Charities

Portland Marathon Going The Distance Official Charity Program

Contact Information:

Les Smith, Event Director
Phone: (503) 248-1134
Fax: (503) 224-8851
Email: lsmith@bullardlaw.com

Mamie Wheeler, Program Development Director
Phone: (480) 251-3422
Fax: (503) 224-8851
Email: mamie@portlandmarathon.org

200 SW Market, Suite 1900, Portland, OR 97205

Going The Distance Official Charity Program Description

The Portland Marathon is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Oregon non-profit corporation that is proud of its long tradition of providing Charities with fundraising opportunities through the Event or by one of its other charitable donation programs offered through the Event.

The Portland Marathon’s Going The Distance Official Charity Program is designed to assist participating Charities to fundraise, generate awareness, and achieve financial support from Event participants throughout the Marathon weekend of Events. All Event participants and volunteers are encouraged to get involved and help raise money for Charity, collecting pledges and donations from their family, friends and coworkers.

Over the weekend, our Events include:

• The 26.2 mile Marathon Run and Walk
• The 13.1 mile Half Marathon Run
• The 10k Non-competitive Family Walk
• The 10k Down Hill Dash competitive Run
• The Kids Fun Run & Festival

Fundraising ideas, tools and information will be offered by the event to benefit the Charities campaign efforts.

Fundraising ideas, tools and information will be offered by the event to benefit the Charities campaign efforts.

Charity Program Highlights!!

• A sell out year with 12,000 Marathon participant and 3,200 Half Marathon participant registrations! The Half Marathon closed in January and the Marathon closed in August!
• Eleven Official Charities
• Over $600,000.00 reported as raised on behalf of our Official Charities. (That figure will increase by the amounts that are yet unreported by both our Official Charities and other charities which used our Events as fundraisers.)
• 23-25% of all donations made during registration; 75-77% on fundraising pages
• Official charities that reported the highest number of individual fundraising pages also reported the highest fundraising achievements!!
• Only 5-10% of event participants are presently associated with a charity. This leaves 90-95% of our participants as possible charitable participants for your charity!! Review your marketing strategy with us to access this field of fundraisers early in the season!!
• Five 2011 Official Charities earned the $13,000.00 Premium Media Package, at no cost, offered as an incentive by the Event, based on achieving participant registration goals. GREAT JOB!! Next year this fantastic premium will become part of the new levels of participation as an incentive from the Event to further assist each of your worthy causes as you utilize your fundraising strategies all year.
• Over $200,000.00 donated through the Portland Marathon Going The Distance Direct Giving Program to charitable, civic and educational causes, directly benefiting Portland area communities!

For information on how to apply for The Official Charity Program Contact Mamie@portlandmarathon.org