Susan Hurley Fund

Carry the light
forward.

In memory of Susan Hurley, founder, coach, champion, and the heartbeat of CharityTeams. Her spirit runs in every mile raised for a cause.

Susan Hurley, founder of CharityTeams
Susan Hurley
Founder, CharityTeams
2008 to Forever
Founded
2008
Her Story

She didn’t just build a fundraising platform. She built a belief system.

Susan Hurley founded CharityTeams in 2008 with a single belief: fundraising should be fun. Not obligatory, not transactional, not stressful, fun. She called it “fun-raising.”

A former New England Patriots cheerleader turned passionate marathon runner, Susan discovered the power of running for something bigger than a finishing time. She built CharityTeams to make that experience accessible to every runner with a cause in their heart.

Over 18 years, she connected hundreds of runners with dozens of nonprofits, helped raise more than $42 million, and created a community where no one runs alone. Her warmth, her humor, and her relentless optimism live on in every charity bib issued, every Boylston Street crossing, and every dollar raised in her name.

Her Philosophy

What Susan believed.

Fun-Raising

Joy is not optional. It's the engine. Susan believed fundraising should feel like a celebration, not a burden.

No One Runs Alone

Community is the strategy. Susan built a team around every runner: coaches, mentors, and fellow athletes.

The Boylston Street Moment

The finish line is where everything becomes real. That moment of crossing for a cause you love: that's what Susan built for.

Every Runner Is a Changemaker

Purpose doesn't slow you down. It carries you. Susan proved that charity runners are among the most powerful fundraisers in any movement.

Rob Gronkowski at a CharityTeams fundraising event
Gronk Playground Fundraiser
Susan Hurley Foundation · Community Event
Community Legacy

She brought champions to the cause.

Susan’s energy extended well beyond the marathon course. The Susan Hurley Foundation hosted community events, from the Gronk Playground fundraisers to charity galas, that brought athletes, donors, and organizations together under one roof.

That same spirit of connection lives on through the CharityTeams community. Every race event, team dinner, and finish-line celebration is a continuation of what Susan started.

Honor Her Legacy

Apply for a Susan Hurley Fund Grant

To be considered for funding, an organization must meet several requirements; Applicants must:

  • Be nonprofit organizations as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Carry on their work principally in the New England area
  • Not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, physical handicap, or gender
  • Support initiatives that cultivate connection, inspire personal growth, and uplift communities
Apply for a Grant →