Back on My Feet

What Back on My Feet does

Back on My Feet works with people experiencing homelessness and people in recovery from addiction, and it starts with running. Members commit to team runs three days a week alongside volunteers. From there they move into workshops, one-on-one mentoring, job training, and help with housing and finances. The organization has chapters in 14 U.S. cities, including Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Washington DC.

Anne Mahlum started it in Philadelphia in 2007. She regularly ran past a homeless shelter and wondered whether the routine that helped her could help the people staying there. That first running group grew into a national program. The organization says it has served more than 15,000 people since then. Together its members have logged more than 950,000 miles and obtained more than 10,000 jobs and homes.

Back on My Feet spent about $4.3 million in 2024 and holds a three-star rating from Charity Navigator.

Key facts

• Chapters in 14 cities: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington DC (backonmyfeet.org/about)
• More than 15,000 people served since 2007 (backonmyfeet.org)
• Members have run more than 950,000 miles together and obtained more than 10,000 jobs and homes (backonmyfeet.org)
• Revenue of $4.1 million and expenses of $4.3 million in fiscal 2024 (ProPublica)

Before you give

• Accepts recurring gifts, donor-advised fund grants, stock, cryptocurrency, and matching and workplace gifts (Ways to Give page).
• To give by check, mail it to Back on My Feet, 901 Market Street, Suite 3020, Philadelphia, PA 19107.