NMIF Over the Edge FAQs

Event What is Over The Edge?

Over The Edge is a special events organization the provides signature events for non-profit organizations.  Participants are invited to fundraise in exchange for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of rappelling “Over The Edge” of a local building.  The Over The Edge Crew handles all the technical aspects of the event and the National Military Intelligence Foundation recruits rappelers or ‘Edger’s’ to participate in the event and raise money of their behalf.

How does it work?

To go “Over The Edge”, individual participants must first register online with a $50 fee – this secures your spot and counts toward your overall fundraising total.  There are limited rappel spots so reserve one today! Each Edger must raise a minimum of $1,000.  Most of the fundraising is done online through our electronic registration/fundraising platform.  

What is the date and time of the event?

Our VIP/Media day is scheduled on Friday, April 4 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm for our VIPs, sponsors, biggest fundraisers, and media personalities.   The general rappel day is Saturday, April 5th from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Where will the event take place, what building?  

We will rappel from the roof of the building located at 1900 Reston Station Boulevard, Reston, Virginia 20190

Do I need experience to participate? Absolutely not!  We will show you everything you need to know on the day of the event. After checking in and being fitted with your rappelling gear, all participants will receive mandatory training by an Over The Edge on-site technician.  Everyone is able to practice using the gear before going over.

Is there a registration fee? Yes, there is a registration fee of $50 which secures you a spot, but it also counts towards your fundraising goal of $1,000!

What is the minimum age to rappel? Anyone can participate in an Over The Edge event.  People in their 80s and 90s rappel.  The only restriction is that anyone under the age of 18 is required to have a parent or guardian’s signature on the waiver form, and for anyone under the age of 17, a parent or guardian must also attend with them on the day of the rappel.

Can I rappel with family or a friend?

We will do our absolute best to schedule your rappels as close together as possible. Please keep in mind scheduling is on a first-come, first-serve basis once you meet your fundraising minimum, and it may not be possible to schedule you together. Please Note: There are only two ropes on event day, so we cannot schedule more than two people down at the same time. 

Is there a weight requirement to rappel? Yes, all participants, regardless of their age, must be between 100 and 300 lbs. to safely fit into the harness equipment.  The equipment safety standards enforced by Over The Edge require that participants must be between 100 and 300 lbs. in order to safely rappel. OTE also has a No Fit-No Go policy, which states that if our gear does not fit the participant appropriately and without alteration, we cannot accommodate them to rappel during the event (which may supersede the weight issues).

What is the fundraising deadline? Event Day is the official fundraising deadline, Saturday April 5, 2025.

What’s it like?

You’ll arrive 60 to 90 minutes before your rappel time.  This includes signing the waiver, fitting you into the harness, providing you with your radio which you’ll have attached to you  during the rappel, and training by an Over The Edge Technician before you get anywhere near the edge of the building!  It generally takes 10 to 15 minutes to do the actual rappel, you may want to stop along the way to enjoy the view!  No previous rappelling experience necessary.

What should I wear? You’ll need good comfortable, closed-toed shoes with a soft sole, sneakers work great.  No sandals, slip-on-shoes, slippers, flip flops, high heels or steel toed boots will be allowed.  Over The Edge recommends wearing long pants and a long-sleeve shirt.  The harness goes around your legs, waist and shoulders and it’s best to avoid anything too bulky.  No shirts or pants with drawstring cords and long hair should be tied pack.   If you wear glasses, they must be secured with “Croakies” or some other eyewear retainer to keep them from falling. No items including cell phones, camera’s, keys, long dangly jewelry, etc. will be allowed on the roof.  We will provide you a place to store these items. Some people choose to wear a costume or come dressed as a mascot!  That’s fine, if the costume meets the same standards listed above, no capes allowed please….sorry Superman!

What happens if it is raining on event day?

Typically, this event can operate safely in the rain. When rain, lightening or wind become extreme, the event will be delayed until the OTE event personnel deems it safe.

How many stories will I be rappelling and what is the building height? We will be going “Over The Edge” at 1900 Reston Station Blvd, Reston, VA and rappelling down 17 stories!

I want to support the event but don’t want to rappel, what can I do?  If you know someone who might be interested, forward them information about the event. Donate to an edger. Volunteer on event day, click here for volunteer opportunities.

How do I find out more about volunteering?

Visit our volunteer page.

Fundraising I don't have any experience fundraising, how do I do it?

