CHARITY RUNNING PLACES
Philanthropy is a key pillar of the Tata Mumbai Marathon. United Way Mumbai (UWM) being the official event’s philanthropy partner, all funds raised at the back of the event are on the philanthropy platform set by UWM on their website https://www.unitedwaymumbai.org/tmm/. 100% of the funds raised online on the UWM platform are disbursed to the NGO chosen (duly verified by UWM) by the individual fundraiser.
Participation in the Open 10K category at the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2026 is available exclusively through the charity route. For other race categories—namely the marathon, half marathon, and Dream Run—the charity route is one of the available modes of entry.
Participation through charity entails individuals to raise funds through donations for an NGO of their choosing. While the Open 10K and Dream Run have no qualifying timing requirement, applicants for the marathon and half marathon categories must meet the respective timing criteria, even when applying through the charity route. However, the timing requirement for the half marathon has been slightly relaxed for charity participants (timings given further below).
You can qualify for a bib of a race category in one of the following ways:
- Become a Change Runner
Raise a minimum of ₹2 lakh through at least 5 donors by 22nd December 2025 to qualify for a bib across any race category (subject to availability and eligibility). Change Runners also receive several exclusive incentives. - Be an Early Bird Fundraiser
The first 1000 fundraisers to raise ₹10,000 or more from at least 5 donors are eligible to register for a bib in their preferred race category, subject to category limits and event eligibility criteria. The category break up is as follows:- For the Open 10K – first 200 fundraisers (slots fully subscribed for)
- For the Half Marathon – first 200 fundraisers
- For the Marathon – first 100 fundraisers
- For the Dream Run – first 600 fundraisers
- Be Among the Top Fundraisers
Up to 1000 running places, across race categories, are set aside for top fundraisers (including Change Runners) who raise ₹10,000 or more from at least 5 donors, by 22nd December 2025. These fundraisers will be eligible to register for a bib in their preferred race category (subject to availability and eligibility). Higher fundraisers get preference in bib allocation.
Important:
- Running places shall be subject to availability of slots in the desired race category and fulfilment of event’s qualification criteria as applicable (including timing criteria for marathon and half marathon race categories).
- On qualifying, and where slot in selected race category is available, United Way Mumbai, event’s philanthropy partner, will send a unique code to the fundraiser to register on the event website and pay the requisite race fee.
- Where the individual does not complete the online registration process within stipulated timeline, such individual will not receive a number bib even if they qualify as fundraisers.
How does one become a fundraiser?
| Step 01 | Sign up/Log In: Create an account on the UWM website; sign-up at https://www.unitedwaymumbai.org/fundraiser-signup If you have an existing account on UWM website, log in. |
| Step 02 | Activate the TMM 2026 Campaign: By clicking on ‘ACTIVATE THIS CAMPAIGN’ for Tata Mumbai Marathon 2026. |
| Step 03 | Update Your Fundraising Target: This target is flexible and can be changed at any time during the campaign. |
| Step 04 | Select an NGO to Support: Choose the NGO you wish to support through your fundraising page. |
| Step 05 | Fill in your fundraising page details: Your appeal, team, bio, add pictures and video. |
| Step 06 | Make the First Donation: Lead by example. |
| Step 07 | Start Fundraising: Share your fundraising page with friends, family and networks who contribute through the donate button on the page and can leave messages on your campaign. |
Timing cut-offs for individual fundraising and applying for the half marathon category:
| Timing certificate of a *running event showing timing of either of the below distances | Qualifying timing for male runners | Qualifying timing for female runners |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon (42.195 km) | Under 7 hr 18 min | Under 7 hr 49 min |
| Half Marathon (21.097 km) | Under 3 hr 30 min | Under 3 hr 45 min |
| 25 km | Under 4 hr 12 min | Under 4 hr 30 min |
| 10 km | Under 1 hr 35 min | Under 1 hr 42 min |
* The running event must have been conducted within the period of 18 months preceding race day (18th January 2026), i.e. on or after 18th July 2024. Furthermore, conditions mentioned in point 4 under Timed Runner Confirmation Criterion of half marathon category, need to be fulfilled for a timing certificate to be accepted.