Talk the Walk:

Promoting NAMIWalks Where You Live�February 25, 2026

Housekeeping

The meeting is being recorded! The slide deck and recording will be added to the

Walk Manager Resource Center within a week.

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Put your questions in the chat throughout the presentation! We will answer it in the chat or live at the end.

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The content of this presentation is for licensed NAMIWalks events only, but can be shared with board members, volunteers, and other local NAMI Staff.

NAMIWalks �Team Introductions

Agenda

• Why Promotion Matters
• Understanding Your Community Landscape
• Promote Smarter, Not Harder
• Seen From the Field
• Kathleen Kilbourne, NAMIWalks Vermont
• Next Meeting
• Q&A

Why Promotion Matters

Why Promotion Matters?

Promoting your NAMIWalks event will build knowledge of your program strengthen the community that you are in by showing how everyone involved can play a role in building hope, connection and support.

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• Promotion drives participation
• Participation drives fundraising
• Fundraising fuels impact

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Why Promotion Matters

What is Your Role?

As a Walk Manager, you are known as a the face and community ambassador for your event. No one knows your community like you do.

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• Turn community interest into action
• Begin building and activating relationships in your community

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Understanding Your Community Landscape

Understanding Your Community Landscape

Effective promotion starts with your community within

• Who already supports NAMIWalks?
• Where do people gather locally?
• What relationships already exist? What areas of opportunity do you have?

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Tip: Use your Network of Influence and your Community Prospecting Guide to not only help with prospecting when it comes to Sponsors, Volunteers, and Teams but to also help when it comes to how and where to promote your event!

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Community Prospecting Guide �Spreadsheet to help start your prospecting journey.

• Use this to get to know your community and make

local contacts for teams, volunteers, and sponsors.

• Divided into multiple sectors to help you think of surrounding entities that could be involved with NAMIWalks.
• Recognizes and encourages early recruitment.

The more contacts and relationships you build in

your community, the more successful your event will be!

Network of Influence

A guide to help you dig deeper into your networks whether it is your friends & family, professional �networks, or places you frequent.

• Use this guide to brainstorm on your own or with your fellow NAMI staff, board members, and NAMIWalks volunteers.

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Fundraising starts with connection, people who care about you will care about the causes you support.

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Understanding Your Landscape

What message do you want to get across?

• Mental Health for All
• Hope, connection, and community
• Everyone has a reason to walk

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Consistency in messaging will build trust and recognition across your community.

Promote Smarter,

Not Harder

Promote Smarter, Not Harder

This is where your strategy really matters.

• Promotion isn’t just about being everywhere, it’s about being intentional
• Take a step back and think about the following:
• Who is most likely to engage again this year?
• Where are they already connected?

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• What has worked with your event in the past?
• How can your current network help you promote your event?

Promotion isn’t always about doing more, it’s about doing

what works.

Promote Smarter, Not Harder

NAMI National provides Marketing Materials for you!

• Customized Materials are available for you to request
• On-Demand Materials are available for you to customize in real time
• Posters, Promo Pieces, Cultivation Event Fliers and more!
• Found on the Walk Manager Resource Center

Custom Marketing Materials:

• Did you know that you can any custom materials that you need for your NAMIWalks event?
• Stickers, Buttons, Billboard Designs, Magazine Designs and More!
• Email Morgan for more information! msills@nami.org

Sample Billboard

NAMIWalks Greater Los Angeles County

Promote Smarter, Not Harder

Pillars of Promotion: Personal Outreach

• Personal outreach can be the most effective
• Word of mouth can multiply your outreach
• Sharing your story will continue to build your connection

Use your network!

• People will want to join something that they feel connected to
• If someone they know is passionate about something, they are more than likely to join.

Promote Smarter, Not Harder

Pillars of Promotion: Digital and Social Outreach

• Email coaching, 1:1 outreach, and newsletters
• Tagging others, using cross promotion
• Consistent Social Media Outreach
• Newsletters

Consistency does not equal perfection!

• Share stories from your participants, show what makes your event special and what continues to help move your mission forward!

