Q&A with Asata Evans: How Understood.org is redefining fundraising through movement
October 06, 2026
Movement matters — not just for the body, but for the brain. In this Q&A, we talk with Asata Evans, Understood.org’s associate director of direct response fundraising, about how the organization is redefining fundraising through movement. From the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon to the upcoming Falling Leaves Half Marathon, these events are raising funds and awareness. Best of all, they’re building genuine community for neurodivergent people. Find out what’s behind this approach, what she’s learned along the way, and where she sees movement-based fundraising heading next.
Why is Understood putting more focus on movement and staying active as part of its fundraising events right now?
The science supports something we’ve long seen anecdotally: Movement matters for the brain, not just the body. A recent study found that exercise improves planning, problem-solving, and working memory — areas of executive function commonly linked to ADHD. Events built around movement let us act on that connection.
These events aren’t just fundraisers. They’re a tangible expression of what we’re working toward. And they bring our community together around something that genuinely supports how they think and function.
How does staying active connect to Understood’s mission of supporting people who are navigating neurodivergence?
The connection is closer than it might seem. Any physical challenge asks the same thing of us: Start before you feel ready. Push through doubt. And keep moving toward the finish line even when it’s hard. Our community knows that journey well. Whether “getting to the finish line” means a school milestone, a first day at work, or simply advocating for what you need, it takes the same grit as crossing an actual finish line.
That’s what makes activity such a powerful lens for our mission. It’s a visible reminder that progress isn’t about moving without struggle. It’s about moving through it — and knowing you have a community supporting and guiding you along the way.
You piloted this approach in April with the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon. How did that event go, and what made you want to build on it?
We saw a lot of success with peer-to-peer engagement in April. That got me thinking about how we could build on that momentum to reach even more of our community. Even if you aren’t neurodivergent yourself, chances are someone you love is. That’s what made this event so valuable. It wasn’t just a chance to grow brand awareness — it was a way to reach new audiences with trusted, practical information on how to support people with brain-based differences.
What’s been your favorite moment from an event so far?
There hasn’t been just one. But it’s always a feel-good moment when someone leaves an event wanting to share what they learned with someone else. That’s the ripple effect we’re going for. A short conversation at an event can turn into a family finally getting the support they need. Or a woman finally feeling less alone in her experience with ADHD.
What upcoming events can you share details on — dates, locations, or how people can sign up?
Our next event is the NYCRUNS Falling Leaves Half Marathon on October 17. It’s taking place in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, and we’re excited to return as a cause marketing partner. October is ADHD Awareness Month, so it’s a fitting time to bring our community together and raise both funds and awareness.
We’d love for people to come run, donate to a fundraiser, or just show up and cheer — find out more about the race and how to sign up.
What kind of response have you seen so far from donors, sponsors, and participants?
The response has been energizing. Donors, sponsors, participants, and our own Understood employees have all shown up eager to support our events and campaigns, share them with their networks, and be active participants in the mission. It’s a reminder that when you give people a meaningful way to get involved, they don’t just show up — they bring others with them.
Beyond raising funds, what do you hope people take away from these events?
Being headquartered in New York City is one of our biggest assets here. There’s a real hunger for community and in-person connection, and these events give us a chance to meet it. It’s been powerful watching people come together, many meeting for the first time, and realize they’re not alone in their experience.
That sense of connection is the takeaway I care about most. Fundraising gets people in the room. But what keeps them there — and what they carry with them after — is knowing there’s a community that gets it.
Where do you see this going next? Could movement-based fundraising become a bigger part of how Understood engages supporters?
I hope so! What excites me most about movement-based fundraising isn’t the physical activity itself. It’s what it represents: a low-barrier, high-connection way for people to rally around our mission alongside their community. Going forward, I want to keep building that spectrum of engagement. Whether someone’s running a half marathon or supporting from their couch, there’s always a meaningful way in.
Help fund our work so we can continue to provide free access to expert-vetted tools and resources that help neurodivergent people and their families thrive at work, school, and home. Donate to support our mission.
