How to Fundraise for a Marathon (Real Strategies for Charity Runners)
Your guide to becoming a charity runner and raising money with purpose
Running 26.2 miles is hard.
Asking people for money can feel even harder.
For our Guardian Revival Champions and other charity runners, fundraising is part of the reason to hit the pavement, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. What do you say? Who do you ask? How do you not feel awkward about it?
If you’re running with us or another charity — or even just thinking about it — you’re not alone in those questions. And the good news is that effective fundraising isn’t about being pushy or perfect. It’s about being clear, consistent, and personal.
If you’re wondering how to fundraise for a marathon without feeling awkward or pushy, this guide breaks it down, one step at a time:
Charity Bibs and Guardian Revival Champions
Why People Give
Step-by-Step Fundraising Strategy
Content to Capture (Photos + Videos)
Fundraising Toolkit (downloadable PDF!)
What Works + Common Mistakes
Real Results
Do you want to run with purpose?
Charity Bibs and Guardian Revival Champions
Running with a charity (sometimes called a “charity bib”) means you receive guaranteed entry into a race in exchange for committing to fundraise for the non-profit.
But in practice, it’s more than that. You’re not just running a race, you’re signing up to:
Represent a cause
Raise awareness for their mission
Turn your training into tangible impact through donations
In our case: Guardian Revival is a non-profit with a mission of improving the lives of military, veterans, and first responders (collectively: our guardians). We are also an official charity partner for select races and marathons, allowing us to offer a limited number of charity bibs per event each year.
Champions receive one of our guaranteed race entries in exchange for committing to fundraise on our behalf, helping to break mental health stigmas and raise awareness of the issues our guardians face, our organization, and the resources & events we provide.
Charity bib = guaranteed entry + fundraising commitment to GR (the amount is determined after you apply and interview with our team)
You run → the funds you raise support military, veterans, and first responders and their families
You become an ambassador for GR, not just a participant in the event
Why People Give
People don’t give to races — they give to stories. They donate because of you.
People give because of you, not the organization alone
Emotion > information
Specific stories outperform general appeals
So here’s what works:
A clear, personal reason (share your story: “why this cause matters to me”)
A specific goal (“I’m raising $3,000”)
A direct ask (“please make a donation”)
Here’s the most important lesson to take from this guide:
Your story is your strongest fundraising tool. It doesn’t have to be dramatic — it just has to be real, authentically you, and true.
Step-by-Step Fundraising Strategy
Step 1: Set your foundation
Personalize your page (we set Champions up with a personal fundraising page)
Set a clear goal (how many $ to raise)
Make your own first donation (signals commitment and starts momentum, even if it’s just a small amount)
Step 2: Start with your inner circle
Your first donations should come from people who already know you: family, close friends, teammates / colleagues. Don’t overthink it, just be honest.
5–10 direct asks
Text > email for early traction
Personalization matters — address each person by name and make your message specific to your relationship / past conversations
For example, start with this template:
“I’m running [race] to support [non-profit / mission purpose]. I’m aiming to raise $X — would you be willing to support me? Here’s where you can donate: [link]”
Here’s a more specific example:
“I’m running the NYC Marathon this year to support Guardian Revival, an organization that provides mental health programs for veterans and first responders. This cause is personal to me. My father and grandfather were firefighters, and I’ve seen firsthand how the job can impact not just those who serve, but their families as well. I’m aiming to raise $3,000 — would you be willing to contribute? I’d be incredibly grateful for your support! Every contribution truly makes a difference. You can donate here: [link]”
Direct asks paired with stories are far more effective than generic posts.
Step 3: Expand outward
A common mistake is relying only on Instagram or Facebook. Strong fundraisers use a mix of outreach approaches to meet your contacts where they spend time and are more likely to actually click a link & make a donation.
Text Messages: Great for close connections; you can be short, personal, direct
Email: More space to tell your story; useful for broader groups
In your ask
Be direct and make it personal
Clear CTA (CTA = call to action, like “Donate now” or “Support me”)
Include your link every time! Make it easy for people to click + donate
Work network
Professional tone
Connect the cause to shared values (service, community, impact)
Family & friends
Personal story
Connect to what matters most — maybe that’s Guardian Revival’s mission, or maybe simply supporting you
Social media
Post consistently (about training and fundraising progress)
Share your training, milestones, reflections,
Why you’re running + GR mission
Use visuals (photos, videos) + progress tracking
Step 4: Maintain momentum
Fundraising isn’t one announcement, it’s a process.
Weekly updates (training + fundraising progress)
Share & celebrate milestones (furthest run so far + amounts raised)
50% to goal!
20 donors 📈
10K training run done ✅
Keep inviting new people to support you — and thank the people who already donated
These social media posts, emails, and texts keep your campaign visible and give people multiple opportunities to contribute.
Step 5: Finish strong
Like in any race, the final stretch matters! The days just before and after your race are when people are most engaged with your journey — and most likely to donate.
When you share information and encouragement to donate, people are extra excited for & connected with you. And as they see you making your race happen, they’ll feel more incentivized to help you cross your fundraising finish line as well.
Before the race:
Send a “pre-race” message
Share who (the org) you’re running for and why
After the race:
Post-race gratitude + recap
Thank every donor (individually, if you know them all)
Share photos / videos — Let people see the outcome they helped create!
