Official Charity Partners
Running For a Reason
Interested in fundraising for a charity? We offer many options to support worthy organizations throughout the country. With a minimum donation of financial support (varies by charity), you’ll receive a guaranteed race entry to a Big Sur Marathon event and, in some cases, online training and/or other benefits from the charity including the camaraderie and special feeling of helping others.
Keep scrolling to learn more about our 2025 charity partners. If you are interested in signing up with one of our charities, follow the link provided for your charity of interest. If possible, look to a charity that has meaning for you, whether in memory of a family member, to support a friend, or because of your own personal experience.
Our Official 2025 Charity Partners
All charity partners currently listed are part of the 2025 race. A few more will be added in the coming days!
American Cancer Society – DetermiNation
The mission of the American Cancer Society is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.
Help us end cancer as we know it, for everyone.
Register With Charity
Contact: janelle.goforth@cancer.org
Available Entries – Marathon, 21 – Miler, 11 – Miler
Back on My Feet is a nation-wide nonprofit that uses the power of fitness, community support, and essential employment and housing resources to combat homelessness. Our unique model demonstrates that if you first restore confidence, strength and self-esteem, individuals are better equipped to tackle the road ahead. For all in need, we aim to provide: practical training and employment resources for achieving independence; an environment that promotes accountability; and a community that offers compassion and hope.
Register With Charity – Marathon Distance
Register With Charity – 11 – Miler
Contact: Courtney.totten@backonmyfeet.org
Available Entries – Marathon, 11 – Miler
Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation
Our mission at the Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation is to inspire and empower youth across New England and beyond to increase physical activity, expand literacy, and build community and self-esteem through running, reading, and performing acts of kindness. Our vision is rooted in a belief that discovering a passion for physical activity, reading, and acts of kindness at a young age gives individuals self-confidence and self-respect, which empowers them to move forward—one step at a time.
Register With Charity
Contact: meg@davemcgillivrayfoundation.org
Available Entries – Marathon & Boston 2 Big Sur
Dare2tri’s mission is to enhance the lives of individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments by building confidence, community, health and wellness through swimming, biking, and running.
Since its 2011 inception, Dare2tri has encouraged recreation, racing, and competition in paratriathlon while also cultivating a sense of community for all athletes, who are not labeled by physical ability, but rather their determination and will to succeed.
We transform lives by boosting individuals’ self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth.
Register With Charity
Contact: Shawna@dare2tri.org
Available Entries – Marathon, 21 – Miler, 11 – Miler
By running with Team E2C, your effort will create impact in the lives of children battling cancer and their families. Our programs provide uplifting gifts and experiences, and financial assistance to defray the immediate and uninsurable travel expenses of getting to and from cancer treatments. Be somebody’s hero today!
Register With Charity
Contact: jason@enduretocure.org
Available Entries – Marathon. 11 – Miler
The Girls on the Run (GOTR) program inspires 3rd-8th grade girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident by engaging them in a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. The program is a physical-activity based, positive youth development program designed to enhance girls’ social, psychological, and physical skills and behaviors to equip them with tools to successfully navigate life experiences and cross a 5K finish line. Join our SoleMates charity running program and run the Big Sur Marathon or 11 Miler in support of empowering young girls!
Register With Charity
Contact:
GOTR Silicon Valley – kathleen@gotrsv.org
GOTR Central Coast – kelsey.pearson@girlsontherun.
Available Entries – Marathon & 11 – Miler
As the leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization, Breakthrough T1D, formerly known as JDRF, helps make everyday life with type 1 diabetes better while driving toward cures. We do this by investing in the most promising research, advocating for progress by working with government to address issues that impact the T1D community, and helping educate and empower individuals facing this condition. We hope you will join Breakthrough T1D Run at the Big Sur Marathon and help us get closer to our ultimate finish line — a world without T1D.
