When it comes to Operation Jack, there are lots of questions I get asked time and time again. Are you worried about your health? (Not since I started running!) Do you work? (Yes, full-time, and I even live at home with my wife and kids!) Sixteen? (No, sixty. Six-zero.) But there’s one I get asked more than any other, so I figured I’d use a Tuesday blog to answer it in-depth. That question? Where does the money go?
A lot of you are making donations and I know you trust what I’m doing, but many times I’ve been asked about where the money is going. I’ve put snippets on the site and I’ve answered people who have asked me, but I know that for every person who asks me, there are probably another 10 or 20 who wonder the same thing but remain silent.
Basically, Operation Jack is a capital investment followed by another capital investment. The initial capital investment is funding the endeavor. The reason I picked an unusual stunt (60 full marathons at an all-out effort in 2010) is to get attention for the cause. My dad asked me why I didn’t just run 10, or why I didn’t get a few other people to run some of the races for me. Well, because nobody cares if I run 10 — I did that last year!
For me, even though I entered the year with only 28 lifetime marathons completed, it’s reasonable for me to expect that I can complete these races. However, there’s a “wow factor” I’m counting on to generate excitement. 60, while not impossible, is unusual.
So far, the buzz has been there and I’m meeting my fundraising expectations. Without traveling to these races, I wouldn’t have the ability to raise the kind of money I’m shooting for (I’ll get to my goals in a little bit). Getting to the races is a requirement and flying costs money. But everything about this is being done as economically as possible.
I’m getting comped and discounted entries at virtually every race. I fly coach (and I don’t even pay the $10 extra to have Southwest automatically check in for me). I’m renting compact cars when I don’t have a ride in the towns I’m going to. And through the first 17 marathons, I’ll end up having spent five nights in hotels (some as cheap as $50/night) and nine nights in somebody else’s home. Believe me, I’m keeping costs down! And nobody is earning a dime.
I’m estimating the cost of the entire year to run somewhere around $20,000. We’re about 70 percent there, yet we’re very early in the year and still working to gain momentum. My goal for the year is $100,000, and I think that’s still definitely realistic. I’m breaking the year up into thirds, more or less.
The first third, I’m getting going and gaining some momentum while spreading the word. The following four months I’m expecting to be pretty tough. It’ll be warming up, not really marathon season (except for me, of course). Families will be taking summer vacations and things will slow. But I’ll still be working hard to build my base and maintain momentum. For the final 1/3, kids will be getting back to school, families will be getting into routines and fall marathon season will be approaching. That’s when I’m expecting us to really finish big and make it all happen.
Every extra dollar raised will go to Train 4 Autism. If we reach $100,000, that’ll be $80,000. The purpose of that money will be to facilitate growth. So, on the surface, that looks like only 20 percent goes to operating expenses and 80 percent goes to charity — not a bad ratio. However, Train 4 Autism is an organization that works hard to help folks raise money for autism-related charities. The turnaround compares to what I’m doing with Operation Jack. The money raised for expenses generates way, way more for the cause.
I’ve mentioned this quite a bit, but I really, really like Train 4 Autism’s model. It’s very similar to Team In Training, but it’s in the autism realm. One key difference is that it allows you to pick the autism-related charity that you wish to be the recipient of the funds you raise. You can’t throw a stone nowadays without hitting somebody who is impacted by autism or knows somebody impacted by autism. There’s a big need for Train 4 Autism to be big nationwide, and I’m hoping to draw people in from markets all over, and of course raise money to help expansion.
Back to the money that will be going to Train 4 Autism. When somebody raises money through Train 4 Autism, only 9 percent is reinvested to fund overhead, infrastructure and growth. Raising $80,000 for Train 4 Autism is the same as what the charity would receive from participants raising $888,888 through their fundraising efforts. This will be a huge towards long-term growth. I’m working on planting seeds with the people I’m bringing in. Hopefully, this money will water those seeds and we’ll see the growth for years and years. There’s really no telling how successful Train 4 Autism will be over the next 10 or 20 years, but there’s no question that the model works and there’s a market for it.
I’m not exactly certain how Train 4 Autism will use the money. My strength is running — not running a charity. But Train 4 Autism is a 501(c)3 and I know every leader within the organization. We’re all parents of children with autism and we’re chasing the same dream for Train 4 Autism. I don’t know specifics on how the money will be spent, but I know it will be used to help make these dreams become reality.
So, for now, that’s where the money is going. My estimate is that only 20 percent is going towards expenses. And that other 80 percent is going a long, long ways for a long, long time! If you ever have any questions about any of this, please email me or fill out the Contact Us form!
Have a great Tuesday!
Jen Morgan says
Great job breaking it down, it’s impressive to see how it’s all working itself out!
Kelly Gillette says
Hey Sam! I’ve been wondering about the Autism research that any Autism charity funds. Is there a main facility in the US that works daily on this? Also, do you happen to know what they test?
Alicia Verburg says
Interesting to see it laid out like that. You answered a couple of my own questions. And let me just say, your belief in the mission of Train 4 Autism reaffirms mine. I’m excited to see the growth over the next 10-20 yrs.
Melissa G says
Thanks for the great information, Sam.
Here’s an example of what money for research can do. At the autism center at UW, they are looking into the biology and behavioral aspects of autism, as well as doing longitudinal studies in several areas (incl. families like many of ours where only one child has autism and the others don’t). They also work with teachers from schools that would otherwise not have funding to develop programs for kids w/ autism. Our preK program is one of the best in the state, despite our district being VERY poor, and that’s in very large part to the money being pulled in by UW. That has been a huge blessing for us. If you want to see the specifics, check out depts.washington.edu/uwautism Without funding from many sources, I don’t think programs like this would be possible.