Great news for Boston: the Boston Marathon’s official charity program is bigger than ever! The Boston Athletic Association has selected a record 215 nonprofit organizations to take part in the 2027 Bank of America Boston Marathon charity program — the first time in history that more than 200 organizations join this inspiring initiative.
The selected charities will receive invitational entries for the 131st Boston Marathon, scheduled for April 19, 2027. Charity runners make up nearly 10% of the entire field, turning every mile of the legendary 26.2-mile course from Hopkinton to Boston into a powerful force for good.
Each organization recruits athletes who pledge to raise funds for worthy causes — from children’s hospitals and cancer research to youth programs, veteran services, and environmental protection. The program keeps growing: just three years ago, in 2024, it partnered with 160 organizations, and this year’s class includes 22 first-time partners.
The momentum is unstoppable. In 2026, the charity program raised a record $57.3 million, up 13.7% from the previous record of $50.4 million set in 2025. Since the program began in 1989, more than $675 million has been raised through Boston Marathon fundraising.
The B.A.A. will also field its own fundraising team, the B.A.A. Gives Back Marathon Team, supporting youth and community programs across greater Boston. A world where everyone can access the benefits of running — that is the goal behind every dollar raised.
Photo: ArnoldReinhold, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
