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Walk Stars

Tuesday, March 24

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NAMIWalks �Team Introductions

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NAMIWalks 10 Minute Training

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Agenda

  • Walk Manager Challenge
  • Who are Walk Stars?
  • Retaining and Coaching Your Walk Stars
  • Engaging Your Walk Stars
  • Recently Released Resources
  • Q&A

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Walk Manager Challenge

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Walk Manager Challenge

The Details

  • Team/Walker dollars are down YOY
  • From 11 a.m. ET on March 17 to 11 a.m. ET on March 31 - the spring and fall event(s) that have:

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    • The largest dollar growth in team/walker dollars
    • the largest percent increase in team/walker dollars

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will win a $150 shopping spree to the NAMIWalks Store.

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Walk Manager Challenge

The Details

  • Communications:
    • Announced in Newsday on March 18
      • Contained a few simple moves to get started: reach out to Team Captains to encourage the team to make a self-donation, have participants send 3-5 asks, highlight fundraising
    • Emailed to Primary Walk Managers on March 20
      • Included a sample outreach email to send to participants

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Walk Manager Challenge

The Details

  • Communications:
    • Your National Walk Manager will check-in this week with additional tips & tricks and sample resources to share
    • Morgan and Mary will reach out again on March 30 for the final 24 hour push

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Who are Walk Stars?

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Who are Walk Stars?

Who are Walk Stars?

Walk Stars are an elite group of participants who raise $1,000 or more.

  • Why Walk Stars Matter. 2% of our Walk Stars raise 40% of our fundraised dollars.
  • Stewardship is important. This group of participants needs to be stewarded early and often. They are most likely your smallest group of participants raising the most amount of funds.
  • Equip them for success. Provide talking points, fundraising ideas, and sample messaging.
  • Walk Day VIPs. Make them feel special on walk day. VIP parking, a tent, special food, etc.

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Retaining and Coaching Your Walk Stars

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Retaining and Coaching Your Walk Stars

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Retain Your Walk Stars Early!

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Past Walkers

  • Websites are Live
  • Save-the-Date
  • Kickoff Invitation
  • Team Captain Incentive

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Retention starts the minute your NAMIWalks

participants register for your event!

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2026 Walk Stars

  • Welcome or Welcome Back!
    • Introduce Yourself as Point of Contact
  • Steps to Success
    • Self-Donate
    • Share their Why
    • Good Fundraising Week
    • Close to Fundraising Goal
  • Share Recognition Program
  • Kickoff Invitation

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Retaining and Coaching Your Walk Stars

Coaching Your Walk Stars

  • Promote the Walk Star Program and ensure participants know what they need to become a Walk Star
  • Share the benefits and the significance of this group of fundraisers
    • Make them WANT to become a Walk Star!

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  • Build relationships with your top fundraisers
    • Provide them with resources
    • Let them know how close they are to Walk Star status

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“Almost Walk Star” Email Template

Pre-written email for participants nearing Walk Star status ($1,000+).

  • Encourages continued fundraising and celebrates progress.
  • Sent automatically when participants reach $750 raised.
  • Easy way to motivate top fundraisers to reach the next level.

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Guide for Using the Walk Star Report Template

Step-by-step instructions for downloading your Walk Star Report in DonorDrive.

  • Identifies participants who’ve reached or are close to $1,000 raised.
  • Helps target top fundraisers for recognition and one-on-one coaching.
  • Great for celebrating milestones and encouraging continued momentum.

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Engaging Your Walk Stars

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Engaging Your Walk Stars

Before Walk Day

  • Decide what your local benefits are.
    • Get creative and think about what your community wants to see!
  • Congratulate on social media

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  • Send a comment on their participant page
  • Include a list of Walk Stars in your local e-communications
  • Make a congratulatory phone call or send an email
    • Have a board member or someone from your leadership team help!

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Walk Star Lapel Pin and Keepsake Bookmark

Recognition keepsake for Walk Stars.

  • Provided to you at no cost by NAMI National
  • Sent directly to you 4 weeks prior to your event
  • All you need to do is distribute to your Walk Stars!

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Engaging Your Walk Stars

On Event Day

  • It is important to make your Walk Stars feel special and also motivate others to become Walk Stars in the future: Some examples include
    • Distribute Walk Star lapel pins
    • VIP Parking

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    • Hosting a Walk Star tent with special food, activities and amenities.
      • Elevated refreshments
      • Massage chairs
      • Swag bags from Sponsors
      • Meet and greet with leadership team or “special guests”

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Engaging Your Walk Stars

Post Walk

  • If you are unable to distribute their pin to them on Walk Day, mail it to them with a thank you note.
  • Have your leadership team or Board president send a written note

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  • Call your Walk Stars to gain feedback for next year
  • Ensure you are stewarding Walk Stars beyond Walk Day
    • Show them their dollars at work

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Walk Star 4x6 card

Notecard to utilize when writing handwritten notes to Walk Stars.

  • Write a thank you note to your Walk Stars for a job well done.
  • Not sure what to say? We have sample text available to help!

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Recently Released Resources

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Participant Toolkit - Congrats You Earned Your T-Shirt available on the WMRC in the Participant and Team Coaching section!

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