Marathon Kids
Marathon Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a free, evidence-based youth running program serving K-12 students across 1,000+ schools and 2,800 run clubs in all 50 U.S. states, reaching 518,000+ kids annually through its Marathon Kids Connect digital platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Marathon Kids does
Marathon Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1995 in Austin, Texas that operates the nation's largest youth running program. It serves K-12 students through more than 1,000 schools and 2,800 run clubs across all 50 states, reaching 518,000+ kids annually and over 3 million cumulatively since inception. The program is structured around a six-pillar evidence-based framework (Goal Setting, Tracking, Social Support, Modeling the Way, Celebrating, Rewarding) and challenges participants to complete the equivalent of four or more marathons per season through running, jogging, walking, or other movement.
The core technology is Marathon Kids Connect, a cloud-based digital platform paired with a mobile scanning app that uses QR-coded participant ID cards to record laps and active minutes, syncing automatically to real-time reporting dashboards for coaches and district administrators. A district-level tier adds single-sign-on, auto-rostering, and campus-by-campus dashboards, with named deployments at Austin ISD, Boston Public Schools, and Miami-Dade County. Adjacent product lines include the Girls Movement Program (K-12, with K-12 curriculum emphasis on grades 4-8), Team Marathon Kids (charity racing team with guaranteed entry into major marathons including NYC and Sydney), Marathon Kids at Home resources for families, and a Leadership Academy for educator professional development.
The business model is donation- and sponsorship-funded rather than fee-based: the program is 100% free to all schools, community organizations, families, and coaches. Revenue is generated from individual donations (monthly recurring and one-time via Givebutter), corporate sponsorships (Brooks Running as flagship, plus H-E-B, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and Alabama, DICK's Sporting Goods Foundation, Life Time Foundation, Bender Foundation, PHIT America, and others), grants (e.g., Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation for Boston Public Schools), and Team Marathon Kids charity race fundraising. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on coaches, educators, and an Advocate Network to drive school and district adoption through word-of-mouth and peer referrals rather than traditional sales motion.
Marathon Kids firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Marathon Kids
- Legal name
- Marathon Kids, Inc.
- Website
- https://marathonkids.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Marathon Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a free, evidence-based youth running program serving K-12 students across 1,000+ schools and 2,800 run clubs in all 50 U.S. states, reaching 518,000+ kids annually through its Marathon Kids Connect digital platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Marathon Kids industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Physical Activity Programs
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Support Services (6117), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outdoor Education & Adventure Programs (School-Run) (EDAJAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Extended Learning Time Programs (After-School/Summer Intervention) (EDAJAGAK), Road Running Events (Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K/5K) (MPAKAIAA)
Keywords
Where Marathon Kids is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Marathon Kids business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: Individual donations from supporters who contribute to keep the program free for schools. Monthly recurring donations and one-time gifts accepted via the website.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships with corporations like Brooks Running that provide programmatic support and funding to sustain free operations
- Team Marathon Kids Fundraising: Adult runners raise funds while training for marathons, with proceeds supporting free youth physical activity programs nationwide
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free program for all schools and communities |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Marathon Kids product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Marathon Kids delivers a free, evidence-based youth running program to U.S. schools and community organizations, challenging children to complete the equivalent of four or more marathons per season across six evidence-based pillars. The program is administered through the Marathon Kids Connect cloud-based digital platform and mobile scanning app, which tracks participant laps, miles, and active minutes via QR-code ID cards and feeds real-time reporting dashboards for coaches, schools, and districts, all provided at no cost and funded by donations and corporate sponsorships.
Product overview
Marathon Kids operates as a single, unified nonprofit youth running program built around a core digital platform. The flagship product is Marathon Kids Connect, a cloud-based digital platform paired with a mobile scanning app that enables real-time tracking of laps, miles, and active minutes for youth participants. The program is structured around six evidence-based pillars and is offered completely free to schools and community organizations. Key product components include: the core Marathon Kids Program (challenging kids to complete 4+ marathons per season), the Marathon Kids Connect digital platform with scanning app, The Girls Movement sub-brand for all-girls clubs, Team Marathon Kids charity racing program, Marathon Kids Connect for Districts (an enhanced tier with SSO and auto-roster capabilities), the eStore for achievement rewards, and Marathon Kids at Home family resources. The Girls Movement Program specifically targets girls in grades K-12 with dedicated curriculum and grant-funded Coach Empowerment Kits for qualifying schools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Marathon Kids Connect: Digital platform and mobile scanning app for tracking student physical activity, managing rosters, and celebrating milestones.
- Girls Movement
- Team Marathon Kids
Products and services
- Marathon Kids Program Free, evidence-based youth running program challenging kids in grades K-12 to run, jog, walk, or move the equivalent of four or more marathons over a season. Built on six research-backed pillars and delivered at no cost to U.S. schools and community organizations.
- Marathon Kids Connect Digital Platform Cloud-based digital platform with a web dashboard for tracking youth physical activity, managing rosters, customizing program goals, accessing real-time reporting dashboards, leaderboards, and milestone tracking. Provided to schools and community organizations free of charge.
- Marathon Kids Mobile Scanning App Mobile app for iOS and Android that scans Marathon Kids participant QR-code ID cards to automatically record laps and active minutes and sync the data to the Marathon Kids Connect dashboard.
- The Girls Movement Program Free all-girls running program for grades K-12 (with lessons especially designed for 4th-8th grade) designed to build confidence, character, and connection through physical activity. Includes digital platform access, lesson plans, a resource library, and grant-funded Coach Empowerment Kits for qualifying schools.
