TCS London Marathon charity places: compare fundraising targets & causes

A record-breaking 1,338,544 people applied for a place in the 2027 TCS London Marathon ballot — up 18% from last year and more than double the 2024 figure. With roughly 60,000 spots and over 1.3 million applicants, the ballot odds work out to less than 5%. If you didn't get in, don't worry — you're in very good company, and you can absolutely still run.

The majority of London Marathon runners actually get in through a charity place. It's one of the most common ways to enter the race, and it's how the marathon has raised over £1.4 billion for good causes since 1981 — making it the world's largest annual one-day fundraising event. In 2025 alone, runners raised £87 million.

Here's how it works: you apply to run for a charity partner, commit to a fundraising minimum (typically £2,000–£3,000), and they give you a guaranteed entry. Most charities provide full support — training plans, branded kit, fundraising coaching, and race-day cheering squads. And raising the money is easier than you might think: between JustGiving, GoFundMe, bake sales, social media campaigns, employer match-funding, and Facebook birthday fundraisers, most runners hit their target well before race day.

Use the directory below to sort by cause (cancer, mental health, children, veterans, international development, and more) or by fundraising minimum. Where a charity hasn't published a single figure or targets vary by package, the amount is left empty — always confirm on the charity's own London Marathon page before you apply.

Directory maintained by RaceDrop from public charity marathon pages (82 listings).

Charity partner directory

Each row links out to that organisation's official marathon or challenge page — RaceDrop does not process applications or fundraising.

Sort by
Official TCS London Marathon charity partners — 82 listings. Fundraising target in GBP where published; sort by cause or by target.
CharityCauseTarget (£)Apply
Battersea Dogs and Cats HomeAnimals2,500Official page
Blue CrossAnimals2,500Official page
Cats ProtectionAnimals2,500Official page
Dogs TrustAnimals2,000Official page
Blood Cancer UKCancer2,000Official page
Bowel Cancer UKCancer2,500Official page
Breast Cancer NowCancer2,750Official page
CoppaFeel Trading LtdCancer2,500Official page
Leukaemia CareCancer2,500Official page
Macmillan Cancer SupportCancer2,750Official page
Melanoma UKCancer2,500Official page
Myeloma UKCancer2,500Official page
Neuroblastoma UKCancer2,500Official page
OvacomeCancer2,500Official page
Ovarian Cancer ActionCancer3,000Official page
Pancreatic Cancer UKCancer2,500Official page
Prostate Cancer UKCancer2,500Official page
Royal Marsden Cancer CharityCancer2,500Official page
Sarcoma UKCancer2,500Official page
Alder Hey Childrens CharityChildren2,750Official page
Barnardo'sChildren2,600Official page
BlissChildren2,750Official page
CoramChildren2,300Official page
Make A Wish Foundation UKChildren3,000Official page
NSPCCChildren2,500Official page
The Children's TrustChildren2,500Official page
The Lullaby TrustChildren2,500Official page
WellChildChildrenOfficial page
Child Bereavement UKChildren/BereavementOfficial page
Winston's WishChildren/BereavementOfficial page
Carers UKCommunity2,500Official page
Comic ReliefCommunity2,500Official page
Missing PeopleCommunity3,000Official page
The Felix ProjectCommunityOfficial page
Hearing Dogs For Deaf PeopleDisability2,500Official page
Whizz KidzDisability2,200Official page
Age UKElderly2,500Official page
Independent AgeElderly2,200Official page
RNLIEmergency Services2,500Official page
St John AmbulanceEmergency Services2,000Official page
National TrustEnvironment2,000Official page
Surfers Against SewageEnvironmentOfficial page
Centrepoint SOHOHomelessness2,500Official page
Isabel HospiceHospiceOfficial page
Noah's Ark Children's HospiceHospice2,500Official page
Marie CurieHospice/Cancer2,500Official page
Amnesty International UKHuman Rights2,000Official page
Action Against HungerInternational Development2,300Official page
ActionAidInternational Development2,500Official page
CAFODInternational Development2,500Official page
Care International UKInternational Development3,000Official page
Christian AidInternational Development2,200Official page
Doctors of the WorldInternational DevelopmentOfficial page
OxfamInternational Development2,000Official page
Anthony NolanMedical Research2,200Official page
Arthritis UKMedical Research3,000Official page
Asthma + Lung UKMedical Research2,500Official page
Brain Tumour ResearchMedical Research4,000Official page
Breakthrough T1DMedical Research2,200Official page
British Liver TrustMedical Research2,500Official page
Crohn's and Colitis UKMedical Research2,500Official page
Epilepsy ActionMedical Research2,200Official page
Epilepsy SocietyMedical Research2,750Official page
Fight for SightMedical Research2,500Official page
Imperial Health CharityMedical Research2,000Official page
Kidney Research UKMedical Research3,000Official page
Meningitis NowMedical Research2,750Official page
Moorfields Eye CharityMedical Research2,500Official page
MS SocietyMedical Research2,500Official page
MS TrustMedical Research2,500Official page
Beat Eating DisordersMental Health2,500Official page
Mental Health FoundationMental Health2,500Official page
MINDMental HealthOfficial page
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young SuicideMental HealthOfficial page
Place 2BeMental Health2,800Official page
Rethink Mental IllnessMental Health3,027Official page
Young MindsMental Health2,000Official page
Blind Veterans UKVeterans2,550Official page
Combat StressVeterans2,500Official page
Women's AidWomen2,000Official page
The Outward Bound TrustYouth2,500Official page
The Scouts AssociationYouth2,500Official page

How London Marathon charity entry usually works

Most partners ask you to apply for one of their limited places, agree to a fundraising minimum, and pay the normal marathon entry fee on top (where applicable). You receive a charity bib in the same mass start as ballot runners — same course, same medal, same finish line on The Mall.

  • Application: each charity runs its own form or waiting list; some sell out quickly.
  • Fundraising: combine sponsorship, events, matched giving, and employer schemes — many charities supply templates and a fundraising coach.
  • Compliance: follow Charity Commission rules and the event's own terms for branded fundraising.

For ballot dates, Good for Age, international tour operators, and the rest of the entry puzzle, read our London Marathon registration guide — then return here to pick a charity that fits your budget and the cause you want to champion.

Common questions

How do I get into the London Marathon if I missed the public ballot?

Apply for an official charity place. Each charity partner buys or receives a limited number of entries from the event and allocates them to runners who commit to a published fundraising minimum (and usually the standard race entry fee). You run the same TCS London Marathon mass race as ballot runners.

How much do I have to raise for a London Marathon charity place?

It varies by charity and sometimes by package. Many partners publish a minimum pledge in pounds — often roughly £2,000–£4,000 for larger nationals, with some lower and some higher. Where a charity has not published a single figure, we leave the target blank in our directory; always confirm on the charity’s own marathon page before you sign up.

Is a charity place the same as a ballot place?

You receive the same finisher medal and course experience, but you agree to different terms: a fundraising contract with the charity instead of a random ballot draw. You must usually hit your pledge deadline and follow the charity’s code of conduct for fundraising.

Can I sort this list to find a charity that fits my budget or cause?

Yes. Use “Sort by fundraising target” to see lowest published minimums first (unknowns appear last), or “Sort by cause” to group similar missions — for example cancer, mental health, children, animals, or international development.