Apply to be Charity of the Year

London Marathon Events is looking to appoint a charity, or partnership of charities, to fund an innovative project 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.

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.

How to apply

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)

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