If anyone profits from the run, it’s the company that pulls out the clock and the timing mat. That will be a fixed fee, whether you have volunteers or not. The timing company does not care about charity, or not, they want their money to pull out the equipment. I know a few of these folks, most are one person/mom and pop operations. None that I know of are driving nice cars and raking it in.

The volunteers are to reduce other costs for what is probably at best a break-even proposition. Race directors generally aren’t rolling in cash, either. That is, unless one doesn’t provide any of those services and charges $85.