Flutie 5K for Autism Series

Customer Snapshot

• 26: Years Running
• 10: Satellite Locations
• 1,800 : Participants at flagship location

About the Flutie 5K for Autism

The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism has been serving the autism community for 27 years. Their flagship Flutie 5K for Autism in Natick, Massachusetts, is now in its 26th year, selling out with nearly 3,500 annual registrants nationwide.

In the past five years, the Foundation expanded to a national series of satellite 5Ks in partnership with local autism-serving nonprofits. These events raise funds that remain in the local communities, extending the Foundation’s mission beyond its traditional grant footprint.

The Challenge

With a small 5K events team led by two staff members, managing 10+ races nationwide is no small task and the foundation needed:

• A scalable way to build and manage multiple race websites.
• A seamless registration process for participants and their charity partners.
• Tools to simplify race day operations for both the flagship event and satellite locations.
• Integrated peer-to-peer fundraising features that incentivize participants without extra admin work.

Past platforms required manual workarounds for features like top fundraising leaderboards and moving participants between events.

Making the Switch to RunSignup

The decision to move to RunSignup in 2024 was influenced by their timers’ preference for the platform and its strong reputation for usability and flexibility. The foundation found RunSignup offered everything they needed to manage a multi-event series efficiently while delivering a better experience to participants and charity partners.

“The easier it is for our charity partners, the easier it is for us.”
-Ethan Michaud, Director of Development

RunSignup Solutions

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

• Added integrated fundraising leaderboards – no more manual updates.
• Enabled the auto-refund feature for participants who raise $150+, encouraging fundraising without upfront payment and eliminating the need for multiple registration options.

Volunteer and Race Day Tools

• Used the Volunteer Platform to recruit, organize, and track race-day roles.
• Leveraged the RaceDay CheckIn App with dynamic bib assignment, simplifying check-in and enabling quick volunteer training.

Results

Switching to RunSignup has transformed the Flutie 5K for Autism series, giving their small but mighty team the tools to manage a growing national footprint without the tech headaches. Registration, fundraising, and race day operations are now simpler and faster, freeing them up to focus on what matters most — building community and amplifying their mission. Participants, charity partners, and staff all benefit from the smoother, more efficient experience.

• Scalable Growth: Positioned to expand the series by 3–5 more locations in the coming year.
• Streamlined Operations: Reduced admin time for the events team and simplified processes for charity partners.
• Improved Participant Experience: Frictionless registration, fundraising, and results.

Key Features They Love

For the Flutie Foundation, RunSignup’s value lies in its blend of flexibility and efficiency. From setup to finish line, the platform keeps every race in the series running smoothly and gives charity partners the tools they need to succeed.