Running For Premature Babies
Running for Premature Babies is an Australian charitable foundation that funds neonatal equipment, perinatal research, and awareness through a community-led running events model, serving hospitals, NICUs, and individual donors across Australia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersCoogee, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Running For Premature Babies does
Running for Premature Babies is a registered Australian charitable foundation (Running for Premature Babies Foundation Ltd, ABN 66 618 841 768) founded in 2006/2007 by Sophie Smith OAM after the loss of her triplet sons born at 24 weeks. The organization funds and donates life-saving neonatal equipment—including humidicribs, ventilators, monitors, and phototherapy systems—to hospitals and NICUs across Australia, and grants funding for prematurity research. Since 2007 it has raised over $12 million, donated 172 pieces of neonatal equipment, and directly benefited over 21,250 premature babies.
The foundation runs an event-driven fundraising model anchored on 40+ annual running events, with headline partnerships at the TCS Sydney Marathon (as Headline Charity targeting $1 million) and City2Surf. Its Charity SuperStar program offers guaranteed free entries to sold-out events in exchange for minimum fundraising commitments ($1,000 for City2Surf, $3,000 for Sydney Marathon). Complementary revenue streams include individual donations, corporate partnerships, Gifts in Wills, Tribute Pages, and a virtual Premmie Marathon Challenge. Pricing is unit-based for donations ($32 phototherapy access, $60 humidicrib for 5 days, $187 resuscitation cot for 20 babies, $526 neonatal ventilator for 7 weeks).
Operating from Coogee, NSW with a 1–10 employee team led by founder Sophie Smith OAM and CEO Gary Trenaman, the foundation distributes equipment to hospitals across all Australian jurisdictions including regional and remote facilities such as Alice Springs Hospital. Key hospital partners include Royal Hospital for Women (NSW), Monash Health (VIC), Fiona Stanley (WA), Flinders Medical Centre (SA), and NeoResq (QLD) for neonatal transport. The technology stack is non-proprietary, using third-party fundraising software (Funraisin) and standard digital marketing channels. No formal annual revenue is disclosed.
Running For Premature Babies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Running For Premature Babies
- Legal name
- Running for Premature Babies Foundation Ltd
- Website
- https://runningforprematurebabies.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Running for Premature Babies is an Australian charitable foundation that funds neonatal equipment, perinatal research, and awareness through a community-led running events model, serving hospitals, NICUs, and individual donors across Australia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Running For Premature Babies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Healthcare Fundraising
- NAICS
- Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding (HLAJALAG)
Keywords
Where Running For Premature Babies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Coogee
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Running For Premature Babies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises funds through individual donations, event participation fundraising, corporate sponsorships, bequests/gifts in Wills, and tribute pages in memory of loved ones. Revenue is used to purchase neonatal equipment for hospitals and fund research into prematurity.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual donations with specific impact tiers |
| Other | Multi-year contract | City2Surf Charity SuperStar entry |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Sydney Marathon Charity SuperStar entry |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Running For Premature Babies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Running For Premature Babies is an Australian charitable foundation that raises funds through running-based and community fundraising to purchase and donate life-saving neonatal equipment (humidicribs, ventilators, monitors, phototherapy systems) to hospitals and to fund perinatal research. Supporters engage via 40+ running events annually (City2Surf, Sydney Marathon, Gold Coast Marathon and others), virtual challenges, charity place entries, tribute pages, and planned giving.
Product overview
Running for Premature Babies is a charitable foundation that operates a multi-faceted fundraising and awareness platform centered on saving premature babies through neonatal equipment donations and research funding. The organization runs a comprehensive events platform hosting over 40 annual running events (City2Surf, Sydney Marathon, Gold Coast Marathon, and virtual challenges like the Premmie Marathon Challenge), a SuperStar charity place program with fundraising rewards, a Knowledge Hub with educational resources on prematurity, bequest and tribute page programs, and distributes life-saving neonatal equipment and research grants to hospitals Australia-wide. The core offering combines community fundraising events with direct funding of neonatal equipment (humidicribs, ventilators, monitors) and research grants totaling over $12 million since 2007.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Charity SuperStar Program Guaranteed charity place entries to sold-out running events including City2Surf and Sydney Marathon for fundraisers who commit to minimum fundraising thresholds (e.g., $1,000 for City2Surf, $3,000 for Sydney Marathon), receiving benefits such as charity wave starts, race fee refunds, Superstar medals, and exclusive apparel.
- Running Events Platform Coordinates participation in 40+ running events across Australia (City2Surf, TCS Sydney Marathon, Gold Coast Marathon, Run Melbourne, and others), allowing supporters to register and fundraise on behalf of the charity.
- Premmie Marathon Challenge Virtual movement challenge in which participants walk, run, or ride a chosen distance throughout November (Prematurity Awareness Month) and fundraise for neonatal equipment and research.
- Gifts in Wills (Bequest Program) Planned giving program that allows supporters to leave a testamentary gift to fund the ongoing purchase of neonatal equipment and research grants.
- Tribute Pages Personalized online fundraising pages where family and friends can donate in memory of a premature baby who has passed or in celebration of a survivor.
Quantifiable outcome
- $12 million raised since 2007
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Running For Premature Babies
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Running For Premature Babies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Running For Premature Babies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NeoResq (Queensland)coreNeoResq is a neonatal emergency transport service in Queensland. Running for Premature Babies funded a specialized neonatal ambulance vehicle (nicknamed R4LPH - Returning All the Little People Home) that has transported approximately 150 babies since November 2020. The vehicle provides life-saving care on the go for critically ill infants.
