Charity run fundraising calculator

Work out what each mile is worth, what to ask per sponsor, and how Gift Aid tops it up.

Your details

Fundraising target
Distance in
Race distance
Sponsors you expect
Raised so far
Race day

Each mile is worth

£19.08

towards £500

  • Per kilometre£11.86
  • Average per sponsor£20.00 from 25 people
  • Pledge per mile from each sponsor£0.76
  • Still to raise£380.00 (24% done)
  • Each week until race day£38.00 over 70 days
  • If every donation gets Gift Aid£625.00 for the charity

Gift Aid adds 25p to every £1 a UK taxpayer gives, at no cost to them. Sharing a training update each week tends to bring in steady donations, and many people thank sponsors with their splits after the race.

The working

£500 over a marathon

£500 ÷ 26.2 miles is £19.08 a mile, or £11.86 a kilometre. From 25 sponsors that is £20 each on average, or a pledge of about 76p a mile each. With £120 raised and 70 days (10 weeks) to go, the £380 left is £38 a week. With Gift Aid on every donation the charity receives £625.

Gift Aid

Free money for charity

When a UK taxpayer ticks the Gift Aid box, the charity claims 25p from HMRC for every £1. Donors must have paid enough income or capital gains tax to cover it.

Ideas that work

Raising a bit more

  • Share a training update each week
  • Ask early sponsors to set the tone: people match what they see
  • Offer a mile dedication for each big donation
  • Thank people with your finish photo

Read with care

What this cannot tell you

  • Tax adviceCheck Gift Aid rules on GOV.UK.
  • Charity termsYour charity may have a minimum target for a place.
  • HealthTrain for the distance; the cause does not make injury worth it.

Questions

Common questions

How much is Gift Aid worth?

25p for every £1 donated by a UK taxpayer.

How much should I raise for a marathon place?

Charity places often ask for £1,500 to £2,500; own places have no minimum.

How do I ask for sponsorship?

Tell people why the cause matters to you, and keep them posted.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

Before you push on

New to exercise, or got a heart, lung or joint condition? Have a word with your GP or practice nurse first. Stop and get help if you feel chest pain, faintness or unusual breathlessness, and call 999 if it is severe.

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