What RUN FOR WATER FOUNDATION does

Run for Water Foundation is a registered Canadian charity (Charity Registration 82994 6037 RR0001) headquartered in Abbotsford, British Columbia, founded in 2007–2008 to convert community athletic participation into funding for clean water infrastructure in Africa. The organization operates an annual event portfolio comprising a flagship 5K/10K road race at Mill Lake Park, a multi-distance Trail Race (10K/25K/50K) at Sumas Mountain, and a multi-distance Gravel Ride (22K/55K/80K/100K) in Chilliwack River Valley, with registration and peer-to-peer fundraising handled through the Race Roster platform and direct donations processed via Kindful. Corporate sponsors — including Hyland Properties, MNP LLP, Diverse Properties, OpenRoad Toyota, Promotion Physiotherapy, Aldridge Construction, and several local radio and newspaper partners — cover event costs, allowing participant fundraising proceeds and donations to flow largely unimpeded to project work.

Programmatic work is delivered through a long-standing implementing partnership with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), which handles community needs assessment, project execution, and three-year capacity building for sustainability. Since 2008 the organization has raised over $4,000,000 cumulatively and completed roughly a dozen community water projects in Ethiopia; in 2026 it expanded project geography to Kasese (Uganda), Tshikapa (DR Congo), and Kikwit (DR Congo), targeting more than 13,000 beneficiaries. Beyond the athletic events, the organization operates a K-7 STEM curriculum and School Partnership Program for Fraser Valley schools, and maintains a memorial sub-brand — Letisha's Legacy — funding two wells, a garden, and a school in Ethiopia. The organization is volunteer-board governed with 1–10 staff, no parent company, no institutional investment, and no proprietary technology platform.

Name

RUN FOR WATER FOUNDATION

Legal name

Run for Water

Website

https://runforwater.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Run for Water Foundation is a volunteer-run Canadian charity that hosts annual running, trail, and gravel-riding events in Abbotsford, BC to fund clean water and sanitation projects implemented by Mennonite Central Committee in rural African communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Athletic Event Fundraising

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Road Running Events (Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K/5K) (MPAKAIAA), Obstacle Course & Adventure Races (OCR, Mud Runs, Adventure Racing) (MPAKAIAE), WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI)

Keywords

• Clean water access
• Athletic fundraising events
• Humanitarian aid
• Water infrastructure projects
• Charitable event organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Abbotsford

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Fees: Participants pay registration fees to enter the Run, Trail Race, and Ride events. These fees contribute to event costs with the remainder supporting water projects.
2. Donations: Individual donors contribute directly to clean water projects through the organization's donation platform. Corporate sponsors cover most event costs, amplifying donation impact.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Local and regional businesses sponsor events at various levels (Title, Gold, Silver, Bronze) in exchange for logo placement, advertising, and free registrations. Sponsor support covers event costs so donations maximize impact.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Run for Water Foundation organizes annual community athletic events in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, British Columbia — a 5K/10K road race, a multi-distance trail race, and a multi-distance gravel cycling ride — with the proceeds funding clean water infrastructure projects (wells, solar-powered boreholes, rainwater harvesting systems, sanitation facilities) in rural African communities. Projects are implemented in partnership with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), and the organization supplements events with a free K-7 STEM curriculum, corporate sponsorship packages, and the Letisha's Legacy memorial program.

Product overview

Run for Water Foundation operates as a multi-event athletic organization that combines community running, cycling, and trail racing events with humanitarian water projects. The core portfolio includes three annual event types: the flagship 5K/10K Road Race (held at Mill Lake Park since 2008), the Trail Race at Sumas Mountain (with 10K, 25K, 50K options), and the Gravel Ride in Chilliwack River Valley (spanning 22K to 100K distances). Supporting the athletic events are educational products including a free STEM curriculum for K-7 schools and a School Partnership Program that brings clean water awareness to students. The organization also operates a Fundraising Platform through Race Roster for participants to raise money, and offers corporate Sponsorship Packages at multiple tiers. The Letisha's Legacy sub-brand memorializes a community member through funded water projects. Since 2008, funds raised (over $4 million) support clean water infrastructure in African communities through implementing partner Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Letisha's Legacy: A memorial program honoring Letisha Reimer, a beloved member of the Run For Water community who passed away in 2016. In 2017, funds were raised in her honor to build two wells, a garden, and a school in Ethiopia.