- Royal Hospital for Women (Randwick, NSW)corePrimary beneficiary hospital where founder Sophie Smith's triplet sons were cared for. The organization has donated hundreds of pieces of equipment including humidicribs, ventilators, monitors, and funded over $400,000 in research grants to this hospital since 2007.
- NETS (Newborn & Paediatric Emergency Transport Service)coreNSW's specialized transport service for critically ill newborns. Running for Premature Babies has donated specialized neonatal equipment and an ambulance to support NETS operations for transferring premature babies between hospitals.
- TCS Sydney Marathon / Abbott World Marathon MajorcoreHeadline charity partner for the TCS Sydney Marathon, an Abbott World Marathon Major. The organization aims to raise $1 million as headline charity, with charity place entries available for runners who fundraise minimum amounts.
- City2SurfcoreAnnual iconic Sydney running event where Running for Premature Babies is a charity partner offering guaranteed charity wave entries and fundraising opportunities.
- Alice Springs Hospital (NT)coreRegional hospital in the Northern Territory that has received multiple equipment donations including GE Isolettes, GE Panda Warmers, Giraffe Warmer Incubators, phototherapy systems, and ophthalmoscope to support care for premature babies in remote areas.
- Monash Health / Monash Children's (VIC)coreMajor Victorian hospital network that has received multiple donations including SLE 600 Ventilator, Phillips Humidicrib, Video Laryngoscope, Advanced Incubator Humidicrib, and temperature controlling cooling blankets.
- Fiona Stanley Hospital (WA)coreWestern Australian hospital that received donations including Hamilton MR1 Ventilator and Baby Log VN800 Neonatal Ventilator to support neonatal care in the region.
- Flinders Medical Centre (SA)coreSouth Australian hospital that received NAVA Ventilator and Calesca Warming/Thawing Device donations to support neonatal care.
- Royal Flying Doctor ServiceminorPartner mentioned in the context of transporting premature babies Sophie and Hannah from Hervey Bay to Brisbane for specialized care.
- Australian Preterm Birth Prevention AllianceminorNational alliance working to prevent preterm birth; Running for Premature Babies funded First Nations Preterm Birth Research project in 2025.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Running For Premature Babies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia: Major Australian family-accommodation and pediatric support charity — adjacent in serving NICU families and operating large-scale event/corporate fundraising infrastructure.
- The Smith Family: Large Australian children's charity with similar donation-based funding model, mass-participant event partnerships (City2Surf, etc.), and individual/corporate donor acquisition channels.
- Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation: Major Australian children's hospital fundraising foundation with broader pediatric scope but overlapping neonatal equipment funding and corporate-partnership fundraising model.
- Cerebral Palsy Alliance: Australian disability services and research nonprofit connected to prematurity outcomes (some R4PB-supported babies develop cerebral palsy) — overlapping research-funding function and corporate partnership model.
- Royal Hospital for Women Foundation: Sydney-based hospital foundation raising funds for women's and neonatal services including NICU equipment — a broader incumbent that overlaps in hospital-equipment fundraising for neonatal care.
Direct peers
- Life's Little Treasures Foundation: Australian charity assisting families of premature and sick newborns with NICU support, resources, and equipment — directly overlapping beneficiary focus and operating geography.
- Miracle Babies Foundation: Australian charity supporting premature and sick newborns and their families through NICU support programs, equipment funding, and research — directly comparable mission and beneficiary population to Running for Premature Babies.
- L'il Aussie Prems Foundation: Australian peer-to-peer support and fundraising nonprofit for families of premature infants, offering direct overlap in beneficiary community and event-driven fundraising model.
Emerging players
- World Prematurity Day Alliance / EFCNI: European/global preterm birth advocacy and parent organization — comparable international awareness-building function and prematurity research funding mandate.
Regional players
- Bliss (UK premature baby charity): UK-based premature baby charity with comparable mission (NICU equipment, research, family support) — analogous operating model but serving UK rather than Australian families.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Running For Premature Babies social profiles
Digital presenceRunning For Premature Babies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Running For Premature Babies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Running For Premature Babies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Running For Premature Babies 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 Running For Premature Babies
What does Running For Premature Babies do?
Running For Premature Babies is an Australian charitable foundation that raises funds through running-based and community fundraising to purchase and donate life-saving neonatal equipment (humidicribs, ventilators, monitors, phototherapy systems) to hospitals and to fund perinatal research. Supporters engage via 40+ running events annually (City2Surf, Sydney Marathon, Gold Coast Marathon and others), virtual challenges, charity place entries, tribute pages, and planned giving.
Is Running For Premature Babies a public or private company?
Running For Premature Babies is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Running For Premature Babies founded?
Running For Premature Babies was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Running For Premature Babies based?
Running For Premature Babies is headquartered in Coogee, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Running For Premature Babies make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Fundraising.
Who are Running For Premature Babies's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia, The Smith Family, Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation, Cerebral Palsy Alliance and Royal Hospital for Women Foundation. Direct peers are Life's Little Treasures Foundation, Miracle Babies Foundation and L'il Aussie Prems Foundation. World Prematurity Day Alliance / EFCNI is listed as an emerging player. Bliss (UK premature baby charity) is listed as a regional player.
Does Running For Premature Babies have an API?
No public API is recorded for Running For Premature Babies.
What industry is Running For Premature Babies in?
Running For Premature Babies's product category is Charitable Healthcare Fundraising. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJALAG, Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding. Its NAICS code is 813212 and its SIC code is 8300.