Pick the Right ASF Setup: Account First, Then Campaigns - Help Desk

It can feel confusing to know which account to set up — and which campaign type to use — especially if you’re choosing between a Club/Organisation (with ABN), an Individual Athlete, or a Parent/Guardian setup. This page walks you through it step-by-step: first pick the right account, then decide whether you’ll accept direct donations (enabled by default) or run a Standard and/or Peer-to-Peer campaign for a specific purpose. We’ve laid out clear examples and options so you can match the setup to your fundraising needs and start collecting donations with confidence.

Step 1 — Choose your account type (start here)

Q1. Are you a Club/Organisation with a registered, active ABN?

Yes → Create a Club/Organisation Account (ABN required).
No → Go to Q2.

Q2. Are you an individual athlete (18+), fundraising for yourself?

Yes → Create an Individual Athlete Account.
No → Go to Q3.

Q3. Are you a parent or legal guardian fundraising for your dependant (under 18)?

Yes → Create a Parent + Child Account (created by the parent/guardian; transfers to the child at 18).
No → If you’re fundraising for someone else’s child, you cannot create/manage their account. Ask their parent/guardian to create a Parent + Child Account and you can help later via Peer-to-Peer.

Important rules

One account per individual (don’t pool multiple children into one account).
Parent + Child accounts transfer at 18 to the child.
Clubs/Organisations must have an active ABN to use a Club/Organisation Account.

Step 2 — Know this before creating any campaigns

As soon as your fundraiser page (the main page for your account) is set up and published, you can receive donations directly by default — whether you’re:

a Club/Organisation (ABN),
an Individual Athlete (18+), or
a Parent/Guardian (on behalf of a child).

You do not need to create a campaign to receive donations. Create campaigns only if you’re fundraising for a specific purpose, time-bound appeal, or want to involve supporters as Fundraising Heroes. You can also create multiple campaigns over time.

Step 3 — Decide your campaign strategy (optional but powerful)

If you want to run a fundraising push beyond direct donations, choose one or both:

A) Standard Campaign (the “main drive”)

What it is: A purpose-specific page under your account (e.g., “Nationals 2026 Travel Fund”, “New Equipment Appeal”).
Who runs it: You (the account holder).
When to use: You have a clear goal, deadline, or story and want a dedicated page to promote.
Funds flow to: Your own account (Individual/Parent+Child/Club-Org).

B) Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Campaign (with Fundraising Heroes)

What it is: A host campaign that enables supporters (“Fundraising Heroes”) to create their own mini-pages under your campaign (e.g., “Jess’s 10K for the Team”).
Who runs it: You host the campaign; supporters join as Fundraising Heroes.
When to use: Friends, family, alumni, businesses, or community groups want to fundraise on your behalf.
Funds flow to: Your beneficiary account (Individual/Parent+Child/Club-Org). Fundraising Heroes never receive funds directly.

Step 4 — Which campaign type should I choose?

Use this quick chooser:

I just want to accept donations with minimal setup. → No campaign needed. Your fundraiser page already accepts donations.
I want a single, focused page for a purpose or deadline. → Standard Campaign.
I want others to run their own activities to help me. → Peer-to-Peer Campaign (supporters join as Fundraising Heroes). Tip: You can also run both a Standard Campaign and a P2P Campaign at the same time.

Common scenarios (mapped to the flow)

Club with ABN raising for new equipment → Club/Organisation Account → Standard Campaign (optionally add P2P for alumni/supporters).
School (ABN) raising for multiple students → Club/Organisation Account → Standard Campaign (+ optional P2P inviting parents/guardians as Fundraising Heroes).
Individual athlete (18+) raising for themselves → Individual Athlete Account → direct donations by default, plus Standard Campaign for a trip/equipment, and/or P2P for friends to help.
Parent raising for one child → Parent + Child Account → direct donations by default, plus Standard Campaign or P2P if supporters will help.
Parent raising for multiple children → Separate Parent + Child Accounts (one per child) → never pool; each can have its own Standard/P2P as needed.
Supporter running a marathon for an injured athlete → Athlete hosts Individual Athlete Account → creates P2P → supporter joins as Fundraising Hero.

