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Frequently Asked Questions

Save Your Spot for 2025! 

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Click on the links below to find answers to the most common questions we receive about the in-person Overnight Walk. If you have a question that is not listed, call us at 888-843-6837 or send an email to [email protected].

 

All donations support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

How does the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention fight suicide?
AFSP uses your donations to:

  • Fund Research for Suicide Prevention
  • Create and Distribute Education Programs
  • Advocate for Public Policy
  • Support Survivors of Suicide Loss

Thanks to donors like you, AFSP has been able to set a goal to reduce the annual suicide rate 20% by 2025.

How much money am I required to raise to participate?
Each Walker agrees to raise a minimum of $1,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

What is the registration fee?
The registration fee is $50. We also offer a discounted rate of $35 for students and military members. 

Is there a minimum age requirement for Walkers?
Yes. Walkers must be at least 14 years old on or before the date of the Out of the Darkness Overnight.

Minor Walkers 14-17 years of age must be accompanied throughout the event by a parent or guardian who is also a registered Walker.

Parents and guardians of minors 14-17 must fill out the Designated Supervision of Minor Consent Form.

Can I participate virtually?
Yes. We are introducing a new Virtual Participant type with a registration fee of $35 and fundraising minimum of $500. 

Is there a minimum age for Crew Members?
Yes. Crew Members must be at least 18 years old on or before the date of the walk.

Do I need permission from my doctor in order to participate?
No. But we encourage all Walkers and Crew members to discuss their participation with their personal physician.

Is insurance required?
No. But we recommend personal health insurance for each participant.

Our medical team can provide basic first aid services, but in the event that you become ill or are injured during the event and have to be transported to a hospital, you will be responsible for 100% of transportation and service costs.

How do you support the Walkers along the route?
Stops line the route every few miles, with water, sports drinks, snacks, and toilet facilities. Halfway along the route, we will provide you with a midnight meal.

How many miles does the walk cover?
The Overnight Walk is 16+ miles.

What if I have trouble finishing the walk?
If at any point during the event you feel you are unable to continue, you can step to the side of the route and you will be picked up and taken to the next Rest Stop or to the Closing Ceremony location.

What time does the event begin and end?
Check-in for The Overnight will run from approximately 4:00pm-7:15pm. The Opening Ceremony will begin at approximately 7:30pm, around sunset. The event will conclude with a Closing Ceremony beginning at approximately 5:00am, as the sun rises. The exact times for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies are subject to change. Approximately 2-4 weeks prior to the event, all registered participants will receive information with the exact times of the opening and closing points of the event to help you make your plans.

I observe a Saturday Sabbath and cannot begin walking until after sundown. Can I still participate?
Yes. You'll need to check in at the Opening Ceremony site by 9:30 pm on Saturday evening. From there, you'll board a bus to take you to a Rest Stop where you can begin walking. There will not be enough time to walk the entire route, but you will be able to cover most of it from the Rest Stop. Please inform your Coach ahead of time if you plan to choose this option so that we can ensure sufficient transportation for everyone.

What will the route be?
For participant safety we will not release the full route until the night of the event.

What types of food are on the event? 
The Overnight Walk provides snacks along the walk route, a boxed lunch style meal at Midnight Snack, and breakfast at the Closing Ceremony.

Pre-packaged snacks like trail mix, granola bars, cheese flavored snack crackers, pretzels, fruit leather, bananas, oranges, peanut butter crackers, cookies, and baby carrots have previously been served along the route.
** Snacks with nuts listed as an ingredient will be labeled with a sign. Most of our pre-packaged snacks are manufactured in plants that also process tree nuts, and none of our snacks should be assumed to be completely nut free. **

Midnight Snack includes a turkey and cheese or vegetarian sandwich (hummus and/or cheese), along with a piece of whole fruit, side salad, cookie, and bag of chips.

Breakfast can include egg and cheese sandwiches, egg, sausage, and cheese sandwiches, fruit, pre-packaged coffee cake, coffee, tea, and cocoa.

