BuckeyeThon

What BuckeyeThon does

BuckeyeThon is a student-run philanthropy organization and an official program of the Office of Student Life at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Founded circa 2001, its mission is to raise awareness and funds for children with cancer, with all proceeds directed to the Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplant Unit at Nationwide Children's Hospital. The organization self-describes as the largest student-run philanthropy in Ohio and has publicly committed to raising $1 million annually for the hospital.

The organization's offering centers on a portfolio of fundraising events and programs rather than products. The flagship is the annual 12-hour Dance Marathon, supplemented by Runway Rally (annual kickoff), the BuckeyeThon 5K, Day of Miracles, and the Miracle Makers recognition program. The Youth Philanthropy sub-brand extends engagement to K-12 students through school-based programs paired with BuckeyeThon coordinators. All activities are run by student Team Members who recruit peers, solicit donations via email and social channels, and participate in canning (street fundraising). The 2026 Dance Marathon is scheduled for February 7, 2026.

BuckeyeThon operates as a non-profit under the institutional umbrella of Ohio State University and has no commercial revenue model. Participation is free, no products are sold, and the organization generates no retained revenue; all funds raised are pass-through donations to Nationwide Children's Hospital. Distribution is direct: campus registration via the official website and donations through OSU giving pages and the Dance Marathon donation portal. The single beneficiary relationship with Nationwide Children's Hospital is designated a Core strategic partnership and is the mission-critical anchor of the entire operation.

Name

BuckeyeThon

Legal name

BuckeyeThon

Website

https://buckeyethon.osu.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

BuckeyeThon is a student-run philanthropy program at The Ohio State University that raises funds for pediatric cancer patients at Nationwide Children's Hospital through events like its annual Dance Marathon and Youth Philanthropy K-12 programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Philanthropy & Charitable Fundraising

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

akta.pro primary industry

Fundraising & Annual Giving (EDALAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Fundraisers & Charity Events (Gala/Walks excluded) (MPAGAEAK), School Spirit & Events Programs (Pep Rally, Homecoming, Assemblies) (EDAJAJAL)

Keywords

• Student philanthropy
• Fundraising programs
• Pediatric cancer support
• Dance marathon events
• Youth philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: BuckeyeThon generates revenue entirely through donations and fundraising activities. Students (Team Members) raise money through personal fundraising efforts including email campaigns, social media outreach, canning (street fundraising), and hosting events. Funds are donated directly to Nationwide Children's Hospital's Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplant Unit.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BuckeyeThon is a student-run philanthropy organization that raises awareness and funds for children with cancer treated at Nationwide Children's Hospital. It operates signature fundraising events including an annual 12-hour Dance Marathon, a 5K race, and Runway Rally kickoff, alongside the Youth Philanthropy program for K-12 students and Miracle Makers recognition for top fundraisers.

Product overview

BuckeyeThon is a student-run philanthropy organization at The Ohio State University, operating as an official program of the Office of Student Life. It is not a technology company but rather a charitable organization that raises funds for children with cancer. The organization offers several programs including its flagship Dance Marathon event, the BuckeyeThon 5K, Runway Rally, Youth Philanthropy programs, and various fundraising initiatives. These programs work in conjunction to create awareness and raise funds for the Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplant Unit at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth Philanthropy Program: A leadership development program for K-12 students to raise funds and awareness for the Hematology, Oncology and Bone & Marrow Transplant Unit at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Products and services

• Dance Marathon The flagship annual 12-hour fundraising event where Ohio State students dance continuously to raise money for pediatric cancer patients treated at Nationwide Children's Hospital's Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplant Unit.
• BuckeyeThon 5K

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Nationwide Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe primary beneficiary of all BuckeyeThon fundraising activities. Specifically supports the Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplant Unit. This is an ongoing partnership where student fundraising directly funds pediatric cancer care and research at the hospital. BuckeyeThon has committed to raising $1 Million annually for the hospital.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Relay For Life (American Cancer Society): Relay For Life is a community-driven, event-based cancer fundraising program operating across many universities. Comparable to BuckeyeThon in event-driven fundraising format and university-student participation, though it supports cancer broadly rather than exclusively pediatric oncology.
• St. Baldrick's Foundation: St. Baldrick's is a leading volunteer-driven, event-based (head-shaving events) funder of childhood cancer research. Comparable to BuckeyeThon in mission (pediatric cancer) and event-driven fundraising model, though not university-affiliated.
• Children's Miracle Network Hospitals: CMN Hospitals is the national umbrella network that connects many university Dance Marathons, including BuckeyeThon indirectly, to pediatric hospitals across North America. It is a broad incumbent that frames the larger ecosystem BuckeyeThon operates within.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: Alex's Lemonade Stand is a major national funder of childhood cancer research with a grassroots, community-event fundraising model. Comparable to BuckeyeThon in cause (pediatric cancer) and reliance on volunteer-led event fundraising.

Direct peers

• University of Iowa Dance Marathon: University of Iowa's Dance Marathon directly benefits University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. Mirrors BuckeyeThon's model of a student-run Big Ten university philanthropy raising funds for a single in-state children's hospital.
• Penn State Dance Marathon (THON): Penn State's THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the U.S. and runs a 46-hour Dance Marathon benefiting pediatric cancer. It is the most prominent direct comparable to BuckeyeThon in mission, structure (student-run, university-based), and fundraising mechanism (Dance Marathon for kids' cancer).
• Indiana University Dance Marathon (IUDM): IUDM is a flagship Big Ten Dance Marathon benefiting Riley Hospital for Children. Operates with the same student-run university philanthropy model and pediatric cancer beneficiary structure as BuckeyeThon, making it a closely comparable peer in the Dance Marathon movement.
• University of Maryland Dance Marathon: Maryland Dance Marathon benefits Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C. Operates with a comparable student-led structure and Dance Marathon fundraising format aimed at pediatric healthcare.
• University of Florida Dance Marathon: Florida Dance Marathon (FTK) benefits UF Health Shands Children's Hospital. Same university-affiliated, student-run Dance Marathon structure targeting pediatric care — a strong direct comparable to BuckeyeThon's mission and operating model.
• Pitt Dance Marathon: Pitt Dance Marathon supports UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Closely aligned with BuckeyeThon as a student-run Dance Marathon at a public research university raising funds for a regional children's hospital.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/buckeyethonyp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/buckeyethon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 BuckeyeThon