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
American Cancer Society – DetermiNation
At the American Cancer Society, we have a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. We’re improving the lives of cancer patients and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.
Register With Charity
Contact: determinationcalifornia@cancer.org
Available Entries – Marathon
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
Contact: Courtney.totten@backonmyfeet.org
Available Entries – Marathon
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:
Available Entries – Marathon
Every Mother Counts’ mission is to make pregnancy and childbirth safe, equitable, and respectful for every mother, everywhere. Every Mother Counts was born from the recognition that not all people have the same access and privilege when it comes to maternity care. In some parts of the world, women have to travel many miles to reach a provider or clinic while pregnant or in labor, often by foot. We run as a way to raise awareness of maternal health disparities.
Register With Charity
Contact: teamemc@everymothercounts.org
Available Entries – Marathon, 11 Miler, 5K
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 in support of empowering young girls!
Register With Charity
Contact: carol@gotrsv.org
Available Entries – Sold Out
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.
Register With Charity
Contact: adimiceli@breakthroughT1D.org or run@breakthroughT1D.org
Available Entries – Marathon, 11 Miler, 12K, 5K
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
38 million Americans face hunger each day. Meanwhile, we are wasting 35% 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
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 the charity running program of OAR.
Register With Charity
Contact: run@researchautism.org
Available Entries – Marathon
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 & 5K
Team EMPOWER is the signature endurance fundraising program of Smile Train. It gives athletes all around the world the opportunity to make their race count toward providing free cleft surgery and comprehensive care to children in need. Every step, every lap, and every mile mean more than crossing the finish line — it means more smiles, new beginnings, and the opportunity for children with clefts to live full and productive lives.
Register With Charity
Contact: teamempower@smiletrain.org
Available Entries – Marathon
Team Red, White and Blue (Team RWB)
In the military, service members push the limits of their well-being to support the mission. That selfless service posture has always been necessary because service members of every era knew they may be called to war. As they move into civilian life, many veterans carry that mission-first mindset with them, neglecting their health in the process.
We believe that veterans are America’s most resilient citizens — and it’s time for more veterans to prioritize their well-being first.
Register With Charity
Contact: john.faunce@teamrwb.org
Available Entries – Marathon, 21 Miler, 5K
