There’s something electrifying about standing on the start line of a running race: the nerves, the excitement, the feeling of being part of something larger than yourself as you wait for the starting gun, shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow athletes. That bolt of energy can often extend from the idea of “running for more,” a phrase commonly used to describe combining a race registration with a fundraising effort.
In fact, running is one of the biggest philanthropic sports in the world, where the London Marathon is the world’s largest one-day fundraising event—it has raised more than $700 million since 2010. On race day, approximately 75 percent of its runners are tied to some sort of fundraising effort, according to the team at London Marathon Events.
Even for those opting for smaller, local events, or entirely solo outings, having a goal that transcends individual and external motivations, and instead focuses on something intrinsically motivating—like contributing to a charity—can be a powerful motivator. So powerful that, to date, over $2 billion has been raised by runners for charitable organizations…
