HOW TO BECOME A CHARITY RUNNER
Select your race of choice from The DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Weekend of Events:
- Marathon
- Half marathon
- Marathon relay
- 4-mile fitness challenge
- 5K
- Champions mile
- Kids marathon
- Toddler trot
- Pet walk
As you register for the event on RaceRoster, opt to 'run in support of an official charity'.
Pick from one of 42 partner charities, each working to create positive change.
Your fundraising efforts should be directed toward a single official charity of your choice. Concentrating your impact on one cause allows for a more substantial contribution and maximizes the positive change you can effect.
Share your unique fundraising link and gather donations through RaceRoster.
To ensure accurate tracking and seamless processing of donations, all fundraising activities must be conducted exclusively through the Race Roster platform. This streamlines the process and guarantees transparency for both you and your supporters.
The deadline for fundraising within the Run for a Reason Charity Program is May 15, 2026.
It is crucial to complete your fundraising efforts by this date to be eligible for the registration fee refund and fully embrace the impact of your contributions.
2026 DICK'S SPORTING GOODS PITTSBURGH MARATHON WEEKEND OF EVENTS CHARITABLE IMPACT
The Run for a Reason Charity Program has raised more than $18,000,000 to support local charitable organizations.
REGISTER FOR 2026
Returning for 2026: The BACK Half Marathon benefiting Run For A Reason Charities
Every year, thousands of runners complete the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon, many of them running the race for multiple years. Unless those runners want to run the complete 26.2-mile DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon course, they never get to see the second half of the course. In 2026, the BACK HALF will be available to all runners willing to make a one-time donation to a local charity.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BACK HALF
CHARITY RUNNERS RUN FOR FREE
To qualify for a registration fee refund, it is essential to meet the predetermined minimum fundraising threshold for your chosen event. Should your fundraising fall short of this requirement, your registration fee will not be eligible for refund.
2026 Official Run For A Reason Charities
- 412 Food Rescue
- Alzheimer's Association
- Amputee Aid
- Animal Friends
- Arthritis Foundation Western Pennsylvania
- Autism Connection of PA
- Casey's Clubhouse
- Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Emily Whitehead Foundation
- Envision Blind Sports
- Girls on the Run Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC
- Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
- Haiti H20: Hope to Opportunity
- Homeless Children's Education Fund
- Kane Area Children's Museum
- Kids of STEEL
- Light Of Life Rescue Mission
- Magee Women's Research Institute and Foundation
- National MS Society, PA Keystone Chapter
- Open Hand Ministries
- Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania
- Rush to Crush Cancer
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council of Pittsburgh
- Special Olympics Pennsylvania
- The ALS Association
- The Izzie Fund
- The Organization for Autism Research
- Three Rivers Waterkeeper
- Variety the Children's Charity
- Veterans Leadership Program
- WORK
- Young Adult Survivors United (YASU)
- YouthPlaces
- Zip With Us
Important Details: Program Guidelines
Your fundraising efforts should be directed toward a single official charity of your choice. Concentrating your impact on one cause allows for a more substantial contribution and maximizes the positive change you can effect.
To qualify for a registration fee refund, it is essential to meet the predetermined minimum fundraising threshold for your chosen event. Should your fundraising fall short of this requirement, your registration fee will not be eligible for refund.
To ensure accurate tracking and seamless processing of donations, all fundraising activities must be conducted exclusively through the Race Roster platform. This streamlines the process and guarantees transparency for both you and your supporters.
The deadline for fundraising within the Run for a Reason Charity Program is May 15, 2026. It is crucial to complete your fundraising efforts by this date to be eligible for the registration fee refund and fully embrace the impact of your contributions.
Interested in Becoming an Official Charity?
In order to become an official charity, you must first participate as a contributing charity for at least one year. If you are interested in becoming an official charity next year please keep the below minimum program requirements in mind. If you do not intend on applying as an official charity in the following year, you do not have to meet the below requirements.
- Runner requirements - 25 runners
- Volunteer requirements - 10 volunteers
- Fundraising requirements - $10,000 raised
The official charity application for the 2026 DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Weekend of Events requires that you complete this form.
Contributing Charities may apply here.