Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the fundraising money go?

The money raised through the Jimmy Fund Walk directly supports cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Find out more about how your support helps.

Will I be held accountable for the fundraising minimum?

Yes. In the contract you sign during registration, our walkers agree to commit to the fundraising minimum, and any walker who has not met the fundraising minimum by the fundraising deadline of 10/31 will be charged for the remainder.

What is the relationship between Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & The Jimmy Fund?

The Jimmy Fund solely supports Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, raising funds for adult and pediatric cancer care and research to improve the chances of survival for cancer patients around the world. Since its founding in 1948, the Jimmy Fund has raised millions of dollars through thousands of community fundraising events. Learn more about the Jimmy Fund here and about Dana-Farber here.

How do I find my personal fundraising page link? If I am a Team Captain, how do I find my team page link?

Your personal fundraising page link can be viewed and edited in your Participant Center:

• Log into your Participant Center
• On your home tab under "My Next Steps," view your personal page link
• Update your personal link by clicking "Create Custom URL" or "Edit URL"

If you are a Team Captain, your team’s fundraising page link can be viewed and edited in your Participant Center:

• Log into your Participant Center
• Click on the "My Team" tab and under "My Next Steps," view your team page link
• Update your team page link by clicking "Create Custom URL" or "Edit URL"

What can I do in my Participant Center?

In your Participant Center, you can:

• Update your personal or team fundraising page URL
• Personalize your personal/team fundraising page with a photo and story of why you walk
• Update your personal/team fundraising goal
• Find your Participant ID
• Pull an Excel list of all of your donors and their addresses/contact information

To learn more about what you can do within your Participant Center and how to navigate it, check out the Participant Center User Guide.

Where can I find my Participant ID number?

Your Participant ID can be found by:

• Viewing your personal fundraising page. Participant ID is located under your fundraising goal and amount raised
• Logging into your Participant Center. Your Participant ID number is located halfway down the page next to Walk day route, etc.
• Call 866-531-9255 or email JimmyFundWalk@dfci.harvard.edu and we will be more than happy to look it up for you
• Please note: Your Participant ID number is different from your bib number

How do I submit checks or money orders?

Checks should be made out to the Jimmy Fund Walk, with your Participant ID in the memo line, and sent to the address below. Please note we cannot accept cash.

Boston Marathon^® Jimmy Fund Walk
P.O. Box 3595
Boston, MA 02241-3595

For donations to a team, please include a note with the team name and instructions to apply to the team.

If I set my fundraising goal higher than the minimum, will I be held responsible for the extra money?

No. In-person participants are required to raise $330 (or $130 for participants under 18), which includes the registration fee. If you are planning to walk virtually, adult participants are required to raise $100 ($30 for virtual youth participants under 18). However, increasing your fundraising goal is a great way to motivate your donors to continue their support. Many participants set their goal at $1,500 (Star Pacesetter level).

How do matching gifts work?

Every company has its own policies and procedures to determine a particular charity's eligibility to receive a matching donation. Your donors’ human resources department will have more information about how to have a donation matched. Your donor can also search for their company to see if they provide matching donations to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund.

If the original donation is made online:

Please have your supporter print out the email confirmation they received upon making the donation and mail it with the matching donation form to:

Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk
10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor
Brookline, MA 02445-7226

Alternatively, if a supporter donates online, and their company has an electronic donation submission program, please ask them to email the confirmations of both their donation and matching donation submission to JimmyFundWalk@dfci.harvard.edu.

If the original donation is made by mailing a check:

Please have your supporter mail the matching donation form along with the donation to the address above.

Many employers' matching donation forms require the following information:

Tax ID Number: 042263040
Contact: Donor Services
Email: AskCS@dfci.harvard.edu
Address: Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk
10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor
Brookline, MA 02445-7226

Please ask the company that is doing the match to include the name of the employee who requested the match and the participant ID of the walker that they’re supporting.

How do I customize my personal fundraising page?

To edit the text, picture, or video on your personal page:

• Log into your Participant Center
• On your Home tab, select "View and Edit Page" under My Next Steps

Where can I find a list of people who have made donations to my Walk?

To access a list of your current year donors and to see the donation amount:

• Log into your Participant Center
• On your Home tab, scroll to the bottom of the page to see a list of your donors. You can download a donor report that includes email, mailing address, etc.

I have a question about my donation. Who do I contact?

Please email the Jimmy Fund Walk team at JimmyFundWalk@dfci.harvard.edu or call 866-531-9255 for any questions about your donations.

How do my supporters get a receipt of their donation to use for tax purposes?

If your supporters make online donations, they will receive an acknowledgment letter and payment confirmation via email. We mail acknowledgements to supporters who send check contributions of $15 or more. Although we appreciate donations of any amount, due to the high volume of contributions we receive, we are unable to send acknowledgements for offline donations of less than $15. For offline donations of less than $15, your supporters can use a copy of their check as proof of their donation.

How do my supporters donate in honor or in memory of someone?

For online donations, your supporters can enter the name of the person whom they are honoring while making the donation in the "Donation Information" section of the donation form. You may enter the honoree's name in the "Display Name and Information" box and that will appear on your personal fundraising page. If your supporters would like an acknowledgment letter sent to a loved one, family member, or friend, please have them follow the link in their confirmation email and or send them this form.