Promote Smarter, Not Harder

Pillars of Promotion: Community Partnerships

• Employers and Corporate Teams
• Schools and Universities
• Faith and Civic Organizations

This can also include local visibility:

• Tabling events: farmers markets, state fairs, etc.
• Local media and radio
• Community events and presentations
• Community organizations: Rotary, Chamber, etc.

Louisiana First News Appearance

NAMIWalks Louisiana

NAMI at the State Fair

NAMIWalks Minnesota

Seen in the Field

Kathleen Kilbourne

NAMIWalks Vermont

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NAMIWalks Vermont: Community Engagement

Welcome

Kathleen Kilbourne,

Events and Fundraising Coordinator

NAMI Vermont

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Kkilbourne@namivt.org

802 876 7949 Ext. 103

802 989 0586 cell

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about

ALL Are Welcome

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NAMIWalks Vermont creates a safe space for ALL people to gather, as bravely themselves, to decrease stigma, increase awareness, and raise funds to support our FREE services and supports provided state wide

FREE to participate

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There is NO registration fee, and fundraising is encouraged, not required. It is important that we have a place to connect with others and share our stories.

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You may be a family member , friend, or coworker of someone affected by mental health, or you may be the person who is navigating the daily journey yourself.

Judgement FREE

Join people who have lived experience in mental health with both challenges and successes.

What is your

“WHY” ?

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I share my personal story :

By being real and genuine with all of the audiences we engage with, and by being willing to share my lived experience, others feel comfortable to do the same.

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I am a suicide loss survivor.

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Strategies:

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ASK 1

Ask 2

Ask 3

Anywhere you have done or do business regularly. I keep Sponsorship Brochures in my car, and bring one in everywhere I go (restaurants I eat at, my bank, my mechanic, my Dr office, my church.

Returners: Definitely go back to ask anyone who has sponsored, participated, or volunteered in the past 3 years! Proof of Performance sets you up well for this.

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Attend other non profit events, table, share, and partner often! Table swaps help our budget! Go where people are- NAMI VT tabled at a car show (mostly men- a demographic we are trying to reach out to more).

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Personal connections and relationships are our biggest protective factor!

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People Engage for two reasons:

1. A personal connection to the person asking- being invited!

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1. A personal connection to the mission/vision of the work- build on attraction and promotion.We all have Mental Health (Brain Health).

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One Example

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Meet Ruby- Age 103

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She hand knit hats for our Silent Auction at our NAMIWalks Event.

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If Ruby can contribute- we all have something to share!

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I want to be like Ruby when I grow up!

Data Driven: Share it! Success loves company!

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TEAMS TO DATE: 2025 vs 2026

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Connect with schools and Higher Ed:

NAMI Vermont partnered with Job Corps last year, and a Private school for High School students with neurodiversities, who often also have mental health challenges.

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This year we are partnering with several colleges and universities.

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Invite Groups:

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School Teams, Performing Groups, Elks/Moose/VFW/Lions Clubs, Book Clubs, Faith Groups, Sports Teams, Rec Centers, Other Non Profits

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ONE ASK= Many Participants!

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Groups have connection in place:

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Family Friendly: Festival Theme

Performers

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We are providing 40 Partners/ Vendor spaces for other non profits/ businesses that support Mental Health. Participants can pick up resources, and swag!

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We have a drum line lead our walk, and have a live band, and last year an acapella group too!

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Food Trucks

Everyone loves FOOD! Food trucks sponsor us or give a % of the days sales to us!

Resource Buffet

kkilbourne@namivt.org

(802) 989-0586

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Thank You!

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NAMIWalks Vermont: Community Engagement

QUESTIONS,

CONNECTIONS,

COMMENTS?

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Kathleen Kilbourne,

Events and Fundraising Coordinator

NAMI Vermont

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Kkilbourne@namivt.org

802 876 7949 Ext. 103

802 989 0586 cell

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Next Meeting

Next Meeting

NAMIWalks March Spring National Call

March 11, 2026

1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT/11 a.m. MT/10 a.m. PT/9 a.m. AKDT

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