Participation Fund

Thank you for your interest in the FRNY Participation Fund. The FRNY Board is committed to ensuring that all members can participate in running events, regardless of financial ability. Events that are eligible for the Participation Fund include the Front Runners New York Pride Run, Reach the Beach Relays, FRNY Out-of-Town Races, training expenses (including Armory track workouts, memberships, and swim cards), and all NYRR Club Points races. Certain other club-supported races may also be eligible for the Participation Fund; please email the Participation Fund Committee for more information.

Please review the 2025 Participation Fund Guidelines below and fill out your contact information. Your information will be kept confidential. If you have any questions, please email the Participation Fund Committee at participationfund@frny.org.

2025 Participation Fund Guidelines

FRNY wants all members to participate in club-supported activities regardless of financial ability. We are pleased to announce the club’s guidelines for awarding funds. Funds are available to anyone who has been a member for at least three months.

New Payment Structure for 2025

• The first $150 in approved Participation Fund reimbursements will be covered at 100%.

• After that, 50% of the costs will be covered up to the category and annual caps.

• The total annual limit remains $500 per member across all categories.

Members can apply for four categories of participation funds, with a total annual limit of $500 per member across all categories:

1. NYRR Club Points Races: The club will cover registration fees of up to $250 per member in this category. Members can apply for the entire category or a specific race.

2. Relays: The club will cover registration fees for any relay that counts toward the FRNY Participation Award relay bucket. For Reach the Beach or Ragnar Relay, the club will cover up to $200 per member per year. Due to the shared expense nature of these relays, the receipt confirmation requirement is extended to 4 weeks following the race and can include proof of reimbursing another member if the applicant did not pay the direct costs. The request for funds must still occur prior to the race.

3. Other Eligible Races: This category includes any race that does not fall into Categories 1 and 2 above, as long as it is a race that is eligible for the FRNY Participation Award (for example, a marathon, multisport event, the FRNY Track Meet, or a local running club's race). The club will pay up to 50% of the early-bird entry fee (or equivalent) and may, at the Committee's discretion, include a portion of expenses in addition to registration fees. For out-of-town races and/or events, this can include other costs such as hotels, travel, etc. The annual maximum for other races is $250.

4. Other Eligible Races: The club will cover early-bird entry fees (or equivalent) for any race that does not fall into Categories 1 or 2 but qualifies for the FRNY Participation Award (e.g., marathons, multisport events, FRNY Track Meet, local club races). At the Committee’s discretion, a portion of additional expenses (e.g., travel and lodging for out-of-town races) may be covered. The annual maximum for this category is $250 per member.

5. Training: The club will pay any fees for training or necessary memberships, such as the Armory pay-as-you-go fee, swim cards, USMS Membership, etc., up to an annual maximum of $250.

Application & Reimbursement Process

• Members are encouraged to apply before registering for a race, though this is not required.

• Applications must be submitted before the race occurs.

• If approved, members must register and pay the full fee upfront, then submit proof of payment or registration within two weeks after the event to receive reimbursement.

• Decisions will be made within seven days of submission.

• Checks will be mailed for approved requests at the end of the month the request was received.

For any questions about fund eligibility or application procedures, please email participationfund@frny.org.