Each supporter who makes an offline contribution can include a brief note with an honoree's name, and the names and addresses of any desired acknowledgment recipients.

Can my supporters make donations of stock/securities to support my Jimmy Fund Walk?

Yes, to donate stocks and securities, please reference stock transfer instructions here. Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund's Tax ID Number is 042263040.

How do I donate through Donor Advised Funds?

To make a donation via an existing Donor Advised Fund, donors should utilize this link and reach out to their financial institution contact to confirm. Donors should always be sure to note the donation designation (e.g. Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk/walker name).

I have a question about giving from my Donor Advised Fund using DAF Direct. Who do I contact?

Follow the instructions after clicking to give via DAF Direct. You may email our Donor Services team at askCS@dfci.harvard.edu or call 617-632-2903 if you have any further questions. Our team may direct you to speak with your DAF.

How do I donate through my IRA?

To make a donation via your IRA, please reference the requirements and instructions here.

How do I opt out of communications?

If you wish to opt out of receiving fundraising mailings from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, please call 800-525-4669 or click here. If you wish to opt out of email communications, click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any Jimmy Fund Walk email. Please note, if you opt out of receiving email communications, you will also not receive emails regarding the Jimmy Fund Walk.

You can also reach out to your staff contact or JimmyFundWalk@dfci.harvard.edu to let them know that you would like to opt out of all Dana-Farber and Jimmy Fund emails.

Do you have to register to participate in the Jimmy Fund Walk?

Yes.

What is the fundraising agreement for the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk?

When you register, you agree to the following policy:

I, the “Participant”, wish to participate in the 2024 Boston Marathon^® Jimmy Fund Walk, an in-person and virtual event occurring on October 6, 2024 (the "Event"). If I register before October 5, 2024, I agree to (i) collect the corresponding fundraising minimum below (registration fee included) for the benefit of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute ("DFCI") and (ii) if necessary, be personally responsible for donating any difference to meet the fundraising minimum as of the deadline:

• In-person Adult Walker (18 or older on Event day): $330 (includes $30 registration fee);
• In-person Youth walker (under 18 on Event day): $130 (includes $30 registration fee);
• Virtual Adult Walker (18 or older on Event day): $100 (includes $10 registration fee);
• Virtual Youth Walker (under 18 on Event day): $30 (includes $10 registration fee).

If I register on Event weekend, which is defined as October 5, 2024 – October 6, 2024, I agree (i) to collect the corresponding fundraising minimum below (registration fee included) for the benefit of DFCI and (ii) if necessary, be personally responsible for donating any difference to meet the fundraising minimum as of the deadline:

• In-person Adult Walker (18 or older on Event day): $340 (includes $40 registration fee);
• In-person Youth walker (under 18 on Event day): $140 (includes $40 registration fee);
• Virtual Adult Walker (18 or older on Event day): $100 (includes $10 registration fee);
• Virtual Youth Walker (under 18 on Event day): $30 (includes $10 registration fee).

The deadline for receipt of the full fundraising minimum is October 31, 2024. I understand that the outstanding balance towards the minimum fundraising requirement will be charged to my credit card if I have not met this requirement by the deadline.

Can I use the same username and password from last year's Walk to register online?

Yes. You may use your username and password from past registration. Your username may be your email address. This can be edited at any time in your Participant Center.

Can I register a family?

Yes, each individual family member will need to register separately for the Jimmy Fund Walk. If you need assistance registering a large group, please contact us.

Once I have registered, can I change any of my registration information?

Yes. After you register, you can update your personal or contact information, change route selection, switch teams, join a team, or even start a new team by following these steps:

• Log into your Participant Center
• Select "Edit Profile" tab
• Edit personal and contact information in the "Profile" tab
• Edit event information on the "Questions" tab

If any other changes need to be made, please contact us.

What is the cancellation policy?

You must cancel before noon on October 3, 2024 in order to be released from the fundraising minimum requirement ($330 for adult and $130 for youth). If you do not cancel by October 3, then you are responsible for the fundraising minimum whether you participate on Walk day or not. The registration fee is non-refundable. Please note: Each walker is required to agree to the cancellation policy at the time of registration.

Is there a limit or minimum to how many people can be on a team?

No. Teams can be as small or as large as you want!

Are we obligated to reach whatever fundraising goal we set for our team?

No. The team fundraising goal is a tool to motivate your team and supporters. Each member of the team is responsible for the fundraising minimum:

• In-person Adult Walker (18 or older on Event day): $330 (includes $30 registration fee);
• In-person Youth walker (under 18 on Event day): $130 (includes $30 registration fee);
• Virtual Adult Walker (18 or older on Event day): $100 (includes $10 registration fee);
• Virtual Youth Walker (under 18 on Event day): $30 (includes $10 registration fee).

Can a team have more than one captain?

Teams can have unlimited Co-Captains. To designate a Co-Captain, the Team Captain must:

• Log into your Participant Center
• Select the "My Team" tab
• Scroll to your Team Members section and select "Edit Captains"
• Edit Co-Captains as desired

Can I join or start a team if I’m already registered?

