Dan Gibbons

What Dan Gibbons does

The Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984 by Dan Gibbons in Elmhurst, Illinois. Its core product is an annual Thanksgiving Day 5K fun run held in downtown Elmhurst that serves as the principal fundraising mechanism for hunger relief in DuPage County. Since inception, the Foundation has raised nearly $5 million cumulatively and provided over four million meals to DuPage County residents, with 100% of funds kept within the county and distributed to a network of 17 food banks, shelters, and social service organizations.

The Foundation's revenue model combines three streams: race registration fees ($45 race-day / lower online rates through RunSignup), a tiered corporate sponsorship program (Platinum, Premier, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Patriot) anchored by Jel Sert at Platinum, and individual donations. Annual participation has stabilized at roughly 7,000-8,000 runners. The organization has no proprietary technology — registration is handled through the RunSignup platform, and marketing relies on the organization website, Facebook, YouTube, email, and community word-of-mouth. Beyond the flagship Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, the Foundation operates the Dan Gibbons Twilight Trot (a secondary event) and Café Liberty, a culinary skills training program launched in June 2017 to expand year-round impact.

Governance is provided by a volunteer board including President Tom Donofrio, Vice President Nick Cuzzone, Treasurer Dave Lorey, and Secretary/Associate Director Christine Fogarty, with Daniel Gibbons serving as CEO. The Foundation operates without paid headcount disclosures, funded volunteers, and no institutional investment. Geographic scope is limited to DuPage County, Illinois, with no expansion plans signaled beyond deepening local beneficiary reach.

Name

Dan Gibbons

Legal name

Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot Foundation

Website

https://dangibbonsturkeytrot.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs an annual Thanksgiving Day 5K fun run in Elmhurst, Illinois, raising funds distributed to food banks and social services across DuPage County. Founded in 1984, it has cumulatively raised nearly $5 million and provides meals to local residents in need.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Community Event Fundraising

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGAEAK

Community Fundraisers & Charity Events (Gala/Walks excluded)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Cultural Festivals & Community Events

SECONDARYBPAGAAAD

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Relief

SECONDARYHLAJAKAH

Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

Keywords

• Charitable fun run
• Community fundraising event
• Hunger relief nonprofit
• Thanksgiving 5K race
• DuPage County charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Elmhurst

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Fees: Participants pay registration fees to join the 5K fun run. Race day registration is $45 ($50 for XXL shirts). Standard online registration fees apply through RunSignup platform.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support at various tiers (Platinum, Premier, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Patriot) in exchange for branding visibility and marketing exposure at the event.
3. Donations: Individual donations are accepted and go to benefit all causes of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot, with funds directed to food banks and shelters in DuPage County.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot Foundation organizes an annual 5K (3.1 mile) fun run held on Thanksgiving Day in downtown Elmhurst, Illinois. The event serves as the primary fundraising vehicle for hunger relief, with 100% of funds raised staying within DuPage County to support food banks, shelters, and food pantries serving residents in need. The organization also operates supplementary programs including the Café Liberty culinary skills training program launched in 2017.

Product overview

The Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot is a single annual event—a 5K Thanksgiving Day fun run in Elmhurst, Illinois, now in its 43rd year. The organization's core product is the Turkey Trot itself, which serves as the primary fundraising vehicle for hunger relief in DuPage County. Additional offerings include Trot Wear merchandise, packet pickup services, and online registration. The Dan Gibbons Foundation has expanded to include related programs such as Café Liberty (culinary training) and the Twilight Trot. The organization is a 501c 3 nonprofit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Café Liberty: Culinary skills training program launched in June 2017 as part of the organization's expanded efforts.

Products and services

• Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run
• Café Liberty Culinary Training Program
• Dan Gibbons Twilight Trot

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly $5 million raised and over 4 million meals provided to DuPage County residents since 1984

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered platinum, premier, gold, silver, bronze, minor and core.

• Jel SertplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot. Jel Sert provides sponsorship support for the annual event.
• Elmhurst Hospital (EEHealth)premierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot. Elmhurst Hospital is part of the EEHealth network.
• Kelly Stetler Real EstatepremierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• Schiller Real EstategoldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• John BannergoldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• JWAgoldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• Midwest Cardiovascular InstitutegoldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• Tito's VodkagoldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• FT Cares FoundationgoldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• Leopardo CompaniesgoldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• Lawton ConstructiongoldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• ICIsilverGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• Duly Health and CarebronzeGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• LW ReedybronzeGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• Athletico Physical TherapyminorOthersListed under Special Thanks for support of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• Elmhurst Park DistrictminorOthersListed under Special Thanks for support of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• Elmhurst Public LibraryminorOthersListed under Special Thanks for support of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
• Elmhurst UniversityminorOthersListed under Special Thanks for support of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot; serves as packet pickup and race day registration location.
• RunSignupcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial online race registration platform for the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Back on My Feet: National nonprofit that uses running and community-based fitness programs to address homelessness and self-sufficiency. Directly comparable in combining endurance events with a social-services beneficiary mission.
• Dallas Turkey Trot: One of the largest Thanksgiving Day charity runs in the U.S., operating with the same model: a Thanksgiving morning mass-participation race that raises funds for local hunger-relief beneficiaries. Highly comparable in format, mission, and event-driven fundraising.
• Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure: Operates a national series of charity 5K/foot races that raise funds for a specific cause (breast cancer research and support). Highly comparable as a cause-driven mass-participation running event with corporate sponsorship and grassroots community engagement.
• Atlanta Track Club Turkey Trot: Atlanta Track Club's annual Turkey Trot is a large Thanksgiving Day community run with a similar mass-participation format and regional civic framing. Directly comparable as a long-running, locally anchored Turkey Trot event.
• March of Dimes March for Babies: Long-running signature charity walk/march for maternal and infant health. Directly comparable as an established community fundraising event with corporate sponsorship and a defined beneficiary cause.
• St. Jude Walk/Run: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's national Walk/Run series raises funds through community-based participatory events. Comparable structure to the Turkey Trot: themed fundraising event with corporate sponsors and a defined beneficiary mission.

Regional players

• Greater Chicago Food Depository: Chicago-area food bank serving Cook County with hunger-relief programs comparable to the DuPage County beneficiaries supported by the Turkey Trot. Similar nonprofit food-distribution mission at regional scale.
• Northern Illinois Food Bank: Regional food bank serving DuPage County and surrounding northern Illinois communities, directly aligned with the Turkey Trot's beneficiary roster. Comparable as a regional hunger-relief nonprofit, though operating a different funding model (donations rather than event-driven).

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: The largest U.S. hunger-relief organization and the national network parent of many of the food banks that receive Turkey Trot proceeds (e.g., Northern Illinois Food Bank, Greater Chicago Food Depository). Comparable in mission; much broader in scale and operations.

Emerging players

• Girls on the Run: National nonprofit combining running programming for youth with community-based 5K events as culminating fundraisers. Comparable model of using a 5K as both mission delivery and fundraising vehicle, though with a stronger programmatic/curricular orientation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dangibbonsturkeytrot
• Xx.com/dgturkeytrot

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Dan Gibbons