The Participant Hub is your go-to page to help you reach your goals, share your story, promote the Walk, invite others to join you, fundraise, and more!
Click on the menu options below for social media graphics, flyers you can customize, statistics to share, and information on how to create custom t-shirts for Walk day.
You can now fundraise for the Out of the Darkness Walks through Facebook, but your Facebook fundraiser must be started through your personal fundraiser portal in DonorDrive for donations to appear on your page. Simply visit your dashboard in the fundraiser portal, then click "Start a Facebook Fundraiser" from the Your Fundraising menu on the right side of the page. You can also view our FAQs below.
Important: If you start the Fundraiser on Facebook using the "add a donate button feature" or by launching a fundraising campaign such as a birthday fundraiser, donations will be sent to AFSP as general donations from Facebook and will not appear on your page. If you started your fundraiser through Facebook and would like your donations to appear on your walk page, please contact walks@afsp.org as soon as possible for further instructions.
Connecting your Facebook Fundraiser directly to Instagram will NOT go to your Walk fundraising. Meta owns both Facebook and Instagram, but DonorDrive does not have the ability to connect to Instagram fundraisers. If you want to share on Instagram, you'll need to add a direct link to your DonorDrive fundraising page in your Insta story or add it as a link in your bio.
FAQs
Will my birthday fundraiser count toward my fundraising total?
Birthday fundraisers will not connect to your DonorDrive page. Only Facebook Fundraisers created through your DonorDrive page will connect properly. If your page did not mention a walk, we will need the consent of the donors to move their donations to your DonorDrive page. Please reach out to walks@afsp.org for further information on having these funds moved.
What if I need help with a Facebook Donation? Can you refund the donation or change it?
Unfortunately, we are not able to refund or change donations that are made on Facebook. However, you can use the link below to ask for a refund or change to your donation. Please note: you need to be logged into Facebook to use this support function.
Why aren't my donations showing up on my fundraiser?
It is possible that you accidentally created a second fundraiser using the “Donate Button” or through Facebook that is not connected to your DonorDrive page. If you are not seeing donations on your DonorDrive page, please send a link with your fundraiser to walks@afsp.org so we can help you look into the donations. Please note: if your fundraiser does not mention a walk, we will need the consent of your donors to move the funds to your DonorDrive page.
What if I already created a Fundraiser and it isn’t connected to my personal fundraising page?
If your fundraiser was created for a walk, please send us the Facebook fundraising link to walks@afsp.org, and we will look into moving the donations for you. Please note: only fundraisers that were edited to mention the walk before the donations were made are eligible to be moved.
Why don’t the names of my donors show up on my personal fundraising page? How can I find out who made a donation to me?
All Facebook Donations will show up under the name “Facebook Donor” on your DonorDrive page. We do not currently have the ability to import names from Facebook. However, you can see the names of your donors by visiting your page and clicking on “View Facebook Fundraiser.” You can then see all the donors, donation amounts, and names of your Facebook donors.
Use the Hashtag #OutOfTheDarkness
"I Fundraise Because..." Graphics
Funds raised at the Out of the Darkness Walks are vital to support research, advocacy, education, and programs. In order to stop suicide, we first need to understand it! We all have reasons for walking and we all have reasons for fundraising. Share why you do so to inspire others to join in.
Fundraising Thermometer Graphics
Share your fundraising progress with family, friends, and followers with these thermometer graphics.
Illustrative Social Media Graphics
We've partnered with some incredible illustrators to bring you a selection of graphics that you can use to help spread the word about the Out of the Darkness Walks.
Honor Bead Graphics
We all walk for different reasons, and honor beads act as a symbol on Walk day. Share these Honor Bead graphics on your Instagram stories to let others know why you walk. Includes graphics sized for your Instagram stories.
Editable Honor Bead Graphics
We also have Honor Bead graphics you can customize by adding your reasons for walking. TIP: Download the PDF of the graphics, add your custom text, save the document, and convert the file(s) to a JPG or PNG image format.
Impact Graphics
See the tangible effort that you have by joining an #OutOfTheDarkness Walk and raising funds for suicide prevention efforts.
"What Your Funds Support" Graphics
The funds raised at the #OutOfTheDarkness Walks help AFSP save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide by supporting lifesaving research, advocacy efforts for mental health legislation, education efforts, and programs for schools and communities.
