Charity Partners

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$400K Raised Last Year
Our official Charity Runners helped raise more than $400,000 for 23 different organizations during the 2024 Grandma's Marathon weekend.
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$3M+ Raised Since 2015
Since 2015, our Charity Partners program has helped raise more than $3 million for various organizations across the upper Midwest and throughout the country.
RUNNING TOWARD A COMMON GOAL
At Grandma’s Marathon, we believe in the power of transformation. As an individual, you will embark on an incredible journey that starts the day you register and continues until the moment you cross the finish line.
Our Charity Partners program offers you a chance to share that life-changing experience with others. By becoming an official charity runner, you can make a difference in someone else’s life while transforming your own.
You can make a difference, in your life and beyond.
The deadline to register as a 2024 Charity Runner has passed. Please consider participating in a future race weekend for one of our Charity Partners.
Anyone interested in running either Grandma’s Marathon, the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, or the William A. Irvin 5K can participate as a Charity Runner. NOTE: To be considered for a charity entry, please contact one of our official nonprofit partner organizations directly.
Each of our official Charity Partner organizations has a limited number of entries into each of our three weekend races. Additionally, each Charity Partner is responsible for recruiting its own runners and developing its own fundraising goals and guidelines.
To be accepted as a Charity Runner, you must commit to the fundraising goal set by your partner organization. You will have access to a fundraising page on Race Roster that can be personalized and shared with prospective donors. NOTE: Some Charity Partners use their own platforms to collect funds and may provide you alternative instructions for your fundraising.
If you’re interested in becoming a Charity Runner, reach out directly via phone or email to one of the participating organizations. If you do not hear back within three (3) business days, please contact our Program Manager Alivia Nelson via email at [email protected].
Once you have raised the minimum amount as agreed upon at the beginning, your partner organization will distribute specific registration instructions so you can officially enter the race. If you’ve reached the minimum fundraising amount, you will also receive a promo code that will waive the race entry fee.
NOTE: Any additional registration options or fees associated with the runner’s failure to follow registration instructions or use the promo code correctly will not be reimbursed.
2025 GRANDMA’S MARATHON CHARITY PARTNERS
2025 Charity Participants: 850+
Expected Fundraising Amount: $500,000+

American Cancer Society
2025 PARTICIPANTS
62
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$60,000

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
2025 PARTICIPANTS
50
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$50,000

ANIMAL ALLIES
HUMANE SOCIETY
2025 PARTICIPANTS
29
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$12,100

CHILDREN’S
MINNESOTA
2025 PARTICIPANTS
29
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$14,500

CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION
2025 PARTICIPANTS
18
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$18,850

Duluth Community School Collaborative
2025 PARTICIPANTS
4
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$1,700

Duluth Community Garden Program
2025 PARTICIPANTS
7
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$3,500

FOREST LAKE AREA GOOD SAMARITANS
2025 PARTICIPANTS
5
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$2,750

GIRLS ON THE RUN MINNESOTA
2025 PARTICIPANTS
12
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$9,000

HEAD OF THE LAKES
UNITED WAY
2025 PARTICIPANTS
14
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$5,600

LUNGEVITY
FOUNDATION
2025 PARTICIPANTS
10
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$15,000

NORTHERN LIGHTS FOUNDATION
2025 PARTICIPANTS
19
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$9,000

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES
2025 PARTICIPANTS
15
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$10,750

SAFE HAVEN SHELTER & RESOURCE CENTER
2025 PARTICIPANTS
11
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$5,500

SAVE THE
BOUNDARY WATERS
2025 PARTICIPANTS
82
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$39,250

SCLERODERMA FOUNDATION
2025 PARTICIPANTS
4
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$2,000

SEMPER FI &
AMERICA’S FUND
2025 PARTICIPANTS
15
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$7,500

SPECIAL OLYMPICS
MINNESOTA
2025 PARTICIPANTS
7
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$5,250

THE FRONT LINE FOUNDATION
2025 PARTICIPANTS
11
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$5,250

UNION GOSPEL
MISSION
2025 PARTICIPANTS
13
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$4,850

YOUNG ATHLETES
FOUNDATION
2025 PARTICIPANTS
16
EXPECTED FUNDRAISING
$8,000