Products and services

• Run (5K/10K Road Race) Annual road running event featuring a 5K fun run and 10K race at Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford, BC. The flagship event that started the Run for Water organization in 2008; participants register and are encouraged to fundraise additional amounts for clean water projects in Africa.
• Trail Race Trail running event at Sumas Mountain, Abbotsford offering 10K, 25K, and 50K distances with significant elevation gains of 450m, 1,300m, and 2,600m respectively. Participants register through Race Roster.
• Ride for Water (Gravel Ride) Gravel cycling event in Chilliwack River Valley offering Family (22K), Medio (55K), Mountain Bike (80K), and Epic (100K) distances with support stations and scenic routes. Routes are published as Strava segments for participants.
• Corporate Sponsorship Packages

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 13,000 people in Uganda and DR Congo will gain access to clean water through 2026 projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary implementing partner for water projects in Africa. MCC has been actively working on relief, development, and peace programs in Africa for over five decades. They work with communities to assess needs, implement projects, and provide training for long-term maintenance.
• Hyland PropertiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Run for Water events with logo placement on event materials and signage.
• Diverse PropertiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing financial support and brand visibility at events.
• TNS PublishingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor providing promotional support and coverage of events.
• MNP LLPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAccounting firm sponsor with logo placement on event materials.
• Abbotsford PatrikaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal newspaper serving as media sponsor providing event coverage.
• Star 98.3minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio station media sponsor providing promotional coverage.
• Rock 100.5minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio station media sponsor providing promotional coverage.
• Race RostercoreTechnology or IntegrationEvent registration platform partner used for all Run, Trail, and Ride events. Provides participant registration, fundraising pages, and results tracking.
• KiSS 107.9minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio station media sponsor providing promotional coverage.
• Country 107.1minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio station media sponsor providing promotional coverage.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Water Project: The Water Project funds clean water infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa and partners with local organizations for implementation. Direct peer in WASH funding and African project delivery.
• Team World Vision: Team World Vision organizes running events (marathons, half marathons) that raise funds for clean water and global development. Direct comparable in event-based WASH fundraising model.
• WE Charity / ME to WE: WE Charity is a Canadian-founded nonprofit that combines domestic youth engagement with international development projects, including water access. Closely comparable as a Canadian peer with similar fundraising and school-program approach.
• blood:water: blood:water is a US-based nonprofit focused on the WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) crisis in Africa, using grassroots donor engagement and community-led project models analogous to Run for Water.
• charity: water: charity: water funds clean water projects in developing countries using event-driven fundraising and 100% pass-through donation models. Highly comparable to Run for Water in mission, model, and donor engagement approach.

Others

• Mennonite Central Committee (MCC): MCC is Run for Water's primary implementing partner with 50+ years of WASH and relief work in Africa. Functions as the on-the-ground delivery counterpart that enables RFW's fundraising model.

Emerging players

• Engineers Without Borders Canada: EWB Canada is a development-focused nonprofit that engages Canadian professionals and students in international development, with adjacent water and sanitation programming in Africa. Comparable in Canadian domestic engagement model.

Broad incumbents

• UNICEF WASH: UNICEF's WASH programme is a globally scaled effort to deliver water, sanitation, and hygiene to children and families in developing countries. Operates in the same beneficiary geography (incl. DR Congo, Uganda) as Run for Water's projects.
• Right To Play: Right To Play uses sport to drive development outcomes for children in disadvantaged communities. Broad incumbent that combines athletic engagement with international development, sharing RFW's sport-for-impact DNA.
• WaterAid: WaterAid is a large international NGO focused exclusively on WASH across multiple continents. Broad incumbent in the same cause area, with comparable mission and beneficiary profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RunforWater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/run-for-water

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 RUN FOR WATER FOUNDATION