Official Charities
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 2026 charities. 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 2026 Charities
We’re excited to share that even more amazing charities will be revealed in the coming days!
AIM is bridging the gap between research and access to care for youth struggling with their mental health by finding, funding, and implementing evidence-based treatments and empowering youth to discover their own mental health solutions.
The Allyson Whitney Foundation supports young adults with rare cancers through its Life Interrupted Grants, oncofertility preservation, and Hope Bags. These resources aim to alleviate financial and emotional burdens, providing critical support during challenging times. As an all volunteer based organization, donations are truly impactful to our pursuits
ALS Therapy Development Institute
The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) is a non-profit research organization whose mission is to discover and develop effective treatments for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Their focus is on developing therapies that can slow or stop the progression of the disease.
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!
The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.Our mission is more than words. We always aim to prevent and relieve suffering with every action. The Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to people affected by disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families.
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.
The Big Sur Marathon Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to building a healthier community through access to fitness opportunities, with a special focus on running. Our two signature race weekends are the cornerstone of our fundraising efforts: the world-renowned Big Sur International Marathon each April and the Monterey Bay Half Marathon each November. Proceeds from these events fuel our year-round youth fitness programs, volunteer engagement, and community grants, ensuring that we are more than just a race, we are a partner in inspiring active, healthy lives.
As a non-profit specializing in adaptive sports, we equip athletes of all abilities to break through barriers, achieve their personal best, and experience the life-changing impact of physical activity. Whether it’s through recreation, competition, or community events, we provide the resources, support, and inclusive environment that athletes need to thrive.
Every Mother Counts is working to make the maternal health journey before, during, and after childbirth safe, respectful, and equitable for everyone, everywhere. In some parts of the world, women must travel many miles to reach a provider or clinic while pregnant or in labor, often by foot. We run to raise awareness of maternal health disparities.
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!
Hope Story provides no-cost resources to families whose children have been diagnosed with Down syndrome and to the medical providers who support them.
LUNGevity is the leading nonprofit that’s transforming how people are diagnosed and live with lung cancer through research, education, and support. Our vision is a world where no one dies of lung cancer.
100 Mile Club presents students with a challenge to run or walk 100 miles in a school year, while being recognized with our award winning MILEstone incentives. Our vision is to see Healthy, Happy, Connected Kids® and communities flourish. Over one million kids at hundreds of schools and districts across the nation have accepted the challenge!
Move For Hunger is dedicated to confronting the issues of hunger and food waste across the US. Since 2009, our network has recovered more than 60 million pounds of food, transporting it to local food banks and pantries. Team Move For Hunger, our dedicated team of endurance runners, turn their miles to meals in races around the world, raising funds to support our food recovery efforts, ensuring that food recovered in a community reaches the doors of area food banks on the front lines of distribution to those residents experiencing this growing epidemic of food insecurity.
Community here. Breakthroughs ahead. National Brain Tumor Society unrelentingly invests in, mobilizes, and unites our community to discover a cure, deliver effective treatments, and advocate for brain tumor patients and care partners.
Organization for Autism Research
The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) applies research to the challenges of autism. Through funding applied autism research, sharing new and useful information with members of the autism community, and supporting autistic job-seekers, OAR aims to directly enhance the quality of life for autistic individuals and their families.
The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) 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.
Our mission is to foster thriving and sustainable ecosystems in the Monterey Bay and surrounding habitats through equitable environmental action. We advance this mission through community cleanups, environmental education, and advocacy that safeguards our coast and marine sanctuary for future generations.
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.
Still I Run: Runners for Mental Health
Still I Run is the country’s largest non-profit running community that works on a nationwide level to promote the benefits of running for mental health while also working to defeat the stigma, raise awareness around the topic, and help others get started running for their mental health.
Vision: A world where every step is a stride towards well-being.
Mission: Supporting, inspiring, and uniting individuals of all backgrounds and experiences in their journey to better mental health through running.
Team Red, White and Blue (Team RWB)
Team RWB is forging America’s leading health and wellness organization for veterans and their supporters. Team RWB is a community of Veterans, Service Members, military families, and supporters, united by teamwork, shared values, and a common goal.
ZERO Prostate Cancer is on a mission to improve and save lives from prostate cancer through advocacy, awareness, education, and support. As the nation’s leading prostate cancer organization, ZERO Prostate Cancer advances a future where detection is early, support is unwavering, and care is accessible to all.
