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Spring April

National Call�April 1, 2026

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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 them 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.

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NAMIWalks �Team Introductions

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Agenda

  • Morgan’s Monthly Memo
  • April Planning Timeline
  • Enhancing Your Event Day
  • Participant Coaching

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  • Participant Coaching Panel
  • Next Meeting
  • Q&A

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Morgan’s Monthly Memo

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Morgan’s Monthly Memo

A New Section

  • From the mind of the NAMIWalks Lead
  • Will feature a variety of topics each month
  • April:
    • Upcoming Development Trainings
    • Challenge Winners
    • Board of Directors T-shirt

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Morgan’s Monthly Memo

How NAMI Champions Mental Health in the Workplace

  • Thursday, April 30
  • 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT/11 a.m. MT/10 a.m. PT
  • 60 minutes

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Utilizing and Engaging Corporate Partners for Fundraising

  • Thursday, May 7
  • 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT/11 a.m. MT/10 a.m. PT
  • 90 minutes

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Morgan’s Monthly Memo

Walk Manager Challenge Winners

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895% Growth in Team/Walker Dollars from March 17 - March 31

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$59,032 Increase in Team/Walker Dollars from March 17 - March 31

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Morgan’s Monthly Memo

New for 2026: Board of Directors T-shirt

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Morgan’s Monthly Memo

New for 2026: Board of Directors T-shirt

  • Adult Small - Adult XL: $6.40
  • Adult 2XL: $7.60
  • Adult 3XL - Adult 5XL: $7.83

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April Planning Timeline

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April Planning Timeline

Planning Timeline

A comprehensive, step-by-step roadmap that outlines key tasks, milestones, and suggested due dates for NAMIWalks event planning. It provides a clear sequence of activities, organized by category, to guide Walk Managers through the entire planning cycle. The Planning Timeline helps Walk Managers stay on track, prioritize effectively, and complete essential tasks at the right time. It also supports strong recruitment, sponsorship success, and a smooth event day.

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April Planning Timeline

Planning Timeline

  • Available on the Walk Manager Resource Center
  • Includes tasks with suggested due dates tailored to your Walk date
  • Organized as a “Master Agenda” with tabbed sections by planning category

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  • Features progress-tracking columns to help monitor completion
  • Offered in two versions: one for established events and �one for first-year events
  • Aligned to the Spring United Day of Hope (May 16)

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April Planning Timeline

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April Planning Timeline

What Are Ongoing Tasks?

  • No set due date — completed throughout the Walk season
  • May be completed multiple times throughout your season

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Why are they Important?

  • Although these tasks may be small, the more you do them the bigger impact your event will have

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Enhancing Your Event Day

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Enhancing Your Event Day

Why Enhancing Your Event Day Matters

Enhancing your event day directly impacts participation, fundraising, and long-term growth for your NAMIWalks event. Your event day is what people will remember most and determine whether or not they came back or deepen their involvement.

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Reminder: All NAMIWalks events are different, �one size does not fit all!

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Enhancing Your Event Day

Why Enhancing Your Event Day Matters

  • Creates an Emotional Connection. Mission speakers and community recognition will remind people why they’re there.
  • Increases Retention and Loyalty. An organized, positive experience will make participnats likely to return.
  • Elevates Impact. This is not only important for your participants, but for sponsors and future supports who are deciding whether or not to invest in your event.
  • Creates Shareable Moments. Word of mouth and organic promotion will help grow your event without extra cost.

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Enhancing Your Event Day

Registration

  • Early Bird Check-In. Early T-shirt Pick Up Event, Utilizing the Fundraise4NAMI App.
  • Make sure you have enough Volunteers. Not just for tables, but to help manage lines!
  • QR Code Registrations. Lead to NAMIWalks website to bypass registration line.
  • Print Extra Route and Site Maps. Make sure your participants know where they are going!�

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Enhancing Your Event Day

Elevating Your Refreshments on Walk Day

  • Bagels
  • Donuts
  • Sports Drinks
  • Shaved Ice
  • Premium Bars
  • Food Trucks
  • Ice Cream

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Enhancing Your Event Day

Sponsors

  • Offer a Sponsor or a VIP Check-In. Let your sponsors bypass the line!
  • Have a Sponsor Liaison/Volunteer. Greet them, walk them to their table, and check on them periodically during the event.
  • Write Handwritten Notes. Thank them for their partnership!
  • Provide a Gift Bag. Local swag, bottled water, route maps, sponsor shirts and/or walk day shirts (if their team has earned them). �

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Enhancing Your Event Day

Mission Elements

  • Ensure the NAMI Mission is showcased through your NAMIWalks event
  • NAMIWalks is often the first interaction a constituent has with your NAMI Organization
  • Ideas include:

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    • Having a NAMI Tent that displays your programs and services
    • Ask your Advocacy and Public Policy Team to be present discussing items that are important
    • Encourage participants to share their story:
      • From the stage
      • Signs of Hope
      • I Walk Because Banners or Poster Making Stations

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Tribute Signs/Signs of Hope�Incorporate Mission Elements on Walk Day

  • Let participants share their Why” or who they are walking for on a Tribute Sign.
  • In exchange for a set donation amount.
  • Located in the “Event Day” Section in the WMRC.

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Enhancing Your Event Day

Walk Day Entertainment - Kids

  • A bored kid = not excited
  • Is it time to go?
  • Entertainment ideas:
    • Face painters, balloon twisters, magicians
    • Community mascots or character meet and greets
    • Coloring pages or sidewalk chalk
    • Kids snacks
    • Bounce house
    • Inflatables

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Enhancing Your Event Day

Start/Finish Line

  • Time for Celebration!
  • High energy music as participants start and return
  • Volunteers should line the finish line
  • Ring bells and clappers. Be loud!
  • Marching band/drumline and cheerleaders
  • Bring leftover refreshments to finish line

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Enhancing Your Event Day

After Your Event

  • Thank Your Participants. One small thank you can go a long way.
  • Send a recap email
  • Add a link with photos
  • Give any last minute details. Fundraising Deadline, Mailing T-shirts and Walk Star Pins, National Fundraising Recognition Program.

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Enhancing Your Event Day

After Your Event

Reminder: Communication doesn’t end on Walk Day

  • Maintain relationships year round with your constiutents.
  • Send updates about your NAMI Organization
  • Show them your dollars at work. Invite them to a local program or event, send them your annual report, or any important updates about your NAMI organization.

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Participant Coaching

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Participant Coaching

What is Participant Coaching

Personalized guidance that helps your participants become successful in achieving their goals. This isn’t one fits all. When coaching your participants, you want to make sure you meet them where they are!

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Some participants may need additional coaching because:

  • They are nervous to ask their networks for donations
  • They are unsure where to start or what strategies can work
  • Some may do the bare minimum when fundraising by sharing a link via social media

Without coaching, participants aren’t accessing their full potential.

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Participant Coaching

When Your Participants are Being Coached

  • Participants raise more money and will feel proud of their accomplishments
  • They are more likely to come back year over year, because they areeven more connected to your mission
  • Builds a stronger sense of community
  • Fundraising doesn’t raise dollars, it creates loyal advocates

What does coaching look like?

  • Think of it as giving advice or like a formula
    • Peer-to-peer fundraising is simply letting people see how supported they are!

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Participant Coaching Panel

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Monique Gregoire

NAMIWalks Southeast Louisiana

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Juliana Lawley

NAMIWalks North Texas

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Coaching Example

NAMIWalks Southeast Louisiana - Northshore

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Next Meeting

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Next Meeting

NAMIWalks Spring National Call

May 6, 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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