Season 7 Episode 2: Scaling Your Endurance Program with Intention with Breakthrough T1D's Andrew Shannon

Breakthrough T1D’s Andrew Shannon joins the podcast to share how a five-year strategy is reshaping the organization’s run program for long-term growth.

Building a stronger endurance program isn’t just about adding more races or recruiting more runners. It requires a clear vision for where the program is headed, how it supports the organization’s bigger goals and where to invest along the way.

In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Andrew Shannon, National Manager of Run/Endurance at Breakthrough T1D, about the organization’s intentional approach to building a run program designed for the future.

Andrew shares how he assessed the program with fresh eyes, developed a five-year strategy aligned with organizational priorities and created different pathways for runners to engage. He also explores a broader definition of retention, how Breakthrough T1D decides which opportunities to pursue and why strong relationships with race partners can unlock new possibilities.

Together, we’ll explore:

– Building a long-term endurance strategy that supports broader organizational goals
– Creating a portfolio of opportunities that reaches new communities and keeps runners engaged
– Making intentional choices about race participation, retention and strategic partnerships

Mentioned Links

www.breakthrought1d.org
www.run.breakthrought1d.org

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Podcast Guest

Andrew Shannon is the National Manager for Endurance at Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), where he leads peer-to-peer fundraising strategy for endurance run events nationwide. A leader with a background in nonprofit fundraising and community development, Andrew has spent his career turning endurance events into powerful fundraising engines. He specializes in building the kind of experiences that get participants to fundraise, and fundraise well, for causes they believe in.

Podcast Host

Marcie Maxwell is the CEO of the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum. Marcie joined the P2PPF team in 2021 after 15+ years as a front-line fundraiser, national events & campaign director and fundraising consultant. In her role, Marcie serves as a primary thought leader and community builder for the peer-to-peer fundraising industry.

She started her career in fundraising with 10+ years at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she ran local fundraising events, managed national volunteer partnerships and launched their national walk program. She then spent 5+ years as the Director of Chapter Fundraising Events with Make-A-Wish America, where she provided strategy, support & training to 60 chapters on the full event portfolio – walks, school fundraising, an endurance hiking program and galas & social events. In her most recent role at Charity Dynamics, she partnered with clients to provide strategic guidance and analysis to help them optimize and grow their peer-to-peer fundraising events & campaigns.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree in Ethical Leadership from Christian Brothers University. She resides in Memphis, TN.