Eagles Autism Challenge

What Eagles Autism Challenge does

The Eagles Autism Challenge is a charitable fundraising event program operated by the Eagles Autism Foundation, a Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 81-5290310). Founded in 2018 and headquartered at 1 Eagles Way in Philadelphia, the organization runs an annual multi-format community event under the Philadelphia Eagles NFL franchise and is championed by Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie. The event portfolio includes the Wawa Hoagie 10-Mile Ride, the FreedomPay 5K Run/Walk (US Track and Field certified with chip timing), a West Sensory Walk designed for sensory-friendly participation in partnership with Kulture City, and a Virtual Participant option for remote supporters.

The foundation's business model combines participant registration fees (typically $25–$350 depending on event and age), peer-to-peer fundraising by participants who solicit donations from family, friends, and supporters, and corporate sponsorships led by Lincoln Financial Group as founding sponsor alongside Wawa and FreedomPay. One hundred percent of participant-raised funds are reinvested into autism research and care through a tiered grant program: 2-year Pilot Grants and 3-year Translational/Interdisciplinary Grants open worldwide, 2-year Postdoctoral Fellowships for the Philadelphia region, and Community Grants of $5,000–$25,000 to 501(c)(3) organizations. Distribution runs through the Haku online registration platform, Eagles-owned digital channels (team site, social, email, game-day activations), and in-person packet pickup and celebrations at Lincoln Financial Field and One NovaCare Complex.

Across eight years the program reports cumulative fundraising exceeding $50 million, 12,819 donors and 1,850 participants in 2021 alone, and over 100 funded research projects and community grants. Recipient institutions include Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Center for Autism Research and Fostering Health Program), Boston Children's Hospital, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Special Olympics Pennsylvania, The Pathway School, Valley Forge Educational Services, and the Philadelphia Orchestra for sensory-friendly programming.

Name

Eagles Autism Challenge

Legal name

Eagles Autism Challenge, Inc.

Website

https://eaglesautismchallenge.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Eagles Autism Challenge is the annual signature fundraising event of the Eagles Autism Foundation, a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit under the Philadelphia Eagles franchise, raising funds for autism research and care through bike rides, runs, sensory walks, and virtual participation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Participant Registration Fees: Non-refundable, non-deductible registration fees charged to participants for various event categories including bike rides, 5K runs/walks, sensory walks, and virtual participation.
2. Fundraising/Donations: 100% of participant-raised funds are invested into autism research and care programs. Participants solicit donations from supporters, family, and friends.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from founding sponsors like Lincoln Financial and event sponsors like Wawa and FreedomPay.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Eagles Autism Challenge is an annual community-driven fundraising event organized by the Eagles Autism Foundation that hosts multiple participation formats including a 10-mile bike ride, 5K run/walk, sensory walk, and virtual participation option. One hundred percent of participant-raised funds are invested into autism research and care programs at leading institutions, with the event leveraging the Philadelphia Eagles brand to drive participation and donations.