Thanks to our online fundraising portal, you can easily share your Over the Edge endeavor with friends and family near and far! When you register to go Over the Edge you will be prompted to create your own personal fundraising page. Things that help include a photo of you doing something you enjoy (maybe adventurous) or just a smile!  Also, include a brief paragraph explaining why you are so excited to be part of this incredible event.  The thrill?  The challenge? Conquering a fear?  Feeding the hungry? Supporting the community where you live and work?  There are a million reason! Also, be sure to check out our Edger Toolkit when you register for additional fundraising resources and ideas.

How do I raise enough money to go Over the Edge? You can collect “online” donations by sending your friends, family, and co-workers a link to your personal fundraising page through email, or by posting on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.  Also, mailing letters to friends and family who are not on social media goes a long way.  People want to help but they won’t donate if you don’t ask!

Are donations tax deductible?  Yes, all donations are tax deductible. Online donors will receive an email confirmation with the amount of their donation within 5 minutes of their contribution.

What happens if I do not raise $1,000?

Each individual edger must reach the minimum fundraising amount of $1,000 to go Over the Edge, and you will!  The fundraising process is much easier than you imagine.  As soon as you reach the minimum of $1,000, we will reach out to schedule your rappel time.  We need to have that schedule finalized by April 1, 2025. If you are not at the $1,000 minimum by April 1, let us know and we can discuss next steps. We will be working with you every step of the way to make sure that every person who signs up is successful in raising the minimum.  We will provide you with fundraising ideas and tips all along the way.  You will also have the option to put any remaining deficit on your credit card so you can secure your rappel time.   If you do not meet the fundraising minimum and do not wish to put the remaining deficit on your credit card, you cannot rappel.  We need to be fair to all our participants.  Please understand that all registration fees and donations are non-refundable.  All dollars will support the National Military Intelligence Foundation and our work in the community.

What if I raise the money and decide I no longer want to rappel?

All monies raised are considered a donation to the National Military Intelligence Foundation and are nonrefundable. If you do not wish to rappel on event day, you may offer a replacement to rappel in your place provided appropriate waivers are signed, they have registered on the site, and you have notified the National Military Intelligence Foundation staff about the change.

How do I guarantee my spot if I have not met my fundraising minimum?

You can guarantee your spot to go Over The Edge by filling out a Credit Card Security Deposit Form. If you haven’t reached the fundraising minimum by the April 5th deadline your card will be charged the difference. For example, if you raise $850 by April 4th, your card will be charged $150.00 and you’ll be able to go Over The Edge! Then you’ll have 30 more days to continue to raise funds, and any donations you receive will count towards your goal. We will then reimburse your credit card up to the amount you were charged.

Are donations refundable if I don’t reach my fundraising goal? No, all fees and donations are non-refundable.

Technical Is it safe?

Absolutely! Over The Edge has never had a single incident or accident at any event since their inception in 2003.  Over The Edge is set up as an industrial worksite and as a result is compliant with all federal and state OSHA Fall Protection Standards and OSHA Federal and State Laws.  To read more about safety, visit the Over the Edge site for details.  

Who will be setting up the rappel gear and what qualifications do they have?

All members of the Over the Edge technical team are IRATA and SPRAT certified industrial rope access technicians. They also rely on the help of volunteers from local fire departments, SWAT teams and AMGA guides to assist with the ropes. Most volunteers have been doing our event for years and/or have extensive training in areas like rope rescue and/or are instructors in rope rescue or climbing.

How old are the ropes? When are they inspected and by whom?

The Over the Edge technical team regularly orders new ropes. They are inspected by a qualified technical staff at the start and end of each event. During the event, safety checks are performed for each person before they rappel, and periodically throughout the day the team re-inspects all the rigging.

Do I get to practice before the big rappel?

Yes! You will go through a training right before your exciting rappel. This practice session will help you get used to the harness, rappel device and technique for descending the building. 

More questions? If you have questions not answered here please reach out to National Military Intelligence Foundation by email or phone at iwicki@nmif.org / 703-992-4142

How to Register on our Site (read first)

From the event campaign homepage:  https://give.overtheedge.events/92TRVa

Click on the register button to start the process

• You can sign up as an individual or as a team.
• Follow the prompts to register
• It costs $50 as part of the initial registration process.
  • Once completed, you can share the link with family and friends to contribute towards the $1,000 to qualify for a spot on a rope to rappel.
  • You also have the option to pay the remaining $950 to meet your fund raising obligation in a lump sum payment.
• NOTE: When asked about topping off your donation, this is an option choice that you can support or decline.  Any $$ in the topoff go to the FundRazr site to defer their operating costs and NOT TO NMIF.  FundRazr does not charge NMIF to use their service and this is one way they voluntarily cover their costs. The topoff amount defaults to a small percentage of your donation.  You can click on that topoff link and change it to zero if so desired.