Can I bring my own food?
Yes. If you follow a specialized diet, have any food sensitivities or allergies, or have specific food preferences, we encourage you to bring your own food and snacks.

If you bring your own food let your Walker Coach or Crew Coordinator know in advance so they can help create a plan for your meal drop off, meal transportation, and empty container pick-up.

Where has the Overnight taken place in the past? 

2024 Boston

2023 Washington, D.C. 

2022 New York City

2021 Overnight Virtual Experience

2020 Virtual Overnight Experience

2019 Boston & San Francisco

2018 Philadelphia & Dallas

2017 Washington, D.C. & San Diego

2016 New York City & San Francisco 

2015 Boston & Dallas

2014 Philadelphia & Seattle

2013 Washington, D.C. 

2012 San Francisco

2011 New York 

2010 Boston

2009 Chicago

2008 New York & Seattle 

2007 New York

2006 Chicago & San Francisco

2005 Chicago

2002 Washington, D.C. 

How hard is it to raise $1,000?
Fundraising is easier than you think. Our Walker Coaches can help you reach your fundraising goals.

You'll receive your unique DonorDrive fundraising page, where you can post a personal message and photo, and send out emails to family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. It’s a simple way to raise money, and we see many participants reach their goals literally overnight after sending out one email. You can also find tips and tricks on our Fundraising page.

How do I create a Facebook Fundraiser? 
Facebook fundraisers can be created through your DonorDrive fundraising page when you are logged into your Dashboard. Fundraisers created through Facebook's donate button on statuses or as birthday fundraisers will not count toward your fundraising. Check out our Facebook Fundraiser FAQ for more detailed information. 

Are there adjusted fundraising goals for Students or Military personnel?
Yes. Students and Military are only required to fundraise $700.

To register as a student or as military personnel, call us at 888-TheOvernight (888-843-6837). You will be required to provide student or military identification.

What happens if I don't raise $1,000?
In order to participate, all Walkers must have at least $1,000 in their fundraising account by the day of the event.

If you haven't reached this goal by then, you can make a donation to your own fundraising account to make up the difference. If you choose, you can make a delayed donation, which allows you up to four weeks after the event to continue to fundraise.

All donations processed by the Out of the Darkness Overnight donation office are non-refundable and non-transferable, even if you do not participate in the event.

Can I participate virtually?
Yes. We introduced a new Virtual Participant type with a registration fee of $35 and fundraising minimum of $500. 

A donation is not appearing on my DonorDrive page; what should I do?
Please allow four weeks for any mailed donations (both check and credit card donations) to post to your account.

If your donation does not post within four weeks, please contact your Walker Coach at 888-TheOvernight (888-843-6837).

When I receive a donor's check, should I enter it online?
No. When you receive a donor's check, please mail it with the offline donation form to the address on the donation form.

I forgot my Password and can't reach my DonorDrive page. How can I find out what it is?
Click the "Forgot Password?" link in the login box on the homepage. Type in your email address and click the reset password button. DO NOT click this button more than once. You will receive an email to reset your password in 10-15 minutes. If you’re still having trouble, call your Coach at 888-TheOvernight (888-843-6837).

 

Can I form a team?
Yes. When you register online, you can create your own team, or select a team to join from the drop down box when you register online.

If you’ve already registered as an individual walker, but you want to join or form a team, call 888-TheOvernight (888-843-6837).

Does each team member have to raise $1,000?
Yes. Fundraising is individual and each team member must reach their own individual minimum fundraising requirement.

Can I split donations among team members?
No. Each donation must be directed toward the fundraising account of an individual on that team.

Open Teams:
Joining a team can enhance your Overnight experience by introducing you to new people so that you can begin forming bonds before the Walk even starts. 

Who should I make the checks payable to?
Checks should be made payable to AFSP or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Please complete one donation form per check to ensure proper processing.

Download and complete an Offline Donation Form, then mail the check to:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
199 Water Street Floor 11
New York, NY 10038

Why isn't my donation from Facebook showing up on my page?
Your fundraiser may not be connected properly to your DonorDrive fundraising page. Please check out our Facebook Fundraiser FAQ for more detailed information or contact the Overnight Walker Coaches at [email protected] or 888-843-6837.

