How Run.fund works

Equal prize money

We demand equal prize money, coverage, and opportunities between male and female athletes. Every pool splits 50/50 between Men's and Women's podiums.

• Every boost you make supports both Men's and Women's podiums equally
• Tier unlocks apply to both divisions: a $1,000 pool = $500 per division = Top 3 unlocked for both
• Same percentages, same payout structure

For every athlete

Run.fund isn't just for sponsored athletes or elites—it's for every runner competing at their best. Whether you're a first-time marathoner, a local trail legend, or chasing your own personal best at a community race, if you finish on the podium of a pool, you get paid. No sponsorship required, no shoe contract needed.

• No shoe contract or brand deal required to earn prize money
• First-time marathoners, local trail legends, and weekend warriors all qualify
• If you podium, you get paid. It's that simple.

Podium tiers & unlocks

As pools grow, more athletes get paid. The bigger the pool, the deeper the podium. Thresholds shown are per-division (e.g., $500 per division = $1,000 total pool).

• $0+ → Winner takes all (100% to 1st place, per division)
• $500+ → Top 3 podium (50% / 30% / 20%, per division)
• $2,500+ → Top 5 podium (40% / 25% / 15% / 12% / 8%, per division)
• $10,000+ → Top 10 podium (30% / 20% / 14% for top 3, tapering to 2.5% for 10th, per division)
• $100,000+ → Big 100 (70% curved to Top 10, 30% equal to places 11–100, min $250 each, per division)
• $1,000,000+ → Millennium 1000 (60% curved to Top 10, 15% curved to 11–50, 25% equal to 51–1000, min $250 each, per division)

Fees & transparency

Run.fund platform fee: 5%, plus Stripe processing ($0.30 + 2.9%). Your boost adds the full amount to the pool—fees are shown separately at checkout, never skimmed from the purse. Official pools partnered with race directors may have reduced platform fees.

• 5% platform fee funds: official-results verification, compliance (KYC/1099), automated payouts to 10–1000 winners, clean-sport holds/clawbacks, fraud/risk management, customer support, and more.
• Stripe processing fee ($0.30 + 2.9%) supports fast, secure payments.
• Verification + ingestion: mapping official results, reconciling bib/name, preventing duplicates
• Ledger + transparency: public inflow/outflow ledger, adjustments on official rulings

1. Contributions

• Fans and brands contribute securely via Stripe
• Platform fees and processing fees are clear for every boost

2. Racing + claims

• Athletes can pre-claim an entry (via proof of entry or registration process)
• We review official results
• Claims accelerate matching and reduce manual review

3. Payouts

After results are verified we execute Stripe Connect transfers within 5–7 business days. We wait up to 72 hours after results publication (or the event's protest window, if longer) before initiating payouts.

• Stripe Connect Express accounts collect payouts (Tax-ready with 1099 forms)
• Distributions cover podium tiers from Top 1 up to Millennium 1000, plus fixed course record/FKT payouts

4. Clean sport

Run.fund does not operate a testing program. We rely on official event results and recognized anti-doping authorities (e.g., World Athletics/AIU, WADA/USADA, national federations). Where an event organizer conducts testing, we can hold payouts until they confirm status.

• Run.fund supports clean sport and pays only verified, eligible athletes
• Athletes complete a clean-sport attestation before receiving payouts
• 72-hour hold period after results allow time for anti-doping processes
• We defer to World Athletics, WADA/USADA, national anti-doping organizations, and event organizers
• If an athlete is later disqualified, we pursue clawbacks and reallocate funds

Frequently asked questions

If you don't see your question, email hello@run.fund and the team will get right back to you.

What is fan-powered prize money?

Many pools on Run.fund are fully fan-powered, meaning they're created and boosted entirely by fans, family, and fellow runners—not race organizers or sponsors. These are marked as 'Community' pools. It's a direct community-to-athlete model: you boost a pool, athletes compete, and the top finishers receive cash payouts. No middlemen, no complicated sponsorship deals. Just fans supporting the athletes they believe in.