Support Me Graphics
Asking for support and thanking your donors is important! Below are some graphics that could help you convey your gratitude.
2025 Editable Participant and Team Captain Flyers
Download these flyers to share why you have joined the mission to help prevent suicide. There are form fields are highlighted with a gray background. The background will not print on your final document. If you need to convert the PDF to an image file for sharing online, you can learn how to do so here.
Out of the Darkness Campus Walks
Fundraising Toolkit
Welcome to the Campus Walks Fundraising Toolkit! This toolkit is just that – one place for you to find all the tools you will need to become a successful fundraiser! You will learn how to navigate your personal fundraising, as well as how your fundraising will help the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) at a local and national level.
We want you to be able to easily use these resources so that you can fundraise to the best of your ability and have fun while doing it! We know that fundraising can take a lot of effort and hard work, and we are so thankful for everything you are putting into it. The contributions you are making to AFSP and your local community are truly immeasurably and does not go unnoticed. Hopefully, this toolkit will make your fundraising experience the best it can possibly be.
Always feel free to reach out with questions, and happy fundraising.
With Hope,
The Out of the Darkness Walks Team
This toolkit contains tips for:
- Setting up your walk account
- Creating a fundraising goal
- Using social media to fundraise
- Reaching out to donors
- Saying thank you
- Communicating the AFSP mission
You can use our Elevator Pitch when sharing information with your donors, as well as the Impact Messages and National Impact Flyer. Don't forget about the Impact Social Media Graphics, too!
Download our Suicide Facts & Figures National Fact Sheet below, or learn statistics specific to your state by viewing the state fact sheets.
Offline Donation Form
Have your supporters given you checks made payable to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (or AFSP) to support your fundraising efforts? Download an Offline Donation Form and mail your payment to AFSP, Attn: OOTD Walks, 199 Water Street, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10038 and it will post to your donation page within 12-18 business days from the date you mail the check. We highly recommend mailing donations in advance of your event to make your Walk experience as safe and seamless as possible.
Matching Gifts
Matching gifts are when companies "match" a charitable gift an employee makes. Reach out to your network to let everyone know that they may be able to double their contribution if their employer has a matching gift program. To find out if your company has a matching gift policy, click HERE and type their name into the search bar.
AFSP Financials
AFSP is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization incorporated in the state of Delaware with primary offices in New York City. All AFSP chapters are considered local offices of the parent organization. Our Federal tax ID # is 13-3393329. AFSP’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) number is 10545. All donations to AFSP are tax deductible.
View our Financials (501C3, W9 etc.) and Annual Report below.
Using Live Streaming to Fundraise
Live streaming is a fantastic way to engage your supporters in real-time, share your passion for the cause, and inspire donations. By broadcasting through your DonorDrive page, you can create an interactive and impactful experience for your donors. Here's how to do it:
- Set Up Live Streaming
- Log into your DonorDrive account and click on "your page"
- Add your preferred stream (e.g., Twitch or YouTube) to your DonorDrive page (YouTube requires the full URL to be entered)
- Follow the prompts to sync the account and test the connection
- You'll need to have a streaming app on your device of choice (Streamlabs, Twitch, Youtube) or software on your desktop (Streamlabs, OBS, or Xplit)
- Plan Your Live Stream Content
- Ensure you have a reliable internet connection
- Use a camera or smart phone with good video quality
- You'll need a device to stream with, whether a smart phone, laptop, Xbox or Playstation 4
- Test your audio to ensure clear sound
- Set a theme for each stream, for example, "Why I Walk", "How Donations Help", or "Q&A About Mental Health Awareness"
- Include concrete calls to action! Frequently remind viewers to donate through your DonorDrive page. Use overlays or pinned comments with the donation link
- Engage viewers in real time by responding to comments, thanking donors live, and encouraging others to join the cause
- Promote Your Live Streams
- Share your streaming schedule on your fundraising page as well as on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and X
- Send your supporters an email invitation with details about the schedule and purpose of the live stream
- Build excitement with countdown posts leading up to the stream
- Concrete Examples of Live Streaming
- Kickoff Stream: share your personal story about why you're walking and set your fundraising goal. Encourage viewers to donate live to help you start off strong
- Training or Preparation Stream: show your walk preparation, whether it's training, stretching, making signs, or organizing shirts or incentives
- Donor Shoutout Stream: Dedicate a live stream to thanking donors and reading their messages (assuming they are not personal messages only meant for you)
- Q&A Stream: Host a discussion about suicide prevention and the impact donors' support has on AFSP's core strategies of research, education, advocacy, and programs
- Maximize Engagement When Live
- Remind viewers of any milestones and incentives you are using
- Incorporate visuals by using overlays to display your fundraising progress
- Express gratitude! Thank donors in real-time
- Follow Up After the Stream
- Post highlights, clips, or screenshots on social media to keep the momentum going
- Thank your supports formally... everyone loves a hand-written thank you note!