Quick reference: Direct donations vs Campaigns

Feature	Direct donations to your Fundraiser Page (default)	Standard Campaign	Peer-to-Peer (P2P)
Extra setup required	No	Low	Medium (supporters join)
Best for	Always-on giving	Specific purpose/target	Mobilising supporters
Who creates it	N/A (fundraiser page)	Account holder	Account holder (host)
Who promotes/manages	You (Account Holder)	You (Account Holder)	Fundraising Heroes
Funds flow to	Your account	Your account	Your account
Multiple at once	N/A	Yes (multiple campaigns)	Yes (many Heroes under one P2P)

FAQs

Do I need a campaign to receive donations? No. Direct donations are enabled by default once your fundraiser page is set up.

Can I have multiple campaigns? Yes. Run multiple Standard and/or P2P campaigns over time.

We don’t have an ABN — can we use a Club/Organisation Account? No. Without an active ABN, use an Individual Athlete or Parent + Child account. If a club with an ABN wishes to help, they can host a campaign or join your P2P.

Can I create an account for someone else’s child? No. Only the parent/guardian can create a Parent + Child Account. You can support via P2P as a Fundraising Hero.

What happens when a child turns 18? Parent + Child accounts transfer to the child at 18.

Examples — “I’m fundraising for X. What should I create?”

Scenario 1 — Parent fundraising for a single child

Create: Parent + Child Account.
Options: Receive direct donations by default; add a Standard Campaign for a specific goal; add P2P if supporters will help.
Handover: Transfers to the child at 18.

Scenario 2 — Parent fundraising for multiple children

Create: Separate Parent + Child Accounts — one per child (do not pool).
Options: Each child’s account can receive direct donations; optionally add separate Standard and/or P2P campaigns per child.
Note: Avoid a single pooled account to prevent handover issues.

Scenario 3 — Parent fundraising for their own child and other children

Create (own child): Parent + Child Account.
Create (other children): Their parents/guardians must create their own Parent + Child Accounts.
Options: Coordinate efforts via P2P campaigns; your supporters can join as Fundraising Heroes under the correct beneficiary.

Scenario 4 — Fundraiser raising for themselves

Create: Individual Athlete Account (18+).
Options: Direct donations by default; add a Standard Campaign for a purpose; add P2P to involve friends as Fundraising Heroes.

Scenario 5 — Fundraiser raising for themselves, with friends contributing

Create: Individual Athlete Account.
Options: Add a P2P Campaign so friends join as Fundraising Heroes (their mini-pages roll up to your account). You can also run a Standard Campaign alongside.

Scenario 6 — Two individual athletes fundraising for the same purpose

Create: Separate Individual Athlete Accounts (one per person).
Options: Each can run their own Standard Campaign; or one athlete hosts a P2P and invites the other as a Fundraising Hero if it’s truly to support a primary beneficiary.

Scenario 7 — A supporter (Fundraising Hero) raising for someone else’s cause

Create (host): Beneficiary creates Individual Athlete Account + P2P Campaign.
Options: Supporter joins as a Fundraising Hero; funds flow to the beneficiary’s account.

Scenario 8 — Two friends fundraising for one beneficiary (an individual athlete)

Create (host): Athlete’s Individual Athlete Account + one P2P Campaign.
Options: Invite both friends as Fundraising Heroes under that single P2P; all funds go to the athlete.

Scenario 9 — A club or community group supporting a single athlete

Preferred: Athlete hosts Individual Athlete Account + P2P; the club joins as Fundraising Heroes.
Alternative (only if ABN entity is beneficiary): Club/Organisation Account (ABN) + Standard Campaign, applying funds consistent with the stated purpose.

Scenario 10 — A Club or Organisation raising money for its own needs

Create: Club/Organisation Account (ABN).
Options: Direct donations by default; add a Standard Campaign for the project; add P2P to mobilise alumni/supporters.

Scenario 11 — A school raising money for multiple students

Create: Club/Organisation Account (ABN).
Options: Standard Campaign for the team/squad; optionally add P2P and invite parents/guardians as Fundraising Heroes for student-led activities.

Scenario 12 — Associations (peak bodies/incorporated associations)

Create: Club/Organisation Account (ABN).
Options: Standard Campaign for association-wide needs; optionally P2P to involve members/supporters.
When many individual beneficiaries: Keep funds at the association (organisation is beneficiary) or direct supporters to individuals’ Parent + Child/Individual accounts as appropriate.

Scenario 13 — Supporters fundraising on behalf of a club/organisation

Create (host): Club/Organisation Account (ABN) + P2P Campaign.
Options: Invite alumni/supporters as Fundraising Heroes; all funds flow to the organisation’s account.