Yes! If you are registered as an individual, but want to join a team:

• Log into your Participant Center
• Select the "Edit Profile" tab and then "Event Options"
• Select "Join Team" and search for the team you would like to join

If you are registered as an individual, but want to start a team, contact the Jimmy Fund Walk Staff at 866-531-9255 or JimmyFundWalk@dfci.harvard.edu and we will make the change.

Can a donor make a general donation to my team?

Yes. Donors can give to the general team page by searching for the team’s name or directly from the team’s fundraising page.

Can I move money from one participant to another?

Once a donation is made, it can only be moved from one participant to another in totality. We are not able to split a donation among multiple participants.

If you receive a check donation, we can split it and apply to multiple participants, if you send the check directly to the Walk Staff and include a detailed note about where the money should be directed. After a check has been processed, we cannot split the amount. Send the check to the address below and not the P.O Box.

Jimmy Fund Walk Staff
10 Brookline Place, 6th Floor
Brookline, MA 02445

For donations made to the general team fund, the Team Captain must request the whole transfer to one team member. Please contact the Walk Staff to move funds.

Can we make our own team T-shirts or decorate the official Walk T-shirts?

You can do either! Some teams choose to create their own team T-shirts and others personalize the official Jimmy Fund Walk T-shirts. Please note: if a Walk T-shirt is customized, you may not exchange for a different size.

If you choose to create your own shirts, please contact us for logos and approval of logo usage.

What is a Virtual Walker?

Virtual Walkers are Jimmy Fund Walk participants who are unable, or choose not, to walk on the official course on Walk day. Many Virtual Walkers will hold walks in their neighborhoods and communities on a date that works for them. Our Virtual Walker program shows that we are together, wherever, against cancer.

What is the fundraising commitment for Virtual Walkers?

Adult Virtual Walkers (18 and older on Walk day) are required to raise $100, which includes a $10 registration fee. Youth Virtual Walkers (under 18 on Walk day) are required to raise $30, which includes a $10 registration fee. The deadline for Virtual Walkers to reach their full fundraising requirement is October 31, 2024.

What will I receive as a Virtual Walker?

Registered participants will receive a T-shirt and medal. Pacesetters will receive their bib along with their T-shirt and medal. First-time walkers will also receive a Jimmy Fund Walk hat.

Will I be able to receive any promotional materials for use in setting up my virtual walk?

Yes! If you would like marketing materials to help make your Walk more festive, please fill out our Order Merchandise form. If you have an urgent request, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can try to accommodate.

How do I get more information about volunteering for the Jimmy Fund Walk?

Visit the volunteer page for more information.

Can I volunteer with a group?

Yes. You can sign up to volunteer on your own or with a group for either Early Check-In on Saturday or Walk day. It takes a village—the more the merrier!

Is there an age requirement to volunteer?

Volunteers must be 18 years or older. If you are interested in volunteering but are younger than 18, an adult chaperone must register to volunteer with you for the same shift, location, and position.

When is the 2024 Jimmy Fund Walk?

October 6, 2024.

What distances will be offered for the 2024 Jimmy Fund Walk?

In 2024, the 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon routes will all be slightly longer distances due to the new location of the Jimmy Fund Walk Finish Line Powered by Schneider Electric at Boston Common. If you would like to change your Walk day route, log in to your Participant Center and click “Update Selected Route” under “My Route.” Select the route you wish to walk and click “Save.”

What is the Jimmy Fund Walk doing in regard to COVID-19 precautions?

The Jimmy Fund Walk recommends that anyone who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (including, but not limited to, fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea), has tested positive for, been diagnosed with, or been told that you are suspected of having COVID-19, does not attend the in-person walk. We ask that participants adhere to CDC, state & local guidelines which recommend quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. Participating in the event exposes one to certain risks, which may include, but are not limited to, injury, illness, death, and damage to self and/or property, whether from possible exposure to infectious diseases, including, but not limited to, COVID-19, exertion, weather or course conditions, vehicular traffic, and contact with other individuals.

Will masks be required by all participants?

According to state and local guidelines, masks are not required at this time. However, we encourage you to do whatever you are most comfortable with. We will have masks available at all start locations for those who would like to wear one.

What should I wear and bring with me on Walk day?

We encourage you to wear the Walk T-shirt provided by the Jimmy Fund. We also recommend that you wear or bring the following items on Walk day:

• Sunglasses and sunscreen—even if it's not sunny
• Extra socks (rather than cotton, try a pair made of wicking material)
• A mini first-aid kit with band-aids and pain relievers
• ID and a small amount of cash and/or credit card
• Cell phone
• Small drawstring bag or fanny pack. Please note: Large bags and backpacks are prohibited along the course

Please do not bring:

• Large backpacks or bags
• Large strollers or carriages (only collapsible carriages are permitted on buses)
• Inline skates, skateboards, bicycles, scooters, etc.
• Animals/pets (other than service animals)

Where can I find more information about Walk Day logistics, including start locations, parking, transportation, hotels, and more?

Visit the In-person Logistics page for more information.