Charity directory
Quick facts
Boston Marathon charity places: 27 partners, minimums from $750
27 Boston Marathon charity partners through the John Hancock Non-Profit Program, with minimums from $7,500 to $15,000, the highest fundraising bar of any Major.
Partners
27
In this directory
Min range
$750
To $25,000 high end
Open now
2
Currently accepting applications
Typical window
August to November the year before the April race, varies by charity. Bank of America Official Charity Program member applications for the following year open in early June.
Overview
How charity places work
The Boston Marathon's John Hancock Non-Profit Program is the highest-bar charity programme in marathon racing, with most minimums sitting between $10,000 and $15,000. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Marathon Challenge is the flagship team, and several local hospital partners (Brigham and Women's Stepping Strong, Boston Children's Hospital, Mass Eye and Ear) run programmes at similar levels. The BAA also approves an invitational program for partners outside the John Hancock roster. Applications for the following April's race typically open in early June, with most teams accepting runners August through November and filling on a rolling basis. Boston's qualifier route, hitting a BQ time plus the annual cutoff seconds, is the alternative for runners who can run the standard. Charity is the path for everyone else.
Directory
27 partners listed
DC
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Cancer · Health
● Applications open
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-21
Application form is active for the 2027 race. The specific charity bib fundraising minimum and registration fee amounts are not detailed on the form.
Not published
Min raise
BC
Boston Children's Hospital (Miles for Miracles)
Children · Health
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Standard charity bib minimum is $10,000. Own entry runners commit to a minimum of $3,000. Standard runners must also pay a non-refundable $200 administrative fee upon acceptance that does not count toward the fundraising commitment.
$10,000
Min raise
BA
Brigham and Women's Stepping Strong
Health · Disability
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Stepping Strong Center is supported under the Mass General Brigham marathon team application. Charity athletes requiring a B.A.A. bib have a $10,000 minimum (preference for higher pledges). Qualified athletes who secured their own bib have a $1,000 minimum.
$10,000
Min raise
TT
Tedy's Team
Health · Disability
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Charity bib entry fundraising minimum is $10,000; qualifiers/invitational bibs require $6,000. Upfront marathon registration fee is paid by the runner and refunded post-race only if the fundraising minimum is met by the deadline; exact upfront registration fee amount is unpublished.
$10,000
Min raise
AH
American Heart Association
Health
○ Status unknown
Terms checked 2026-05-27
Edition and current availability have not been verified.
Eastern States affiliate Boston Marathon team. Runners commit to a $10,000 fundraising minimum plus pay the $375 BAA registration fee directly.
$10,000
Min raise
HB
Home Base (Red Sox Foundation and MGH)
Military and veterans · Mental health
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Home Base is selected through the Mass General Brigham marathon team application for 2027. Charity bib athletes have a $10,000 minimum with preference for higher pledges. Qualified athletes with own bib have a $1,000 minimum.
$10,000
Min raise
SR
Spaulding Race for Rehab
Disability · Health
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Spaulding Rehab is selected through the Mass General Brigham marathon team application for 2027. Charity bib athletes have a $10,000 minimum with preference given to higher amounts. Qualified athletes with their own bib have a $1,000 minimum.
$10,000
Min raise
BB
Best Buddies International (Team Best Buddies)
Disability
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Runners commit to a $12,500 fundraising minimum and are expected to pay the $375 registration fee.
$12,500
Min raise
AA
Alzheimer's Association (Team End ALZ)
Health · Seniors
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Charity bib runners have a $10,000 minimum, a $385 race entry fee (subject to change per the B.A.A.), and a $50 non-refundable application donation that applies toward the minimum if selected. Qualified/invitational runners pay a $260 entry fee and have a $3,000 suggested goal with no required minimum.
$10,000
Min raise
ME
Massachusetts Eye and Ear (Team Eye and Ear)
Health · Disability
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Mass Eye and Ear is selected via the Mass General Brigham marathon team application. Charity athletes requiring a bib have a $10,000 fundraising minimum, with preference for higher pledges. Qualified athletes with own bib have a $1,000 minimum.
$10,000
Min raise
BG
Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston
Children
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Minimum fundraising goal of $12,500 with a $390 race entry fee paid by the runner for the 2027 edition.
$12,500
Min raise
BB
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts
Children
○ Status unknown
Terms checked 2026-05-27
Edition and current availability have not been verified.
Mentorship programs for children across Eastern Massachusetts. Charity bib runners commit to a $10,000 fundraising minimum.
$10,000
Min raise
EA
Esplanade Association (Team Esplanade)
Environment
○ Status unknown
Terms checked 2026-05-27
Edition and current availability have not been verified.
Stewardship of the Charles River Esplanade park. Charity bib runners commit to $12,000 plus a $100 team fee plus the $375 BAA race fee. Qualified runners have a reduced $3,000 minimum. 2026 team is full, waitlist open.
