Sport England scores big with Crowdfunder Connect
The challenge:
Sport England, a public body dedicated to supporting grassroots community sport and physical activity, faced challenges in diversifying funding streams, reaching underserved communities, and streamlining its grant management process. Traditional grant programs often proved limiting in reaching smaller, grassroots organisations and involved cumbersome application procedures
One of the biggest challenges for large companies is aligning CSR initiatives with core business objectives while ensuring measurable results and fostering a culture of purpose amongst employees. This requires a strategic approach that goes beyond one-time donations and box ticking exercises to integrate social impact into the company's DNA.
“For every pound we’ve put in, it’s been trebled.”
Our solution:
To overcome these obstacles, Sport England partnered with Crowdfunder Connect, leveraging the power of crowdfunding to:
Test and implement crowdfunding: Crowdfunder Connect provided the platform and expertise to pilot and implement crowdfunding initiatives, creating a new avenue for investment in community sports projects.
Reach and engage new organisations: The Crowdfunder platform connected Sport England with a wider network of community groups, village halls, and non-traditional sports organisations, expanding their reach and impact.
Streamline grant management: Crowdfunding simplified the grant application process, making it more efficient and accessible for both Sport England and applicants.
WATCH: Discover how Sport England has unlocked new opportunities and achieved impactful results by distributing funds through Crowdfunder. Hear their success stories firsthand!
Our results:
The partnership between Sport England and Crowdfunder Connect generated impressive results:
£18.9 million raised in total: Sport England invested £6 million, with an additional £12.9 million raised by the crowd, demonstrating the power of crowdfunding to leverage significant additional funding.
1,103 Successful Projects: The partnership supported a significant volume of diverse projects across England.
Amplified investment: For every £1 invested by Sport England, an average of £2.13 was generated by the community crowd (313% amplification).
High community engagement: With 149,000 supporters and an average of 135 supporters per campaign, the partnership fostered strong community involvement and grassroots support.
Increased reach: Crowdfunder's existing network and targeted campaigns, like the "Activate Your Space" pilot program, enabled Sport England to connect with previously underserved organisations.
Simplified application process: The user-friendly crowdfunding model encouraged a wider range of organisations to apply for funding.
Streamlined grant management: Automated calculations, efficient decision-making processes, and reduced paperwork streamlined Sport England's grant management.
Wider benefits for funded organisations:
87% reported feeling better connected to their communities.
86% felt more financially stable.
86% strengthened their public profile.
83% built new audiences.
56% established a large group of volunteers.
54% built a new donor base actively engaged with their work.
52% found new partners/collaborators.
The key highlights:
Exceptional collaboration: The partnership with Crowdfunder Connect fostered a collaborative environment with the ability to adapt, change, and improve throughout the journey, including during the challenges of Covid-19.
Empowering organisations: Sport England gained first-hand experience in the "art of crowdfunding" and used this knowledge to directly support organisations across England.
“Crowdfunding’s been going on a trajectory of being really successful... it’s now embedded as part of our new ongoing open-funding offer, Movement Fund ”
In conclusion:
The collaboration between Sport England and Crowdfunder Connect exemplifies the effectiveness of crowdfunding as a model for funding sports and physical activity projects. By leveraging Crowdfunder Connect's platform and expertise, Sport England successfully expanded its reach, streamlined grant management, and maximised its impact on communities across England, creating a blueprint for other organisations seeking innovative funding solutions.
Ready to take your CSR strategy to the next level?
Contact Crowdfunder Connect today to learn more about how your company can leverage the platform to achieve its social impact goals.
