Swan Districts Foundation
The Swan Districts Foundation
The Foundation’s purpose is to fund programs that create real social change.
The Foundation partners with Swans to deliver these programs.
About the Swan Districts Foundation
While football’s in the club’s DNA, it exists for a deeper purpose. The Club builds community and develop people. It has an important role to play in strengthening community, creating social value, and building environments where people can be the best they can be. It’s a community-engaged Club that improves people’s lives.
Swan Districts now conducts a wide range of programs of benefit to the wider community. The successful delivery of these programs – many of which are youth-related – has been recognised with a number of community awards for excellence.
The Foundation is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. It was established to assist the Club deliver community programs building social impact while also supporting past Swans players and Club program participants in disadvantaged or necessitous circumstances through poverty, sickness, misfortune or helplessness as a result of social, health, economic, cultural, racial or physical disability.
Objectives
The Foundation was established to be a charity for the purpose of funding the construction and maintenance of facilities at Bassendean Oval to provide some or all of the following and other related public services:
• medical centre (including community access to services such as rehabilitation facilities and pools)
• infant health nursing facilities
• child care centre
• senior citizens centre (specifically to offer sporting, recreational and social facilities)
• museum of Club social history
• education and training facilities for all football-related people
• youth at risk service facilities
• vocational and core life skills education and training facilities
The Foundation Structure
The Foundation is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not for profits Commission. It has been endorsed for charity tax concessions by the Australian Taxation Office and is income tax exempt.
The Foundation has also established and manages a separate benevolent fund to which donations are tax-deductible.
Management
In keeping with its aim of independence from the day-to-day operations and risks associated with the club, the Foundation has a small voluntary Board of independent Directors with appropriate corporate, business and financial experience.
Board
Neville Bassett AM – a chartered accountant and corporate consultant. Neville has been involved in the Club since 1975 and is former chair of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Western Region) and long-serving committee member of the Club’s coterie Group, Swansmen Inc.
Jim Watterson – a past president and Director of the Club and was responsible for overseeing a fund-raising campaign that saved the Club from extinction in the late 1990s. He has held senior management positions in the education system in three states.
Peter Snow OAM – a retired venture capitalist, a past Director and Treasurer of the Club and a past President and Treasurer of Swansmen Inc. He is independent chair of a number of commercial and not-for profit organisations and is the former Treasurer of the Order of Australia Association (WA Branch).
To maintain a direct link with the Club, the Foundation’s Constitution requires the Club’s President to be a Director. Current President and 1990 Premiership Captain Peter Hodyl, fills the remaining seat on the Foundation’s four-member Board.
How can I be involved?
There are many opportunities for supporters of the club to contribute to the future and sustainability of the club’s activities, programs and facilities.
These are unlimited and could include:
• Donations or sponsorship of capital works aimed at delivering the facilities covered by the Foundation’s Objects
• Grants or funding for community programs that can be delivered by the Club’s staff under formal contractual service arrangements with the Club. The possibility of naming rights can also be considered.
• Establishment of scholarships for disadvantaged youth
• Sponsorship of certain parts of the Club’s museum and exhibits
• Contribution to a Fund set aside to assist past players who are suffering health or financial difficulties.
Assessment & Approval
The Foundation Board will assess all requests for assistance or funding – be they from the Club or directly. The Board will determine the basis and conditions under which any grant funding is made.
Any funding of programs or services to be delivered by the Club will be subject to an acquittal process appropriate for any public or corporate grant recipient.
Tax Deductible Gifts
The foundation has a separate Benevolent Fund to which donations are tax deductible to the donor. The objects of the Swan Districts Foundation Benevolent Fund are:
“To provide funds, property or services directly to persons within Australia with particular emphasis on assisting those past players and participants of the community programs of the Swan Districts Football Club Inc. who are disadvantaged or in necessitous circumstances through poverty, sickness, destitution, suffering distress, misfortune or helplessness as a result of social, health, economic, cultural, racial or physical disability.”