What's the difference between Official and Community pools?

• Official pools: Created in partnership with race directors. These often have reduced platform fees and direct integration with race results. They can be boosted by fans and sponsors alike.
• Community pools: Community-created and fan-powered. Anyone can boost these pools to support athletes at any race. The Run.fund team approves races before pools are created and verifies results before payouts.
• Both types pay out to athletes the same way—100% of the pool goes to athletes—the only difference is who initiated the pool and the fee structure.

Is this gambling or betting?

No. Run.fund powers performance-based cash payouts directly to the top performers. Only official race results or validated FKTs/CRs trigger payouts. People who boost or contribute to pools do not win or lose money based on outcomes. Boosting is a way to support the top-performing athletes, not a wager on who wins.

Will you pay athletes with a prior doping ban?

Our baseline is 'not currently sanctioned.' If an athlete previously served a doping sanction that is no longer active, we default to the event's policy. If the event's published rules are stricter (e.g., prior-ban athletes are ineligible for prize money), we enforce them. For certain high-value bounties, Run.fund may apply stricter conditions; those will be clearly labeled on the pool.

What happens if someone is disqualified after you pay?

We request a return of the prize funds and reallocate per the adjusted official results. Our Attestation of Eligibility and Terms allow clawbacks and offsets against future payouts in these rare cases. The clawback window is up to 12 months after the event, unless the event specifies longer.

Who decides eligibility?

Official oracles only—event organizers and recognized anti-doping authorities (e.g., World Athletics/AIU, WADA/USADA, national federations). We do not adjudicate allegations, GPS data, or Strava files. We pay off published official results or accepted FKT/CR authority rulings.

Is it safe to boost or contribute to a pool?

Yes. Run.fund uses Stripe, a leading payment processor trusted by millions of businesses worldwide. Your payment information is securely handled by Stripe, and we never store sensitive payment details on our servers. Additionally, all pools are transparently managed, and you can track how your contributions are used to support athletes.

Why 5%? Other platforms charge less.

Platforms like Kickstarter route one payout to one creator. We route verified prize money to many winners, in days, off official results. That means KYC for each winner, 1099 reporting (US), multiple bank transfers, attestation/eligibility checks, and official-results ingestion. Those are real costs. We also never skim from purse payouts: your $25 adds $25 to the purse; our service fee is shown separately during checkout.

I'm a Race Director. How can I partner with Run.fund?

Race directors can make pools 'Official' by partnering with Run.fund. This reduces platform fees for your event's pools and gives you access to promotion tools. Official pools drive excitement and engagement—especially valuable for races that don't have existing prize purse budgets. Contact us at hello@run.fund to discuss partnership options.

I want to sponsor a pool. How does that work?

Sponsors can boost pools with significant contributions and receive visibility on the pool page and in communications. Sponsoring a pool is a great way to associate your brand with specific races, athletes, or the running community at large. Reach out to hello@run.fund for sponsorship packages and custom arrangements.

I'm an athlete. How do I get paid?

• Finish in a payout position at an event with a Run.fund pool.
• We verify results using official race data or validated FKT/CR records.
• You'll receive an email with a link to claim your payout via Stripe Connect.
• Complete Stripe's quick onboarding (takes a few minutes), including an attestation of eligibility and clean sport.
• Funds transfer within 5–7 business days after results verification and any hold periods.
• Track all your payouts on your Run.fund dashboard.

What if I haven't claimed my payout yet?

Payouts are available to claim for 90 days after results verification. If you haven't received a claim email, check your spam folder or contact us at hello@run.fund with your name and the event. We'll help you get set up.

What is the Attestation of Eligibility & Clean Sport?

Before receiving any payout, athletes sign an attestation confirming they are not currently sanctioned or suspended by a recognized anti-doping authority, were eligible to compete under the event's rules, and agree to return prize funds if later disqualified by an official ruling. This protects the integrity of payouts and supports clean sport.