IOFC Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the IOFC?

The IOFC is the Iditarod Official Finishers' Club.  The club is the "players union" of mushers who compete in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.  The club works with the organizers of the Iditarod Race (the Iditarod Trail Committee) to ensure that the Iditarod remains the world's premiere sled dog event with an emphasis on excellent care of our canine athletes and respect for Alaska's cultural heritage and natural beauty.

What Does the IOFC Do?

The IOFC provides a way for Iditarod Mushers to stay informed and involved with the administrative and logistical issues of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.  The following are ways in which the IOFC carries out this mission:

• The IOFC holds two meetings each year:  one in Nome, Alaska, following the finish of the Iditarod, and one in Alaska's Mat-Su Valley prior to the Iditarod's annual Volunteer Picnic and Sign-Up Day celebration.
• The IOFC operates this website, which keeps members in contact with each other throughout the year and serves as a way for those unable to personally appear at the meetings to voice their opinions in online discussion forums.
• The IOFC has a permanent seat on the Iditarod Trail Committee's Board of Directors.  The Iditarod Trail Committee is the organizing body for the Iditarod race.  This seat is filled by an IOFC member nominated by the IOFC and elected by the membership of the Iditarod Trail Committee.  This representative, along with the IOFC's Executive Committee, is a liaison between the Iditarod Trail Committee and the IOFC. 
• The IOFC sponsors and financially supports projects that help preserve and improve the Iditarod National Historic Trail and associated buildings.  In 2007, the IOFC worked with the Iditarod Trail Committee to refurbish a historic cabin that serves as part of the checkpoint at the ghost town of Iditarod.  The money for this project was generously donated to the IOFC by artist and IOFC member Jon Van Zyle.
• The IOFC works with mushers and the Iditarod Trail Committee to thank some of the dedicated volunteers and generous Alaskan communities who make the Iditarod race possible.
• The IOFC serves as a sort of "professional organization" in which the members of the organization work to set high standards for dog care and musher conduct that can be adopted by mushers and race organizations not affiliated with the Iditarod. 

Who Can Be a Member of the IOFC?

All mushers who have successfully completed the 1,049 mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race are automatically members of the IOFC.  Members must pay an annual dues fee of $15 if they wish to have voting rights in meetings and in online surveys or if they wish to hold an office in the club.

How Many Members Does the IOFC Have?

Currently, there are over 600 Official Iditarod Finishers, all of whom are members of the Iditarod Official Finishers' Club.  The club is an international organization with members from the U.S. and Canada, as well as numerous countries around the world, including Norway, Russia, England, Australia, Italy, Germany, and Japan.

Is the IOFC a Non-Profit Organization?

Yes.  The IOFC is incorporated in the state of Alaska as a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation.  Currently, the IOFC does not have the federal 501(c)3 nonprofit designation, but work is underway to gain this designation, which is important to have so that the IOFC's donors can write-off their contributions.

Can I Donate Money to the IOFC?

Certainly.  Simply go to the Donations portion of this website.  The IOFC greatly appreciates the generosity of the donors who have made it possible for the IOFC to continue its work.