London, 7 May 2025 — More than £18 million has been raised for grassroots sport across the UK since 2018 through a pioneering partnership between Crowdfunder and Sport England. A milestone celebrated last week at a landmark event at the House of Commons.
With a room full of influential stakeholders, including MPs, sporting bodies, funding partners and community leaders, gathered to discuss the urgent need to reshape how community sports are supported and why matched crowdfunding is now becoming more important in that future.
Over 1,000 successful campaigns have already shown how communities can be empowered to take charge of their own futures, with +Extra Funding from Sport England doubling the impact of local fundraising efforts. The collaboration has unlocked access to capital for clubs and grassroots groups that may have otherwise struggled to stay afloat.
“This event is a real celebration of two things: the power of sport and the power of community to transform lives,” said Dawn Bebe, Co-CEO of Crowdfunder. “What we’ve built with Sport England is proof that when the two come together, real change is possible.”
“Lottery ticket sales are not on the increase,” added Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England. “That’s why every penny counts. Community-driven, match-funded initiatives like this are vital for the future of sport in this country.”
The panel also heard from Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, who called the partnership “phenomenal,” highlighting that despite economic pressures, crowdfunding continues to unlock opportunities for better health, stronger communities and increased participation in sport.
Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Director of places for Sport England explained, “We know where you live affects your ability to be active. And that’s not fair. Your bank balance also shapes your life opportunities, and that’s not fair either. So we’re changing how we work. We're going to the places and people that need it most.”
The event served as a call to action for greater collaboration between corporate brands, policymakers and funding organisations to back this new model of distributed giving.
An executive summary from the event is now available, offering early insights from a forthcoming report by Sport England on the role of crowdfunding in community sport — due for release later this month.
Crowdfunder and Sport England are now inviting organisations with ideas or interest in shaping the future of sports funding to step forward and be part of the conversation.
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Links
Shaping the future of Community Sports funding - full details https://www.crowdfunderconnect.com/stories/thefutureofcommunitysportfunding
Sport England - Executive summary report
https://www.crowdfunderconnect.com/s/Crowdfunder_ACTIVE_TOGETHER_ExecSummary-A5PRINT-V5-22-04-25.pdf
Event hub
https://www.crowdfunderconnect.com/the-future-of-community-sport-fundingImage
Gallery
https://www.crowdfunderconnect.com/the-future-of-community-sport-funding-gallery
About Crowdfunder
Crowdfunder is the UK's leading crowdfunding platform, dedicated to empowering individuals, communities, and organizations to bring their ideas to life. Through innovative funding solutions and strategic partnerships, Crowdfunder aims to tackle society’s biggest challenges by making ideas happen.
Shaping the future of Community Sports funding - full details https://www.crowdfunderconnect.com/stories/thefutureofcommunitysportfunding
Sport England - Executive summary report
https://www.crowdfunderconnect.com/s/Crowdfunder_ACTIVE_TOGETHER_ExecSummary-A5PRINT-V5-22-04-25.pdf
Event hub
https://www.crowdfunderconnect.com/the-future-of-community-sport-fundingImage
Gallery
https://www.crowdfunderconnect.com/the-future-of-community-sport-funding-gallery
About Crowdfunder
Crowdfunder is the UK's leading crowdfunding platform, dedicated to empowering individuals, communities, and organizations to bring their ideas to life. Through innovative funding solutions and strategic partnerships, Crowdfunder aims to tackle society’s biggest challenges by making ideas happen.