1,697 Americans Help Save 327-Year-Old Dorset Pub, Inspiring Crowdfunding Platform to Cross the Atlantic — Embargoed until July 1, 2020, Midnight EDT / 5am GMT
LONDON & LOS ANGELES – When the Elm Tree Inn, a beloved 327-year-old pub on the Dorset coast, faced closure earlier this year, locals launched a Crowdfunder campaign to buy and save their community cornerstone. What they didn't expect was an outpouring of support from across the Atlantic that would ultimately inspire a major business expansion.
The "Friends of the Elm Tree" campaign went viral on social media, capturing hearts worldwide with its quirky story of community spirit and heritage preservation: Boomers reaching out to Gen Z in scenes worthy of The Vicar of Dibley. Of the $750,000+ raised to purchase the historic pub, an extraordinary proportion came from American supporters who had never set foot in the village but were moved by the cause.
“We love that 1,697 Americans stepped up to save an English village pub,” said Nick Carrol, Chairman of Friends of the Elm Tree. “Their generosity showed us that the desire to protect community spaces transcends borders. Americans understand what it means when a place brings people together.”
This remarkable display of transatlantic community spirit has prompted Crowdfunder, the UK’s leading crowdfunding platform, to announce its official launch in the United States this month.
“The Elm Tree campaign was a lightbulb moment for us,” said Simon Deverell, Co-CEO of Crowdfunder. “Watching Americans rally around a pub they’d never visited, in a village they’d never heard of, simply because they understood its importance to community life – that told us everything we need to know about American values and their appetite for supporting grassroots causes.”
The viral media videos showcasing the pub’s cozy interior, its role as the village’s social hub, and the passionate pleas from locals resonated particularly strongly with American audiences. Comments poured in from supporters across all 50 states, many sharing their own stories of beloved local establishments and the importance of preserving community gathering places.
“Americans get it,” added Dawn Bebe, Crowdfunder’s Co-CEO. “They understand that some places are more than just buildings – they're the beating heart of a community. Whether it’s a village pub in Dorset or a corner diner in Ohio, these spaces matter. Americans get community – and that’s what we’re launching in the US – to give them a place to come together to do good stuff in the community for the community.”
The success of the Elm Tree campaign reflects broader trends in community-driven fundraising, with local causes increasingly finding support from unexpected corners of the globe through social media virality and shared values around community preservation.
Crowdfunder.com will launch with a focus on supporting American community projects, local businesses, and grassroots initiatives. The platform aims to harness the same spirit of cross-community support that saved the Elm Tree Inn, connecting causes with supporters who share their values regardless of geographic distance.
“If 1,697 Americans can help save a pub in rural England, imagine what we can achieve when we bring that same energy to supporting American communities,” said Simon Deverell, Co-CEO. “We're not just launching a platform – we're celebrating the American tradition of neighbors helping neighbors, even when those neighbors are an ocean away.”
The Elm Tree Inn officially reopened last month as a community-owned pub, with American supporters invited to visit and see their contributions in action. A special "Thank You America" wall has been installed, featuring messages from the campaign’s international supporters.
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About Crowdfunder
Founded in 2010, Crowdfunder is the UK’s leading rewards-based crowdfunding platform, having helped raise over half a billion dollars for more than 80,000 projects. The platform specializes in supporting community projects, local businesses, and individual ventures.
About Friends of the Elm Tree
Friends of the Elm Tree is the community group that successfully campaigned to save the historic Elm Tree Inn in Langton Matravers, Dorset. The group raised over £550,000 to purchase the pub and ensure its future as a community-owned establishment.
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