The town announced Thursday that applications are being accepted from local organizations seeking to obtain a Boston Marathon charity number.

Numbers will be distributed to qualified organizations through a random selection. In order to qualify, an organization must either be a town department, board or committee that performs Marathon functions who then may distribute the numbers to organizations undertaking activities for the benefit of the town, or an organization undertaking public service activities within Hopkinton.

Each organization may request up to two numbers. However, the Select Board will announce a cap that an organization can receive on the day of the random selection.

Organizations that receive numbers through the random selection may then distribute them
directly to individual runners who agree to raise money for the receiving organization. Organizations are requested to commit to raising a minimum of $5,000 per number they receive.

Applications, which are available in the news section of the home page on the town’s website and in the Town Manager’s Office, must be filled out and returned to the Select Board/Town Manager’s Office by noon on Jan. 18 (changed from original deadline of Feb. 10), with the Select Board conducting the draw that day at 6 p.m. in a public meeting. Late applications will not be considered.