- Announce your results, share how much you raised and how close you are to your goal
Here is a quick guide of what you will need depending on your device
Mobile Phone
- Hardware
- Smartphone with camera and microphone
- Wireless data or Wifi connection
- Software
- Streamlabs App (streams to Twitch or YouTube)
- Twitch App
- YouTube App
- Services
- Twitch
- YouTube
Desktop or Laptop
- Hardware
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Software
- Streamlabs OBS (Recommended)
- Add the overlay to the source panel by choosing browser source and pasting in the overlay URL when you edit your stream settings or your fundraising page
- OBS
- Add the overlay in the source panel by choosing browser source and pasting in the overlay URL provided when you edit your stream settings on your fundraising page
- XSplit (Windows Only)
- Streamlabs OBS (Recommended)
- Services
- Twitch
- YouTube
- Extras
- Add our overlay to your stream that shows our logo, your fundraising progress, recent & top donations (desktop/laptop streaming software only)
- Get on-stream donation alerts with the Charity Streaming integration in Streamlabs (desktop/laptop only)
- Add our overlay to your stream that shows our logo, your fundraising progress, recent & top donations (desktop/laptop streaming software only)
Xbox or Playstation 4
- Hardware
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Software
- Twitch
- Services
- Twitch
Happy Streaming!
Using Milestones to Fundraise for an Out of the Darkness Walk
Milestones are a powerful tool to motivate donors and track your progress towards a fundraising goal. By setting specific, achievable targets and tying them to actions or incentives, you can inspire more engagement.
Here's how to use milestones effectively:
- Set Up Milestones in DonorDrive
- Log into your DonorDrive Account
- Navigate to your Dashboard, click on "your page", and locate the section for setting goals and milestones
- Add Milestones - consider breaking them down into smaller, incremental goals so you can assign a specific dollar amount to each
- Personalize them! Ad a short description and explain why it is meaningful or what it represents
- Promote Your Milestones
- Post on social media frequently and use graphics to highlight your progress
- Send emails to your supporters announcing each milestone and thanking them when you achieve one
- Update your page or send messages when you hit a milestone to keep the momentum going
- Incentivize Donations - Be Fun and Creative
- Milestones can motivate donors to help you reach your goals and should be tied to specific actions
- Example 1: if you reach a $50 fundraising goal, you will publicly tag the top donor in a Facebook post
- Example 2: if you reach a $150 fundraising goal, you will do 20 pushups on Facebook Live
- Example 3: if you reach a $250 fundraising goal, you will lip sync your favorite song on TikTok
- Celebrate and Thank Your Donors
- Highlight donors that helped you reach each milestone
- Use social media, email, and/or your DonorDrive page to express gratitude
- Share how their contributions are making a difference in suicide prevention
Remember -- by breaking fundraising into milestones, you create a structured, engaging way to inspire donations and share your journey toward making an impact!
Using Incentives to Fundraise
Similar to the Milestones feature, the Incentives feature in DonorDrive allows you to encourage donations by offering rewards for specific contribution levels. This can motivate donors to give more and make your campaign more engaging. Here is how you can use incentives effectively:
- Set Up Incentives in DonorDrive
- Log into your DonorDrive account
- Click on "your page" and navigate to the Incentives section
- Create your incentives
- Define specific donation levels (e.g., $10, $25, $50...)
