Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation

What Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation does

The Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2022 and headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts. It was established by long-time Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray to advance youth development through three pillars: running, reading, and acts of kindness. Its core programs include the Dream Big Marathon, which pairs school-aged literacy and kindness curricula with running; Running Is A Right, delivered in partnership with Shriners Hospitals for Children to give children facing physical challenges access to race experiences; Team Finish Strong, a charity running program allocating fundraising bibs in marquee marathons such as Boston, Chicago, Dublin, Sydney, and Falmouth; and a recurring grants program that directs donations to individuals, schools, and aligned organizations.

The foundation monetizes primarily through donations, event-based fundraising (charity bibs and participation fees), and merchandise sales, including three published children's picture books (Dream Big, Finish Strong, Running Across America), a Supporter's Medal, and screenings of the Miles of Meaning documentary. Underlying technology is limited to a standard nonprofit web/donation stack and an online store; there is no proprietary platform or AI/ML capability. The business model is distributed across individual donors, charity runners, schools participating in youth programs, hospital and event partners, and grant recipients, with founder brand recognition serving as the primary draw.

Operationally, the foundation is run by a 5-person team and remains in early-stage build-out, having launched most of its current programs and content within roughly its first two years. Geographic reach is anchored in the Boston/Massachusetts running community but is being intentionally extended through international marathon partnerships.

Name

Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation

Legal name

Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation

Website

https://davemcgillivrayfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation is a Woburn, MA-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2022 by Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray, serving youth through running, reading, and acts-of-kindness programs, including charity marathon teams, school-based Dream Big initiatives, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Youth fitness programs
• Children's literacy initiatives
• Charitable foundation services
• Community grants program
• Endurance event fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Woburn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Merchandise Sales: Sale of books authored by Dave McGillivray (Dream Big, Finish Strong, Running Across America) and Supporter's Medals through the foundation's online store. Proceeds support youth programs and grants.
2. Donations: Direct donations from individuals and supporters to fund foundation programming and grants. Donations facilitated through Givengain platform.
3. Grant Program: The foundation awards grants up to $5,000 twice annually to qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, and libraries that support youth fitness, literacy, and kindness initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that inspires and empowers youth through an integrated Move–Read–Give model combining physical activity (running), literacy (reading), and community service (acts of kindness). It delivers impact via school-based programs (Dream Big Marathon), running-prosthetics events (Running Is A Right with Shriners Hospitals), charity race entries (Team Finish Strong), published children's books, Supporter's Medal merchandise, and twice-annual grants to qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, and libraries.

