2027 BOSTON MARATHON

Yes, Free to Run requires runners to make a $100 USD donation upon acceptance of a place on Team Free to Run. This donation is non-refundable and will count towards your fundraising minimum. Through this donation, your credit card details will be securely stored in Stripe. In the event that you do not reach your fundraising minimum, your card may be charged the remainder of your unmet commitment.

When registering to run with a Free to Run bib, you are committing to fundraise and/or make a personal donation to reach your agreed goal. If you are not on track to reach your fundraising goal and not communicating with our team, Free to Run reserves the right to pull your official race bib and you will not be able to run the race.

If you are not on track to reach the fundraising minimum, but don’t want to lose your bib for the race, you will be responsible for paying the difference in order to participate in the event. A credit card will be kept on file.

The fundraising deadline is race day, April 19, 2027. There are additional milestones along the way to keep your fundraising on track. If you are not on track to reach the fundraising milestones and have not communicated an alternative schedule with Free to Run, we reserve the right to cancel your participation and allocate your bib to another runner.

While our team will be behind you all the way with tips and tricks to help you succeed, reaching the $12,000 USD minimum is ultimately your responsibility. Given the large minimum required for the Boston Marathon, it is not ideal for first-time fundraisers.

Applications open on September 14, 2026 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Priority will be given to applicants who express a clear alignment with Free to Run’s mission and are ready to meet or exceed their fundraising goal. Short-listed runners will be invited to an introductory call before offers are made.

Free to Run has been given 5 bibs by the Boston Marathon Charity Program. We’re expecting a high volume of applications for a limited number of places at the race.

The cut-off time for the Boston Marathon is 6 hours. While you don’t need to have a BQ time to use a charity bib, we do suggest you only apply if you’re confident you will finish the course in less than six hours in order to be listed as an official finisher.

Due in part to the time-qualification requirements of the race, the Boston Marathon does not allow for the deferral of a bib from one year to the next. Runners who become injured or have a change in circumstance affecting their ability to participate will not be offered the chance to run in a future year. 

It is important to note that when you accept a spot on Team Free to Run, you are taking an entry that we may not be able to re-fill if you drop out. Free to Run counts on each runner to raise the fundraising minimum to support our mission. It is critical that each runner understands that their cancellation has a financial impact on the charity.

If you anticipate any issue affecting your ability to participate, please communicate it with Free to Run as early as possible.

All fundraising is non-refundable.

Every runner who joins us at the Boston Marathon, regardless of whether you’re running with your own bib or a charity-bib, is a member of Team Free to Run and an Ambassador for our cause. These benefits include:

• Free to Run gear to train and race in, if you wish.

• Support from our team coach to get you to your personal race goals and guide you in your training.

• Fundraising support to help you surpass your goal, including help setting up your personalized online fundraising page.

• Opportunities to communicate and network with other Free to Run Ambassadors, SuperHalfs, and Marathon runners throughout the world. The group is a great source of information and inspiration for questions, training tips, fundraising support, and event logistics.

• A team gathering before the marathon to meet up with your fellow runners and hear more about the impact your fundraising will have for the girls and young women in our programs.

• The opportunity to learn more about our work, including video calls and information sessions with staff and participants of our global programs.

Team Free to Run brings together runners and athletes from around the world who are participating in marathons and other events to raise funds for Free to Run’s programs and advocate for our mission to advance gender equity globally through running. 

As a Boston Marathon runner, you are an Ambassador for Free to Run. Through your fundraising, you raise awareness for Free to Run and inspire others to understand our shared belief that everyone deserves the right to pursue sports like running.

Of course! We ask that you still complete an application. As an Ambassador, we are able to count up to $1,000 USD of funds raised since Jan 1, 2026 towards your Boston commitment. Any funds raised prior to 2026 will be taken into consideration as we evaluate applications, but unfortunately cannot be counted towards the $12,000 fundraising minimum for Boston. Funds raised in exchange for a Free to Run charity bib in another race cannot be counted towards the Boston Marathon fundraising minimum.

Free to Run would be thrilled to have you join us using your own entry! Email info@freetorun.org to let us know and get started.

Free to Run is not guaranteed to have any bibs next year, but we hope to again be accepted in 2028 as an official charity partner.

Free to Run’s mission is to advance gender equity globally through running. We do this by providing leadership and well-being programs for girls and young women in conflict areas, in conjunction with running experiences. We typically work with refugees, internally displaced people, and girls and young women who identify as ethnic minorities.

Currently, Free to Run is operating programs in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine.

While we work closely with individuals, we are working to drive change in community gender norms and towards a systematic shift in gender equality, with a specific focus on the expansion of access to public space and leadership opportunities for girls and young women.