$12,000
Min raise
2F
261 Fearless
Other · Health
● Applications open
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-21
Applications are open for the 2027 charity team, but detailed terms are behind password protection.
Not published
Min raise
MJ
Michael J. Fox Foundation (Team Fox)
Health
○ Status unknown
Terms checked 2026-05-27
Edition and current availability have not been verified.
Parkinson's research funding. Team Fox is open to runners with their own bib; the $750 minimum is for own-entry runners, not charity bib invitations.
$750
Min raise
CN
Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care
Cancer · Health
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Guaranteed entry requires a minimum of $12,500. Bring your own bib (BYOB) runners who already hold an entry can participate with a $3,000 minimum.
$12,500
Min raise
MM
Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Children · Health
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Charity bib runners commit to a minimum of $12,500 and must pay the $375 race registration fee. Qualified runners and sponsor bib recipients have a $2,500 commitment.
$12,500
Min raise
DB
Dream Big!
Children
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Charity bib runners have a $12,500 basic fundraising commitment and a $390 race entry fee set by the B.A.A. Runners with their own marathon bib number have a $2,500 basic fundraising commitment.
$12,500
Min raise
DF
Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism
Disability · Children
○ Status unknown
Terms checked 2026-05-27
Edition and current availability have not been verified.
Dougie's Team for Autism. Foundation is the presenting sponsor of the Boston Marathon's Adaptive Program. Charity bib minimum is $8,000.
$8,000
Min raise
BI
Beth Israel Lahey Health (Team BILH)
Health
○ Status unknown
Terms checked 2026-05-27
Edition and current availability have not been verified.
Charity bib runners commit to a $9,500 fundraising minimum. Credit card on file is charged for any shortfall by May 11, 2026.
$9,500
Min raise
BP
Boston Public Library (Team BPL)
Other · Children
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Team BPL has 20 bibs: 18 bibs have a $12,000 fundraising commitment, while 2 bibs have a $7,500 commitment for applicants aged 25 or younger (with preference for City of Boston residents and an essay requirement).
Not published
Min raise
AR
American Red Cross (Team Red Cross)
Health · Other
○ Status unknown
Terms checked 2026-05-27
Edition and current availability have not been verified.
Charity bib minimum is $15,000 (among the highest at Boston). Runners with their own BAA bib have a reduced $4,000 minimum. Credit card on file is charged for shortfall.
$15,000
Min raise
SF
St. Francis House
Homelessness · Housing
○ Status unknown
Terms checked 2026-05-27
Edition and current availability have not been verified.
Boston's largest day shelter for adults experiencing homelessness. Charity bib runners commit to $15,000 plus a $100 team fee plus the $375 BAA race fee. Qualified runners with their own bib have a reduced $2,000 minimum.
$15,000
Min raise
PP
Project Purple
Cancer · Health
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Fundraising requirement is a $25,000 minimum.
$25,000
Min raise
TB
Trinity Boston Connects
Children · Mental health
○ Status unknown
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Charity entry runners require a $12,000 minimum (priority given to $15,000 or more) with a $4,000 milestone due mid-December 2026. Runners pay a $390 B.A.A. entry fee plus a $100 application processing and gear fee. Time-qualified or own-entry runners have a suggested minimum of $4,000.
$12,000
Min raise
BP
Boston Police Foundation
Other
○ Status unknown
Terms checked 2026-05-27
Edition and current availability have not been verified.
Qualified runners with their own Boston Marathon bib commit to a $2,500 fundraising minimum. Charity bibs are not offered through this team.
$2,500
Min raise
SF
Stride for Stride
Other · Health
× Closed
2027 edition. Terms checked 2026-09-22
Fundraising minimum is $9,750. Stride for Stride charity bibs are sold out.
$9,750
Min raise
FAQ
Questions about charity places
When do Boston Marathon charity applications open?
Bank of America Official Charity Program member applications for the following year open in early June. Most charity teams accept applications August through November the year before the April race.
What are typical Boston Marathon charity minimums?
The flagship teams start at $10,000, with Dana-Farber at $12,000 for team entry. Most major Boston charity teams cluster in the $7,500 to $10,000 range, the highest of any World Marathon Major.
What if I qualified through BQ but want to run for charity?
Most Boston charity teams offer a reduced minimum for qualifiers with their own bib. Dana-Farber drops from $12,000 to $4,000; Boston Children's from $10,000 to $3,000.
Are Boston charity entries refundable if I miss the fundraising minimum?
No. Most Boston teams hold a credit card on file and charge any shortfall after race day. Registration fees are non-refundable and counted toward the fundraising total.
Free alerts · Boston Marathon
Get pinged when Boston Marathon charity windows open.
Set alert