The Mint 400 Military Challenge
100% of all donations go directly to the foundations
The goal of the Mint 400 Military Challenge is to raise awareness and funds for non-profit foundations providing support to military veterans, active duty military and their families. The challenge is open to ALL race teams to compete in a public facing “race-a-thon” where sponsors, companies and the general public can donate to each team’s foundation. The team with the most money raised for their organization wins. The contest is run through Mighty Cause, ensuring that 100% of the donation goes directly to each foundation.
Since 2020, Mint 400 race teams competing in the Military Challenge have collectively raised over $240,000 for the following foundations:
Marine Raider Foundation
Special Forces Foundation
SEAL Family Foundation
Pararescue Foundation
Coast Guard Foundation
Wingman Foundation
Special Operations Memorial Foundation
Outlaw Desert Racing
Warfighter Made
The Warrior Built Foundation
Gary Sinise Foundation
Folds of Honor Foundation
Previous Mint 400 Military Challenge Winners:
2020 Bloody Ridge Race Team – $23,216 raised for the Marine Raider Foundation
2021 Team Warfighter Made – $20,475 raised for the Warfighter Made Organization
2022 NTD Racing – $24,880 raised for Folds of Honor Foundation
2023 Team Warfighter Made - $14,773 raised for the Warfighter Made Organization
Are you a team/racer looking to raise funds for a foundation?
The challenge is open to ALL race teams competing in the BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400. The team with the most money raised for their organization wins The Military Challenge. Here’s how to get started:
- Choose a foundation that supports any military veterans and families and contact them to let them know you are participating in The Mint 400 Military Challenge.
- Email shelly@themint400.com to create a Mightycause team page.
- Register for the BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 race. If you can’t register for the race right away, no problem! You can still make your Mightycause page start raising funds.
- Raise money & race!
Are you a brand, business or individual looking to donate to a team/foundation?
Sponsors, companies and the general public can donate to each team’s foundation. You can pledge a dollar amount for every mile completed (collected after the race) or by simply making a flat donation to the team (foundation). The contest is run through Mightycause, ensuring that 100% of the donation goes directly to each foundation.
If you would like to get involved with the Military Challenge as a sponsor please contact Mint 400 CEO Matt Martelli at Matt@themint400.com.
Are donations tax-deductible for my donors?
Yes, all charitable donations made on the Mightycause platform are tax-deductible, to the extent of U.S. law, as they are processed by the Mightycause Charitable Foundation, an IRS approved public charity which operates one of the largest donor advised funds in the United States. The Mightycause Charitable Foundation will send a tax-receipt to your donors immediately upon completion of their donation.
The Mint 400 Military Challenge History:
The Mint 400 Military Challenge grew out of the success United States Marine Jody Lynch and UFC fighter Josh Koscheck had using their participation in the 2019 Mint 400 as a fundraiser for the Marine Raider Foundation. They, their support crew from Zero 1 Off-road and The Martelli Brothers saw the potential and were inspired to build on this success and do the same thing for foundations from each branch of the military.
The Mint 400 launched the Military Challenge with the goal of raising awareness and financial support for military veterans and highlight the military’s ongoing involvement in off-road culture. The idea was to create a public facing “race-a-thon” where companies and the general public could donate to the team of their choice for every mile completed or a flat donation.
In 2020, race teams competing in the inaugural Mint 400 Military Challenge raised $104,689 for charities and foundations that focus on the needs of its active duty members and veterans, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to each foundation. Together, 16 teams representing 11 different foundations came together to raise awareness and financial support for military veterans and highlight the military’s ongoing involvement in off-road culture. Teams of retired and active duty members of all five branches of the United States Military raced in The Mint 400 Military Challenge. #U951 Bloody Ridge Race Team topped the fundraising leaderboard, raising $23,216 for the Marine Raider Foundation.
The Mint 400 Military Challenge was largely supported by Zero One Off-Road, who fielded seven vehicles, Oak Grove Technologies, who has committed $25,000 in financial support, Aamco contributed to the purchase of PPE used by some racers for this race and will be available to use in the future though Resilience Racing Foundation, and Polaris RZR, who has committed $10,000 in financial support. Oak Grove Technologies also made additional donations to each charity involved as “prize” money amounting to $30,000.
In the end, #U951 Bloody Ridge Race Team topped the fundraising leaderboard, raising $23,216 for the Marine Raider Foundation and #U969 Coast Guard Foundation Team won the top finisher in the UTV Rally Class, taking home the Military Challenge Race win. As an extension of this challenge, The Mint 400 created a specific Military Class, where actual military vehicles could compete in the race. Green Berets with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) also raced their Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1s fully loaded out to show the American people what they look like when they’re out there fighting and defending this nation.
The team specializes in long range desert missions in the Middle East and entered The Mint 400 to recreate real life situations out of their comfort zones to better themselves as a unit and challenge the breaking points of their equipment and men. Overall, the team completed two 107-mile laps and received an honorary finish award as most of their time on the course was spent assisting other racers by pulling them out when stuck, or even slowly towing other race vehicles through the remainder of a lap to be fixed in the pit.