This closes the loop, and makes people more likely to support you again in the future.
Content to Capture (Photos + Videos)
Here’s what our team suggests for the photos and videos you can take before, during, and after your race.
We recommend shooting in portrait (vertical) format for social media, and aim to keep videos between 10-20 seconds (which can be edited together into a longer 60-90 second final video / reel to upload).
Pre-race moments
Getting ready with your race day outfit
Pinning your bib, lacing up your shoes, etc. 👟
Walking to the starting line
Camera pan of the crowded starting line
During the race
Professional photos from the race
Videos by your friends/family, captured from the sidelines
Videos captured by you while you run (if you can)
Crowd cheering
Selfie-style videos sharing which mile you’re on
Scenic parts of the course
Crossing the finish line 🏁
High fiving or fist bumping other runners at the finish line 👊
Post-race reflections
Short message about your “why” for participating
This one is huge!! We LOVE to hear, on camera, why you chose to run as a Champion. It could be as simple as “to support Guardian Revival’s mission” or someone specific that you’re running for or in honor of ♥️
Holding up your medal 🏅
Photos with other runners
Don't worry about making the content perfect: The most powerful moments are the real ones.
Please share with us any and all content you capture - even if you don’t think it’s great content, we can probably work our magic with it. Thank you for representing Guardian Revival and helping us share the mission!
What Works + Common Mistakes
So what makes a fundraising approach work?
Clear “why” (you have reasons you are racing and fundraising — share them!)
Consistency (not a “one and done” scenario: fundraising requires multiple posts, emails, and texts)
Personal outreach (send emails + texts to people directly to ask; can’t rely on only social media posts)
Gratitude + follow-up (let people know how you did and that you’re thankful)
It sounds simple to fundraise (and it can be!), so where do people go wrong?
Only posting once
Being too vague (“support this cause”)
Not asking directly
Waiting too long to start
Not thanking donors
What are some of the common threads in these mistakes?
Fear (of asking for money, being annoying, sharing something personal) — it’s valid to feel vulnerable when doing this for the first time, but there's nothing wrong with putting this information out there, especially because you’ve committed for a reason!
Not being explicit and direct — clearly tell people what you’re doing and why and (!) how they can help! Let them know the options and decide whether to participate or not
Procrastination — a challenge for most of us, and the best approach is to just schedule deadlines and do it (and don’t overthink it or talk yourself out of it!)
If you don’t have experience posting on social media or writing about yourself, ask for help!
There’s almost certainly someone in your life who has done it and would be happy to support your success. It may even be a fun way to collaborate on something with a loved one or friend, learning from them.
Real Results
Here are some examples of past Guardian Revival Champions events and fundraising metrics by our runners! Some of our Champions are also veterans and first responders, or family members and community supporters — but regardless of their guardian status, their role is showing what’s possible with consistent effort and a clear mission.
All three of our Champs for the 2025 Miami Marathon were active first responders, and they raised $6500 to support their fellow guardians. Danny Martinez, an active first responder who has run over 14 marathons, shared this enthusiasm: "Thank you for the opportunity to represent Guardian Revival doing what I love most—RUNNING!!
Philadelphia Marathon: In 2024, we had 20 runners compete as Champions and raise $35,000 together. Our passionate runners came from nine states and included guardians, family members, and community supporters. One runner, Brian Reed, shared his reasons for running in an interview with NBC10 Philadelphia:
“I'm running to raise funds and awareness for veteran and first responder mental health. It's special because of my service, but more importantly for the people I serve with and those we’ve lost. Running for this cause is a way to give back and keep fighting for those who need it most.”
For the 2024 Marine Corps Marathon, 13 runners raised $43,000 total and represented active-duty Marines, veterans, police officers, first responder spouses, and family members, coming to the race from across the East Coast, including NC, VA, GA, NJ, PA, MD, NY, and D.C. Then for the Marine Corps Marathon in 2025, we had 50 Champion runners who raised $135,000+ together (!) and came to compete from 18 states: MA, FL, TX, VA, CA, NV, NY, CO, NJ, KY, AZ, NC, WV, MD, VT, IN, PA, SC.
Do you want to run with purpose?
As a Guardian Revival Champion, you’re not just training for a finish line — you’re helping expand access to mental health support for those who serve our communities every day.
If you’re considering being a Champion for a cause, this is your opportunity to turn something challenging into something meaningful. We’d love for you apply to join us:
Not sure yet but curious to learn more? Check out our Champions page
If you’re a guardian or family member, please check out our programs, resources, and upcoming events! We are here for you.
Who We Are
Guardian Revival is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that improves the mental health & well-being of military, veterans, and first responders — our guardians — and their families, at no cost to them.
Peer Services | Individual & group peer support for guardians by guardians
Dwyer of Putnam County | Events, information, and resources for Putnam County veterans
Another Summit | Outdoor adventures — walking, hiking, backpacking, paddling, and fly fishing
Boots & Paws | Providing dogs for the therapeutic benefits of animal companionship
Encore | Opportunities to learn, write, play, record, and share music
Homefront | Events, support & resources for guardian families
Peer Services | Individual & group peer support for guardians by guardians
RISE | Strength & resilience through fitness & wellness