Product overview

The Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation is a charitable organization, not a technology company, offering a portfolio of children's picture books, merchandise, youth programs, and a documentary. The core offerings consist of three autobiographical children's books (Dream Big, Finish Strong, Running Across America) that document Dave McGillivray's running achievements and life philosophy, sold through the foundation's store. The foundation operates youth programs including the Dream Big Marathon (a school-based 26-26-26 challenge), Running Is A Right (prosthetics for limb-loss children), Team Finish Strong (charity running partnerships), and a Grants Program supporting youth organizations. Additionally, the foundation is producing a documentary film 'Miles of Meaning' and sells a Supporter's Medal merchandise item.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dream Big: A True Story of Courage and Determination A nonfiction picture book for readers ages 6 to 10 about Dave McGillivray's journey to overcome his small stature and achieve his dream of completing the Boston Marathon, with themes of determination, training, and his grandfather's belief in him.
• Finish Strong: Seven Marathons, Seven Continents, Seven Days A picture book autobiography documenting Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray's 2018 World Marathon Challenge experience completing seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, overcoming cold, heat, sore legs, and sickness.
• Running Across America: A True Story of Dreams, Determination, and Heading for Home A full-color picture book recounting Dave McGillivray's 80-day, 3,452-mile cross-country run from Medford, Oregon to Medford, Massachusetts as a fundraiser for the Jimmy Fund.
• Supporter's Medal A bronze supporter's medal featuring a runner crossing a finish line with supporters cheering, inscribed with 'THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME FINISH STRONG' on the ribbon; sold via the foundation's store with proceeds supporting youth programs and grants.
• Dream Big Marathon Program A goal-setting program challenging students to complete 26 miles, read 26 books, and perform 26 acts of kindness, designed for elementary and middle school students to build self-confidence, develop healthy habits, and learn goal-setting. Implemented through schools, after-school programs, and youth organizations.
• Running Is A Right A program providing young people living with limb loss access to recreational running prosthetics through special events with Shriners Hospitals for Children, where patients receive free running blades, training, and the opportunity to meet other children with similar experiences.
• Team Finish Strong Charity Running A program partnering with top endurance events (Dublin Marathon, Falmouth Road Race, Chicago Marathon, Sydney Marathon) where runners fundraise for the foundation to gain entry into races, with fundraising commitments ranging from $550 to $4,000 depending on race and whether the runner needs an entry bib.
• Grants Program Twice-annual grant program awarding up to $5,000 to organizations supporting youth running, fitness, healthy habits, literacy, and acts of kindness, with priority for New England organizations and those implementing the Dream Big Marathon program. Funding cannot be used for general operating or administrative expenses.
• Miles of Meaning Documentary A documentary film about Dave McGillivray's life journey, featuring his cross-country run, 50+ consecutive Boston Marathon completions, and his philosophy of setting goals not limits, aimed at inspiring youth confidence, resilience, and action.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26 miles, 26 books, 26 acts of kindness per participant in Dream Big Marathon program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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.

• Shriners Hospitals for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation partners with Shriners Hospitals for Children to produce Running Is A Right events across the country. At these events, young patients with limb loss are fitted with free running blades, receive training, and have the opportunity to meet other children who understand their experience.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Girls on the Run: A national nonprofit that combines running with life-skills curriculum for elementary and middle school girls. Highly comparable as a youth-running nonprofit delivering structured physical-activity-plus-character-development programming in schools.
• Students Run LA: A nonprofit that trains at-risk youth to complete the LA Marathon through mentoring and running. Directly comparable as a youth-marathon training charity that pairs running achievement with youth development outcomes.
• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Team In Training: A flagship endurance fundraising program providing charity entries to major marathons and endurance events. Comparable in the charity bib-based fundraising model where runners commit to raising specified amounts for the cause.
• Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge: A charity running program affiliated with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute that provides Boston Marathon charity bibs to fundraisers. Directly comparable in the Team Finish Strong charity bib model and event-driven fundraising approach.
• Saucony Run for Good Foundation: A running-brand foundation that funds youth running programs through grants. Comparable as a grantmaking entity focused on youth running and active lifestyles, with similar grant-driven distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Boston Athletic Association: The organization that operates the Boston Marathon, with which Dave McGillivray is directly affiliated as Race Director. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but materially related given the charity bib, fundraising, and brand overlap.
• New Balance Foundation: The philanthropic arm of a major athletic brand funding youth fitness, education, and community health programs nationally. Comparable as a larger corporate-affiliated foundation funding youth active-lifestyle initiatives, though with much broader scope.

Emerging players

• Reading Is Fundamental: A long-standing children's literacy nonprofit providing books and reading resources to schools and youth. Comparable on the literacy pillar of the foundation's mission, though without the running component.
• Challenged Athletes Foundation: A nonprofit providing adaptive sports opportunities, including running prosthetics, to people with physical challenges. Overlaps with the foundation's Running Is A Right program serving children with limb loss.
• Back on My Feet: A nonprofit that uses running to help individuals facing homelessness and other hardships build confidence and community. Comparable as a running-based nonprofit combining athletics with character and life-skill development.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/davemcgillivrayfinishstrong
• Xx.com/DaveMcGillivray
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/davemcgillivrayfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation