DEADLINE EXTENDED TO AUGUST 4, 2023

Each year the Lilac Bloomsday Association (LBA) selects an official charity or non-profit partner for the upcoming Lilac Bloomsday Run. Through the selection the charity receives much needed revenue as well as exposure in the community. The charity receives money donated by Bloomsday participants when they sign up for the run, and most charities also raise funds by selling a product (bracelet, singlet, T-shirt, etc.) before, during and/or after race weekend. The charity also receives a free booth at the Bloomsday Trade Show to use as they like. These cooperative ventures give Bloomsday something additional to share with the media while increasing the amount of funds raised for the charity.

The application process to become Bloomsday's official charity is simple. The charity should submit a letter no more than two pages long that includes:

• Describes the history/background of the charity and the work the charity does.
• How being the official Bloomsday charity would help the charity’s mission.
• Any special things the charity would like to do in conjunction with Bloomsday to increase funds raised and/or increase the visibility of both the charity and Bloomsday (e.g. the Susan G. Komen Foundation sold pink bracelets, the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery auctioned off mile sculptures, and Cancer Patient Care sold gold singlets that could be personalized in honor of a cancer patient.)
• Please also make sure to include your non-profits name, mailing address, phone number and website. 

Application letters should be submitted by July 31 by mail (Lilac Bloomsday Association, 1414 N. Belt St. Spokane, WA 99201) or via e-mail to the communications coordinator. (Bethany@bloomsdayrun.org)
The LBA’s Charity Committee starts reviewing in August, makes a recommendation to Bloomsday’s Board of Directors in late August, and the Board generally makes a decision by early October. Non-winning applicants are also notified at that time.

There are hundreds of great charities in our area, and obviously Bloomsday can’t help them all. But we do like to give a boost to one official charity each year.

Thanks for your interest, and if you have any questions, feel free to email support@bloomsdayrun.org, or call (509) 838-1579 

Bloomsday is proud to partner with area charities and give back to the community that has provided so much to our race. Through our official charity program, as well as through our partnership with Active4Youth in Jr. Bloomsday, Bloomsday has donated more than $250,000 in the last 10 years to deserving charitable organizations. Bloomsday alone has given $140,000 to the Active4Youth organization to support youth running in the greater Spokane area.