- Assign a reward to each level. Make sure the rewards are meaningful, manageable, and relevant to your campaign
- Describe each incentive clearly and include a short description for each so that donors know what to expect
- Specify if you need any specific information to fulfill the incentives, for example, an address or phone number to mail items to qualifying donors (if you do require information, there is a space for them to include it when they donate through your page... you will be able to pull a report with all of the information gathered)
- Promote Your Incentives
- Announce your incentives and highlight donation levels in social media posts. Use images or graphics to make the rewards visually appealing
- Share your incentives with your email list and encourage them to claim a reward by donating
- Feature your incentives prominently on your fundraising page to catch potential donors' attention
- Remember to share your fundraising page and incentives consistently -- it can sometimes take an average of 6 asks before someone will donate!
- Concrete Examples of Incentives
- Example 1: Donate $25 and receive a personalized thank you message via video or social media
- Example 2: Donate $50 and get your name included on the custom shirt I am designing for Walk day through Bonfire
- Example 3: Donate $100 and I will share an exclusive video peak at how I am preparing for Walk day
- Example 4: Donate $200 and I will knit you a scarf with a color of your choosing, or your honor bead colors
- Example 5: Donate $500 and I will invite you to a post-Walk coffee or homemade dinner to discuss the impact of your donation
- Fulfill Incentives and Show Gratitude
- Track donations and incentives with DonorDrive's tools to monitor which donors qualify for which incentives
- Deliver rewards promptly to maintain enthusiasm and trust
- Thank donors both publicly and privately! Shout them out on social media and send hand-written notes
By offering creative and meaningful incentives, you can inspire donors to give generously while building deeper connections with your supporters.
Thank you for your generous support of the Out of the Darkness Walks, and all that you do to help support the cause. We cannot achieve our mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide without your hard work.
The funds you raise through the Out of the Darkness events are invested in life-saving research, education, advocacy, and support programs that help save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.
There is no registration fee or required fundraising minimum to participate in an Out of the Darkness Campus Walk. However, anyone who individually raises $100+ by the day of their Walk will receive the official Out of the Darkness Campus Walk T-Shirt at the event. Please note: the shirts are distributed on an individual basis, not a team basis. Anyone who would like to receive one must individually fundraise $100+ by Walk day. Shirts are distributed by local event organizers only.
If you do not qualify for the Campus Walk T-Shirt, you are welcome to purchase additional AFSP apparel from our online store, or create custom shirts through Bonfire.
For participants who individually raise $250+, we offer additional Recognition Gifts* as a token of our appreciation for all of your support. These gifts are distributed after the Walk. Roughly 6 weeks post event, you will receive an email from a company called Kotis Designs with a link to redeem one gift at your achieved level or below.
We're so grateful for your support.
*Recognition Gift Program Details
- With the exception of the official Out of the Darkness t-shirts ($100 level), recognition items are not cumulative; only one item is awarded to each fundraiser.
- T-shirts are distributed by local Out of the Darkness event organizers, only. Please see event page for details.
- Gifts are awarded based on individual fundraising efforts, not team totals.
- Fundraisers may select one item at or below the level achieved.
- Matching gifts are included in fundraising totals if the participant provides the appropriate matching gift form when turning in the eligible donation.
- Codes to redeem gifts will be emailed to all qualifiers by June 30th.
- The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reserves the right to substitute an incentive item of equal or greater value.
- Offer valid for Fall 2025 - Spring 2026 Out of the Darkness Walks only. Does not apply to the Out of the Darkness Overnight series.
Design and sell custom t-shirts that raise funds for your Out of the Darkness Walk fundraiser! Every shirt sold will be printed, shipped and delivered in time for walk day. Here's how it works:
Start a custom merch campaign and raise money for this year’s Out of the Darkness Walks. Choose your designs and products, and launch and promote your new merch. When your campaign ends, shirts are printed & shipped for you. Once your campaign has ended, please allow 2-4 weeks for your funds raised to transfer to your AFSP fundraising page.
The Out of the Darkness Walks are journeys of remembrance and events that unite a community – a time to acknowledge the ways in which suicide and mental illness have affected our lives and our loved ones. We all wear honor beads - each color shows our personal connection to the cause, and helps us identify others who understand our experience.
How do I get Honor Beads?
Honor Beads are distributed for free on the day of the Walk. You are free to choose the colors that you identify with.
Fundraising made even easier with the mobile app!
DonorDrive Charity Fundraising App
