Charity Program Information

Charity running: Where the dollar sign meets the finish line
Charity running has become an integral part of the 13.1 Marathon^® Chicago & 5K, and we want to support your programs and the causes they support. Training for a half marathon is a challenge, and finding the right motivation is a great way to keep it fun and help athletes stay committed. Cause related endurance events have experienced tremendous growth. Charity training programs provide participants with support, professional coaching and inspiration. We want to help you find athletes that are looking to make that connection, by promoting your training programs. We encourage all of our interested participants to get into the spirit of charity racing and connect with a worthy cause that will inspire them to train for and complete a half marathon.

Charity Program Documents
Charity Program Information
Charity Program Agreement

Fundraising Made Easy
There are a number of creative and functional ways you can make the fundraising effort tremendously successful for your charity. The most common and effective way is by setting up a fundraising pledge program where runners collect pledges and donations based on the completion of their race. As the charity, you would obtain the race entry on behalf of the individual (at a certain value), and the individual in turn raises a minimum of “X dollars” for your charity to be able to earn that entry to the half marathon. As an example, charities tend to ask for pledges ranging from a minimum of $200 up to $3,000. Depending on the minimum pledge, charities create packages that include travel arrangements (hotels, airfare, etc.), shirts, pre and post race meals, and training/coaching programs. Each charity has the option to develop a program according to your goals, resources and expected participants. We can help provide you with ideas and opportunities, but the implementation and collection of the fundraising program is up to the charity and its participants.

How do runners find out that a charity is affiliated with the 13.1 Marathon^® Chicago & 5K
Recruiting participants to fundraise is generally done through your communication channels and database of contacts. However, we will promote your charity through our website and direct interested runners to research our partner charities or those who support causes which they may have a specific interest in.