Can I make a cash donation?
No.

What do I do if someone donates cash to me?
For any cash donation you receive, please deposit the cash into your checking account and send a personal check from your account with a completed offline donation form. The donation will be credited to the name on the donation form.

A donation is not appearing on my DonorDrive page; what should I do?
Please allow four weeks for any mailed donations (both check and credit card donations) to post to your account.

If your donation does not post within four weeks, please contact your Coach at 888-TheOvernight (888-843-6837).

When I receive a donor's check, should I enter it online?
No. When you receive a donor's check, please mail it with the offline donation form to the address on the donation form.

How do I reset my and can't reach my DonorDrive page. How can I find out what it is?
Click the "Forgot Password?" link in the login box on the homepage. Type in your email address and click the reset password button. DO NOT click this button more than once. You will receive an email to reset your password in 10-15 minutes. If you’re still having trouble, call your Coach at 888-TheOvernight (888-843-6837).

Can I set up a recurring donation?
Recurring donations allow donors to donate a set amount once a month for a specific amount of time. Recurring donations usually take about 48 hours until the first donation goes through. Expect to see the next donation come about 30 days after the first donation has posted.

Please note that only the incremental monthly donation will be posted to your fundraising page, not the total pledged sum.

What can your Overnight Donations do?
Find out here!

How can I donate to a Walker’s campaign?
On the homepage of the website, friends and family can locate a participant by using the "Fundraiser Search" box at the top of the page. By typing in the name of the participant, they will be directed to the participant's personalized donation page.

Is a portion of the registration fee a donation?
No. Your registration fee does not apply towards your fundraising minimum, nor is it tax deductible. The $50 registration fee is also non-refundable and non-transferable.

Why is the "Support A Participant" search not finding a Walker that I know has registered?
You must type in the first name or last name of the Walker exactly how it is spelled; you can also use part of the first or last name for a broader search. The search terms are not case sensitive.

How do I see who has donated to my campaign?
Login to your DonorDrive page using the "Account Login" button in the upper right hand corner of the homepage. Use the Email Address and Password that you created when you registered for the event. From here you can then view your donor list and the amounts that have been donated.

Are donations tax deductible?
Yes. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. All donations that are made online will receive an email confirmation. You may print this email confirmation and use it as your receipt. All donations of $250 or more will receive a written confirmation at the end of each tax quarter that also doubles as a tax receipt. The IRS accepts cashed checks as a receipt for donations $249 and under.

Can I accept donations in foreign currency?
Yes. But all donations must be received in U.S. dollars. Donations from outside the U.S. may be made online if the donor has a U.S. address associated with a credit card. If the donor does not have a U.S. address, donations must be made by completing your offline donation form. The form should either contain complete credit card information or be accompanied by a check issued in U.S. dollars.

I registered for The Overnight but now am unable to participate. Can I get my money back?
All donations processed by the Out of the Darkness Overnight donation office are non-refundable and non-transferable, even if you do not participate in the event. The $50 registration fee is also non-refundable and non-transferable.

Can donations be made after The Overnight has taken place?
Yes. You may continue to send in donations, even after the event has taken place.

How can I make a general donation to the cause?
Of course! Simply choose an event and click the “Donate Now” button on the event page.

What is AFSP’s tax ID number (or EIN number)?
The Out of the Darkness Overnight is a charitable event run by AFSP, which is recognized as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. The tax ID number or EIN number for AFSP is 13-3393329.

Where can I get a copy of the 501(c)(3) (Not-for-Profit Organization) letter for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention?
You can download a copy of AFSP's 501(c)(3) letter here.

For the Media Interviews, photos, and videos will be available in advance of the Overnight Walk.
 
Please contact AFSP's Communications Team:
 
212-363-3500 ext 2027
 

[email protected]
888-TheOvernight (888-843-6837)

AFSP
199 Water Street, Floor 11
New York, NY 10038