Register With Charity
Contact: Run@BreakthroughT1D.org
Available Entries – Marathon, 11 – Miler, 12K
LUNGevity Foundation is the nation’s leading lung cancer organization focused on improving outcomes for people with lung cancer through research, education, and support for patients, survivors, and caregivers. LUNGevity Foundation is proud to be a four-star Charity Navigator organization.
Register With Charity
Contact: kginda@lungevity.org
Available Entries – Marathon, 21 Miler, 11 Miler
44 million Americans face hunger each day. Meanwhile, we are wasting 38% of the food we produce each year. By joining Team Move For Hunger at the Big Sur Marathon, you can support our hunger relief and food rescue programs, one mile at a time.
Register With Charity
Contact: hannah@moveforhunger.org
Available Entries – Marathon, 21 – Miler, 11 – Miler
National Brain Tumor Society’s official endurance program is called Gray Nation Endurance®️. Our official charity team will dedicate their training and fundraising to support the NBTS mission while putting meaning behind their miles for themselves, their loved ones, and to fuel a new era of progress toward a cure for all brain tumors. Submit an application with our team or email Nikki Margeson at endurance@braintumor.org for more information.
Register With Charity
Contact: endurance@braintumor.org
Available Entries – Marathon,11 Miler, 12K
Organization for Autism Research
The Organization for Autism Research’s (OAR) mission is to apply research to the challenge of autism. We strive to use science to address the social, educational, and treatment concerns of autistic people, parents, autism professionals, and caregivers. The mission of “applying” research to answer questions of daily concern to autistic people and those around them defines our goals and programs. RUN FOR AUTISM is OAR’s charity running program.
Register With Charity
Contact: run@researchautism.org
Available Entries – Marathon
Parkinson’s Champions are racing toward a cure! Our Parkinson’s Champions athletes raise funds and awareness for the Parkinson’s Foundation while competing in some of the world’s most popular endurance events. Every step we take brings us closer to a future without Parkinson’s disease, because Parkinson’s isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience, and passion of our global Parkinson’s community.
Register With Charity
Contact: Run4PD@Parkinson.org
Available Entries – Marathon, 11 – Miler
Realbuzz is a leading provider of charity running programmes, with over twenty years’ experience connecting charities with runners and the events they want to be part of. We work with charities of all sizes, ensuring everyone can benefit from the contributions of amazing charity runners like you, with a mission to make charity running more accessible, worldwide. To get started, click the register link below to view our full list of charity partners and apply to join their team. You’ll receive full fundraising and training support throughout your journey, all the way to race day!
Register With Charity
Contact: runner@realbuzz.com
Available Entries – Marathon
Semper Fi & America’s Fund cares for our nation’s critically wounded, ill, and injured service members, veterans, and military families. Supporting all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, we provide one-on-one case management, connection, and lifetime support. Today. Tomorrow. Together.
Register With Charity
Contact: Amanda.Kelly@thefund.org
Available Entries – Marathon, 21 – Miler, 11 – Miler, 12K, 5K
Smile Train is the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, with a sustainable and local model of supporting surgery and other forms of essential care. Over the last 25+ years, we have supported safe and quality cleft care for 2+ million children and will continue to do so until every child in need with a cleft has access to the care they deserve.
Register With Charity
Contact: cmauck@smiletrain.org
Available Entries – Marathon
Still I Run is the country’s only non-profit running community that strives to promote the benefits of running, or any physical activity, for mental health, provide resources to educate and inspire, and dismantle the stigma surrounding mental illness. When you join Team Still I Run the funds you raise will support our mission by helping fund an array of programs and resources, including scholarships that help individuals get started on their own running journey, a free mental health support group, and run chapters across the country.
Register With Charity
Contact: allie@stillirun.org
Available Entries – 11 – Miler, 12K, 5K
Team Red, White and Blue (Team RWB)
Team RWB is a community of veterans, service members, military families, and supporters, united by teamwork, shared values, and a common goal. We help veterans lead healthier lives through fitness events, training, and programs.
Register With Charity
Contact: john.faunce@teamrwb.org
Available Entries – Marathon, 21 – Miler, 11 – Miler, 12K, 5K
