The Boston Marathon charity program is getting even bigger for 2027. The Boston Athletic Association announced that 215 organizations will participate in the 2027 Boston Marathon Official Charity Program, the largest number in race history and the first time Boston has had more than 200 official charity partners.
For runners hoping a charity bib might be their route to Boston, there are more organizations to choose from. The fundraising commitment can also be enormous. Some 2027 teams are asking runners to raise $10,000 to $12,000, with a few giving preference to applicants willing to commit to even more.
Boston Marathon Has 215 Charities for 2027
The 131st Boston Marathon will take place April 19, 2027. Charity entries account for almost 10% of the race field, according to the B.A.A., and 22 organizations are joining the program for the first time. Boston had 160 official charities in 2024, compared with 215 for 2027.
Boston Marathon runners raised a record $57.3 million in 2026, compared with $50.4 million in 2025. More than $675 million has been raised through the program since it began in 1989.
You can browse the full list of 2027 Boston Marathon charities through the B.A.A..
How Much Do Boston Marathon Charity Runners Have to Raise?
There is no single fundraising minimum across the 215 charities. Each organization sets its own requirements.
Boston Children’s Hospital requires runners using one of its Boston Marathon entries to raise at least $10,000. Tedy’s Team also lists a $10,000 minimum for runners who need a charity entry.
Trinity Boston Connects requires $12,000 and says applicants willing to commit to at least $15,000 receive priority. TargetCancer Foundation and the Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation also list $12,000 minimums for 2027 charity-entry runners.
That $10,000 or $12,000 number is a commitment. Most organizations require runners to personally cover whatever remains if they do not reach the minimum. Boston Children’s states that a runner’s credit card can be charged for the remaining balance after its final deadline.
There may also be race registration fees, team fees, and fundraising checkpoints months before Marathon Monday. Read the individual charity agreement before accepting a bib.
Charity Running Is a Big Commitment
I wrote about charity entries recently in Why Is It Getting So Hard to Enter a Marathon?, because charity running is constantly suggested when someone misses a lottery or does not qualify.
I am a huge supporter of charity running. I am also currently raising $6,500 for Still I Run for the 2027 London Marathon, and I wrote more about why I chose Still I Run. Quite frankly, raising $6,500 makes me more nervous than training for the marathon…Some Boston teams ask for almost twice that.
Agreeing to the fundraising minimum also does not guarantee that a charity will select you. Organizations have limited entries and can review your connection to the charity, fundraising plan, and ability to raise the required amount before offering a bib.
If you already have a Boston entry, the fundraising commitment can be lower. Boston Children’s requires $3,000 from runners bringing their own bib, while Trinity suggests $4,000. The B.A.A. also has its Qualified Runner for a Cause program for runners who already earned entry.
Applying for a 2027 Boston Marathon Charity Bib
Several charities are already taking applications, and some review candidates on a rolling basis. If there is an organization you care about, I would look now rather than waiting until winter. Start with the official B.A.A. charity list, read the fundraising requirements, and pay attention to what happens if you miss the minimum.
For runners pursuing Boston through a qualifying time, I also have a full guide to 2027 Boston Marathon registration and an earlier breakdown of the new Boston Marathon qualifier selection process.
A charity bib can get you to Hopkinton without a qualifying time. You may spend the next seven months raising $10,000 or more before you ever get there.
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Questions for you:
Would you commit to raising $10,000 to $12,000 for a Boston Marathon charity bib?
Have you ever run a marathon for charity, and how did fundraising compare with training?