When each wave begins their race in the NYC marathon, a Howitzer canon is blasted in the sky to announce the start of the race. After that, speakers start playing arguably the greatest New York song ever with Frank Sinatra’s ‘New York, New York’. Many have described it as the greatest start of any sporting event in the world. Thus, it is one of the reasons why the NYC Marathon is considered so highly.

The iconic track race, which is set to take place on November 3rd, looks likely to attract 50,000 runners all over the world. To ensure the smooth functioning of the event, the organizers need sufficient funds. This is why numerous companies choose to sponsor the marathon, as it also enhances their brand through the goodwill associated with the NYC Marathon. In addition to sponsorships, fundraisers are organized to provide extra financial support.

Who are the major sponsors of the 2024 NYC Marathon?

The title sponsor of the NYC Marathon is Tata Consultancy Services. They first started sponsorship in 2014, when they began their partnership with New York Road Runners. This is why the race is termed the TCS New York City Marathon. The partnership was mainly built for TCS to support the city in their heritage events like the marathon while also providing year-round youth and community events and programs.

Then TCS CEO Natarajan Chandrasekaran talked about how delighted his company was to sponsor the NYC marathon. He believed that this partnership could mean great things for the health and well-being of the communities in the city. “As a marathoner myself, I’m personally proud to partner with the NYRR team to support the world’s most prestigious marathon as well as many year-round events and community programs across the five boroughs of New York.” There are numerous other sponsors of the race other than the company.

The foundation partners of the race include Citizens Bank, MasterCard, New Balance, The Rudin Family, and United Airlines. Strategic partners comprise Abbott, Gatorade, HSS, Michelob Ultra, Norqain, Peloton, Science in Sport, and Strava. Additionally, contributing partners such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Tiffany & Company, and Volvo support the event. With such a strong lineup of sponsors, the marathon is well-funded, significantly aiding its organization. Furthermore, separate fundraisers are also held to provide additional financial support.

Major fundraisers of 2024 NYC Marathon

In addition to sponsorships, various non-profits participate in the marathon by raising funds through the Official Charity Partner Program of the TCS New York City Marathon. This program is divided into three levels. The first level is the Gold Level partners, which are not open to new entries and are reserved for legacy fund providers. Notable organizations in this category include the NYRR Team for Kids and MSKCC Fred’s Team.

The next level is the Silver Level, which accommodates more than fifty partners. These non-profits provide bus transportation and access to Charity Village for the runners. The official website of the NYC Marathon lists the charities in the Silver Level along with brief descriptions. The minimum fundraising requirement for this level is $3,500.

The last category is the Bronze Level partners, who must provide at least three entrants to the race. Similar to the Silver Level, these partners are also listed on the official website, complete with their logos and links to their sites. The minimum fundraising requirement for each runner in this category is $3,000. Overall, the fundraising process for the NYC Marathon is well-organized and contributes to the smooth operation of the race. It is one of the main reasons for it to be a huge spectacle over the years. Hopefully, this year’s run is competitive and a treat to witness, just like the years before them.