will be facilitated by the club on behalf of members.

Please note: The amount of the donation will be the value of your membership payments less $20, which is withheld by the club to recognise the value of benefits already delivered, such as membership packs.

How do I claim a tax-deduction for my donation?

Once your donation is passed on to the Sports Foundation for processing, it will email you a receipt to the address you use for your Bombers membership.

How do I know that my donation will be used appropriately? 

To ensure tax-deductible donations are used appropriately, the Sports Foundation requires the club to account for monies raised via an expense report. We’ll also keep you updated on the impact your donation has made to the club.