Apply to be Charity of the Year

Applications for the 2027 TCS London Marathon Charity of the Year will open in the New Year

For reference, this is what we asked from charities for 2026.

Please note, your charity must have:

  • Evidence of successful stewardship of a minimum of 100 participants either in a previous London Marathon or another mass participation event.
  • Plans to fundraise a minimum of £1 million from the 2026 COTY partnership (this is based on the 250 ballot places provided and an effective campaign that will convert a number of own place participants)

 

Following the review of all applications, the short-listed applicants will be invited to present to the London Marathon Events panel and talk us through your plans.

The TCS London Marathon is the world’s most successful one-day annual fundraising event, having raised well over £1 billion for thousands of charities since its first edition in 1981. Charities and their supporters play a crucial part in the event's ongoing success.

London Marathon Events (LME) is looking to appoint a charity, or partnership of charities, that is looking to fund an innovative project (or projects) that will create a lasting impact for its beneficiaries. We’re interested in projects that will be financially sustainable and deliver long-term benefits to the organisation. 

What does our 2027 Charity of the Year receive?

 

  • 250 guaranteed places at ballot price in 2027, plus 50 in 2028, 25 in 2029 and 10 in 2030. These places are in addition to any places your charity may already hold.
  • Exclusive use of the title ‘Charity of the Year’ in the 12 months from the end of the 2026 event up to the 2027 event.
  • Other benefits including opportunities to feature in communications to participants, dedicated social media posts, invitations to media functions, introductions to event sponsors, support from our London Marathon Events PR team and more.

Previous Charities of the Year

  • 2010: CLIC Sargent 
  • 2011: Oxfam 
  • 2012: Team PB (Prostate Cancer Charity and Breast Cancer Care) 
  • 2013: YouthNet and Age UK 
  • 2014: Anthony Nolan 
  • 2015: Cancer Research UK 
  • 2016: NSPCC 
  • 2017: The Royal Foundation's Heads Together Campaign 
  • 2018: Teenage Cancer Trust 
  • 2019: The Dementia Revolution (Alzheimer's Society & Alzheimer's Research UK) 
  • 2020: Mencap 
  • 2021: Macmillan
  • 2022: British Heart Foundation
  • 2023: Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity
  • 2024: Samaritans 
  • 2025: Pancreatic Cancer UK
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