Why Should I Fundraise?
Taking part in an #OutoftheDarkness Campus Walk lets others know they are not alone. It raises awareness and reduces stigma, which is the first step in creating a smarter culture around mental health in the United States.
Your fundraising also makes a real impact, directly helping AFSP engage in core strategies of education, research, advocacy, and programming.
Thanks to your support, AFSP is the largest private funder of suicide prevention research in the United States. You can find more information in our 2021 Annual Report, as well as our profiles on Charity Navigator and Charity Watch.
To Change the Statistics |
To Educate |
To Bring Hope and Healing |
To Raise Awareness |
To Save Lives and Bring Hope to Those Affected by Suicide |
Need Help Fundraising? |
To Change the Statistics
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 34 and the twelfth leading cause of death overall in the United States. Around 45,979 Americans die by suicide every year. While CDC data indicates a decline in the suicide rate for older age groups, it remained the same for young people aged 15 to 24. See more statistics here.
Fundraising will help fund research to improve interventions, train clinicians in suicide prevention, and advocate for policy that will save lives.
To Educate
Suicide prevention cannot happen without the programs that will educate and train the public on seeking help and knowing the signs. Whether in-person or virtually, our chapters have brought programs like More Than Sad and It's Real to over one million students, parents, and educators across the country.
Fundraising will bring educational programs and AFSP's Interactive Screening Program, which connects students to counselors before crises emerge, to schools and communities nationwide. Contact your local chapter to help bring programs like this to a high school or college campus near you.
To Bring Hope and Healing
"I fundraised because I think the AFSP Out of the Darkness Walks are a great way to help people recognize that suicide prevention is a necessity and so is showing support for the people that need it the most." -Grad Student, PA
Everyone has a connection to the cause. Whether you've lost someone, love someone who struggles, or struggle yourself, you are not alone. We all saw the importance of connection during the COVID-19 pandemic and how crucial it is. Fundraising will bring loss and healing programs like Healing Conversations and International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day to those who have been affected by suicide.
To Raise Awareness
"I participated in fundraising because I thought it would be a good way to get other people involved. Sharing my story made the experience more meaningful, memorable, and personal." -Undergrad, MN
"Sharing my story helped me realize that I'm not alone. It's unfortunate to connect with people over something so tragic, but feeling like nobody else could understand makes the grieving process so much more complicated." - Alumni, MO
Register for an Out of the Darkness Campus Walk below. Once registered, you will have a fundraising page setup automatically that you can customize your to reflect your reasons for walking. Share your link so that others can donate or sign up themselves!
REGISTER FOR A CAMPUS WALK
Need Help Fundraising?
Get started today -- it's quick and easy! Registration automatically generates a fundraising page that you can share. Edit the page and include your reasons for walking or share your story. Don't be discouraged if donors don't contribute immediately. Remember, consistency is key so be sure to share your page regularly!
View the Tips and Tools and Game For Your Goal pages for more.
Make fundraising feel more tangible with concrete goals and outcomes for yourself and for donors! Raise $100+ by the day of the event and earn yourself a free t-shirt! For your donors, let them know how each gift amount makes a real difference.
You can also download and share our social media graphics:
Important note: Facebook Fundraisers will only connect with the fundraising page for your Walk if you create them through your AFSP DonorDrive account! Facebook Fundraisers set up through Facebook directly will come to AFSP as general donations to the organization.
AFSP does not provide crisis intervention services or counseling. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call 988 or text TALK to 741-741.
*AFSP's latest data on suicide are taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) 2020 Mortality Data and the National Vital Statistics System's November 2021 Data Brief.