Product overview

Eagles Autism Challenge is a signature fundraising event organized by the Eagles Autism Foundation, offering multiple participation formats including the Wawa Hoagie 10-Mile Ride, FreedomPay 5K Run/Walk, West Sensory Walk, and Virtual Participant option. The organization operates a fundraising platform with digital tools and hosts events at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Additionally, the foundation administers research grant programs funding pilot studies, translational/interdisciplinary research, and postdoctoral fellowships, as well as community grants supporting local autism services and programs in the Philadelphia region. All participant-raised funds are invested into autism research and care, with over $50 million raised in eight years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wawa Hoagie 10-Mile Ride A cycling event where participants ride from Lincoln Financial Field through South Philadelphia to Benjamin Franklin Parkway, around Eakins Oval, past the Philadelphia Art Museum, and back to the stadium, with age-tiered registration fees and fundraising minimums.
• FreedomPay 5K Run/Walk A US Track and Field certified 5K course with chip timing, starting at Lincoln Financial Field, running through the surrounding neighborhood and The Navy Yard before returning to the stadium, with age-tiered registration fees and adult fundraising minimums.
• Sensory Walk A shorter, sensory-friendly walking event featuring reduced noise levels and multiple rest stops, designed for participants seeking a more accessible experience, with age-tiered registration fees and no fundraising minimums for younger participants.
• Virtual Participant A remote participation option allowing supporters worldwide to fundraise and participate in the Eagles Autism Challenge without attending in person, including access to the Friday Kick-Off Party and Saturday Finish Line Celebration.
• Research Grant Program Funding for autism research including 2-year Pilot Grants (worldwide), 3-year Translational/Interdisciplinary Grants (worldwide), and 2-year Postdoctoral Fellowships (limited to Philadelphia), awarded through a scientific review panel.
• Community Grant Program Grants of $5,000 to $25,000 for 501(c)(3) organizations in the Philadelphia area to promote local services enhancing lives of those affected by autism spectrum disorder.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $50 million raised in eight years for autism research and care
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Lincoln Financial GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLincoln Financial is the founding sponsor of the Eagles Autism Challenge. Their branding appears on event materials and they are a long-term partner in supporting the autism cause through the Philadelphia Eagles organization.
• WawacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWawa sponsors the Hoagie 10-Mile Ride event and provides complimentary food and beverage for participants. Their logo appears on the event page and ride materials.
• FreedomPaycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFreedomPay is the title sponsor of the 5K Run/Walk event. Their branding is featured on the event logo and materials.
• Kulture CitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKulture City is the leading non-profit on sensory accessibility and acceptance for those with invisible disabilities. They train venues and provide sensory inclusive certifications for events and facilities.
• Philadelphia EaglescoreOthersThe Philadelphia Eagles NFL franchise owns and operates the Eagles Autism Foundation. The team's brand, facilities (Lincoln Financial Field), and personnel support the event.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• V Foundation for Cancer Research: Sports-league-affiliated (founded by Jim Valvano with ESPN/NBC Sports ties) and celebrity-driven research foundation that funds grants through a peer-reviewed process. Direct comparable on the professional-sports-brand-plus-research-grantmaking model.
• Susan G. Komen (Race for the Cure): The textbook participant fundraising event series (walks, runs, rides) for a single disease cause. Direct comparable on event-driven mass-participation fundraising funnels, tiered registration pricing, and large corporate sponsorship stacks.
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — Walk/Run events: Operates multi-city sponsored walks and runs as its primary grassroots fundraising model, paired with a renowned research hospital. Comparable on cycling/running event formats, tiered registration fees, and the integration of community grants and research funding.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society — Team In Training: Long-running endurance fundraising program (marathons, cycling, triathlons) raising funds for disease-specific research. Direct peer on athlete-driven community fundraising, tiered event categories, and dollar-minimum participant commitments.
• Movember Foundation: Single-cause (men's health) mass-participation charity whose signature fundraising mechanic (grow/give November) is comparable to participant-driven fundraising events. Direct comparable on community-scale donor activation and digital fundraising toolkits.
• American Cancer Society — Making Strides Against Breast Cancer: Walks-based mass-participation fundraising series. Direct comparable on multi-tier event fees, team registration, and corporate partnership revenue stack.
• KultureCity: Nonprofit focused on sensory accessibility and inclusion for individuals with invisible disabilities (notably autism). Listed as a strategic partner of Eagles Autism Challenge and is a direct peer on the autism-services ecosystem, even if its revenue model differs.

Broad incumbents

• Autism Speaks: The largest autism-focused nonprofit in the US, funding research and advocacy. Direct overlap on cause but not on event-driven fundraising; relevant for cause-market share dynamics and donor overlap.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation: Large mass-participation, sponsor-driven nonprofit with a portfolio of branded events (walks, runs, galas). Comparable as an organization operating multi-format participatory fundraising at national scale.

Emerging players

• Peloton — Charity Rides partnership program: Has run high-profile charity rides and livestreamed fundraising events for major nonprofits. Comparable as a sports/endurance-fitness brand integrating cause fundraising into its events.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eagles Autism Challenge