Those interested in making a tax-deductible donation are encouraged to make further enquiry as to the scope of their donation.
The Swan Districts Foundation Ltd provides funding for programs and services to individuals that are disadvantaged or in necessitous circumstances.
The Swan Districts Foundation Ltd supports the Swan Districts Football Club, a well-connected and community engaged football club to improve social outcomes and sense of wellbeing in our community. From our home at Steel Blue Oval in Bassendean, we have provided an inclusive meeting place for our community since 1934 and this has been extended through our VSwans and other community programs across Western Australia.
Football is in our DNA, but our focus is steadfast on improving the lives of the people in the community through creating greater engagement in education and transitions to employment, improving health and wellbeing and enhancing community connections.
Having been an active community enabler since 2008, Swan Districts have played a significant role in communities all around Western Australia.
While our values and actions are recognisable where ever we are, we work closely with local community stakeholders, to ensure that our programs are designed to meet their specific needs and government and corporate partners, to ensure that we have an impact where it is needed the most.
Our unique position means that we are able to assist a wide range of groups to make a change, make a difference and bring communities together.
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Swans Elevate PerthOur Elevate program operates in primary and high schools across Perth’s eastern suburbs helping to engage children in education, while building connections and future opportunities.
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Swans All AbilitiesOur All Abilities football programs gives everyone in the community to play for the mightly black and whites.
Organised sport plays such an important role in teaching valuable skills such as team work and resilience, while also improving physical and mental health.
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Swans Community HealthEvery Wednesday and Friday at Steel Blue Oval, we host the Swans Community Health Hub in partnership with 360 Health + Community and the Street Doctor, where people can access free GP and medical services as well as a pharmacist and other specialists.
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Swans OnslowSince 2008, the Swan Districts Football Club’s VSwans program has been an integral part of the Onslow community.
The purpose of Swans in Onslow is to improve the lives of children, young people, and their families, by providing opportunities for growth and connection.
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Swans Elevate RoebourneBased from the Roebourne District High School, we support boys with their education while also creating opportunities for life after school. Our program focuses on achieving skills and credentials, while also building external relationships and connections in the community.
Support our past players
In the past, there’s been retired Swan Districts Football Club players that have found themselves in a dark place, needing, but not requesting help. It’s at these times the club can play a role helping them get back on their feet.
Many of these players have a strong historical emotional connection to the club.
It’s at these times the club can play a role helping them get back on their feet. This may came in the form of having familiar faces around them and also providing financial assistance where possible.
The Swan Districts Foundation will raise funds for this purpose.
Any donation to this fund can be tax deductible. The Foundation is a registered charity and has Federal Government Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status enabling it to receive gifts which are tax deductible to donors.
Funds collected in this fund will specifically be used to assist past Swan Districts players who are disadvantaged or in necessitous circumstances through poverty, sickness or misfortune.
Extend your life long support of Swan Districts through leaving a bequest
It is a fact that far too many Australians do not have a valid Will. Making a Will gives you peace of mind and is a way to show you care about family members and friends. It can give you peace of mind, knowing that your special wishes have been made clear and that you’ve made provision for them.
Once you have taken care of your family, friends and loved ones, your bequest to the Swan District Foundation can take several forms;
● A percentage of the value of your Estate
● A specified amount of money or items of property
● The residue of the Estate after provision for family and other beneficiaries
The Swan Districts Foundation is not qualified or authorised to provide legal advice. To ensure that your wishes are clearly and legally stated, you may wish to consider the following options;
● Consulting a qualified Solicitor or Trustee Company
● Updating your Will to insert a clause which provides for the Swan Districts Foundation; or
● Completing a simple codicil document which is then attached to your Will
There are many opportunities for supporters of the club to contribute to the future and sustainability of the club’s activities, programs and facilities.
Make a Gift
If you would like someone to contact you about your gift-giving then please contact us via email to have a confidential discussion.
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