- Team Marathon Kids Official Marathon Kids charity race team that gives adult runners access to sold-out iconic marathons and half-marathons in exchange for fundraising to support the organization's free youth physical-activity programs for schools.
- Marathon Kids at Home Free at-home activity resource hub for families, including movement cards, summer games, run-and-read logs, walk-and-talk conversation starters, activity logs, photo scavenger hunts, and printable mileage logs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 518,000 kids empowered to achieve their goals annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Marathon Kids
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Marathon Kids technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Marathon Kids partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Brooks RunningflagshipNational program sponsor committed to getting kids moving and unlocking their potential. Brooks provides support for Marathon Kids programs and the Empower Her Collection benefiting the Girls Movement program.
- H-E-BcoreRegional partner supporting Marathon Kids programming in Texas communities where H-E-B operates.
- Dave McGillivray Finish Strong FoundationcoreFoundation supporting Boston Public Schools district-wide Marathon Kids implementation, bringing wellness initiative to K-8 schools.
- Life Time FoundationcorePartnership supporting Kids Run Miami initiative across Miami-Dade County schools, with DistrictLink infrastructure for scaling.
- Austin Runners ClubflagshipOfficial charity race team partner hosting events including Zilker Relays and Daisy Dash. Marathon Kids and Austin Runners Club merged operations.
- Boston Public SchoolscoreDistrict-wide physical activity initiative integrating Marathon Kids programming across K-8 schools with grant funding.
- TCS New York City MarathonflagshipTeam Marathon Kids charity partner for 2026 TCS NYC Marathon (third straight year), offering guaranteed entry for fundraising runners.
- TCS Sydney MarathoncoreTeam Marathon Kids charity partner for 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon, expanding global reach of the mission.
- Walt Disney World Marathon WeekendcoreTeam Marathon Kids charity partner for 2027 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend events.
- Houston MarathoncoreOfficial charity partner for 2027 Houston Marathon, raising funds to support schools with free running programs.
- Austin MarathoncoreRun for Charity partner through Austin Marathon Gives program.
- Volcano Marathon (Easter Island)minorTeam Marathon Kids adventure opportunity through partnership with Runbuk.
- RunbukcoreGlobal endurance events organizer providing adventure marathon opportunities for Team MK. Donated entry package valued at $4,300 for Easter Island Volcano Marathon.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Marathon Kids competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Fuel Up to Play 60: Fuel Up to Play 60 is a school-based youth wellness program from the NFL and National Dairy Council encouraging healthy eating and 60 minutes of daily activity, comparable to Marathon Kids as a national K-12 wellness initiative in schools.
- SPARK PE: SPARK PE is a research-based physical education curriculum for K-12 schools delivered as a paid program, comparable to Marathon Kids as a school-based PE solution though Marathon Kids is free and focused specifically on running rather than comprehensive PE.
- NFL Play 60: NFL Play 60 is the National Football League's youth health and fitness program encouraging 60 minutes of daily physical activity, comparable to Marathon Kids as a large-scale branded youth movement initiative reaching schools nationwide, though funded by an enormous corporate sports platform.
- CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health): CATCH is a research-based coordinated school health program providing PE, nutrition, and health curriculum for K-8 students, comparable to Marathon Kids as a structured school-based physical activity and health program with curricular resources and school district implementations.
- Presidential Youth Fitness Program: The Presidential Youth Fitness Program is a national initiative providing fitness assessment and physical activity resources to K-12 schools, comparable to Marathon Kids as a federally-aligned school-based youth physical activity program with national reach.
Direct peers
- Students Run LA:
- Girls on the Run: Girls on the Run is a nonprofit that inspires girls to develop confidence and character through running, serving as Marathon Kids' most direct peer with a similar K-8 youth running mission and curriculum-based approach, though it is fee-based and focuses on girls.
- Healthy Kids Running Series: Healthy Kids Running Series is a national youth running program hosting age-appropriate races for kids, comparable to Marathon Kids as a community-based youth running initiative with seasonal event structure and school district partnerships.
Peers
Others
- Road Runners Club of America: RRCA is a national association of running clubs and events, comparable to Marathon Kids through its Austin Runners Club merger and shared adult running community overlap, though RRCA is a trade organization rather than a youth program.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Marathon Kids social profiles
Digital presenceMarathon Kids financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Marathon Kids leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Marathon Kids funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Marathon Kids M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Marathon Kids
What does Marathon Kids do?
Marathon Kids delivers a free, evidence-based youth running program to U.S. schools and community organizations, challenging children to complete the equivalent of four or more marathons per season across six evidence-based pillars. The program is administered through the Marathon Kids Connect cloud-based digital platform and mobile scanning app, which tracks participant laps, miles, and active minutes via QR-code ID cards and feeds real-time reporting dashboards for coaches, schools, and districts, all provided at no cost and funded by donations and corporate sponsorships.
Is Marathon Kids a public or private company?
Marathon Kids is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Marathon Kids founded?
Marathon Kids was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Marathon Kids based?
Marathon Kids is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Marathon Kids make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships and team Marathon Kids Fundraising.
Who are Marathon Kids's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Fuel Up to Play 60, SPARK PE, NFL Play 60, CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) and Presidential Youth Fitness Program. Direct peers are Students Run LA, Girls on the Run and Healthy Kids Running Series. Action for Healthy Kids is listed as a peer. Road Runners Club of America is listed as an others.
Does Marathon Kids have an API?
No public API is recorded for Marathon Kids.
What industry is Marathon Kids in?
Marathon Kids's product category is Youth Physical Activity Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAJAJ, Outdoor Education & Adventure Programs (School-Run), with a secondary code of EDAJAGAK, Extended Learning Time Programs (After-School/Summer Intervention). Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 8200.