Over the Edge FAQs

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 Salvation Army of Manatee County recruits rappelers or ‘Edgers’ 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 $100 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. Offline donations are also accepted. As an Edger you can accept cash or checks from your donors directly and then turn it all into the Salvation Army.

Toss the Boss

You can also register to “Toss Your Boss” and with your coworkers, raise a minimum of $2,000 and ask your boss to go Over the Edge. You can elect to increase your fundraising minimum but if your boss matches your fundraising total, the boss gets to “toss” one of you!

What is the date and time of the event?

Our VIP/Media Day is scheduled for Friday, May 22 from 3:00pm to 7:00pm for our VIPs, sponsors, biggest fundraisers, Salvation Army champions, and media personalities.

The general rappel day is Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Where will the event take place, what building?

We will rappel from the Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa. The address is 600 US-41, Palmetto, FL 34221.

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 can practice using gear before going over.

Is there a registration fee?

Yes, there is a registration fee of $100 which secures you a spot, but it also counts towards your fundraising goal!

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. 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 May 23, 2026.

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-sleeved 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, cameras, keys, long dangly jewelry, etc. will be allowed on the roof. We will provide you with 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, lightning or wind become extreme, the event will be delayed until the OTE event personnel deem it safe.

How many stories will I be rappelling and what is the building height?

We will be going “Over the Edge” at Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa. The building is eight stories high!

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.

Volunteering on event day, click here for volunteer opportunities.

How do I find out more about volunteering?

Visit our volunteer page here.

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 reasons!

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!

You can also collect cash and check donations by using an offline form we will provide you with. “Offline” donors should include your name in the memo line of their check, and checks should be made out to The Salvation Army of Manatee and mailed to 1204 14th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34205. And don’t forget to record these donations on your personal fundraising page!

We don’t encourage you to mail cash — either drop it by our office or turn it in on event day.

It is important that we know that the check/cash donation should be credited to you, so make sure that your name is included when you send offline donations. After May 23, please hold on to any cash/checks you receive and bring them with you on event day.

If you have questions about donations or the accounting process, please email or call Director of Community Relations & Development Deral Pitts at Deral.Pitts@uss.salvationarmy.org / 941.595.9812.

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. Donors who donate by check with the Edger’s name written in the memo section and including an address will receive a letter via mail once the donation has been processed. Donations made in cash must be accompanied by the Edger’s name so we know who to credit the money to, as well as the name and address of the donor so a letter can be mailed.

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 June 1. If you are not at the $1,000 minimum by May 10, 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. 

Please understand that all registration fees and donations are non-refundable. All dollars will support The Salvation Army of Manatee County our work in the community.

Toss Your Boss participants must reach a minimum of $2,000 to go Over the Edge. Because our event is limited to only a certain number of rappelers on event day, our goal is to have the maximum number of rappelers get down the ropes during the event. This ensures our event raises as much money as possible and we can help those at-risk in the community.

If you are struggling with fundraising, please reach out to Deral Pitts at Deral.Pitts@uss.salvationarmy.org / 941.595.9812.

to see how we might be able to help! Don’t give up, we’re here to support you all the way!

What is the deadline for fundraising?

By event day, May 23, 2026.

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

All monies raised are considered a donation to The Salvation Army of Manatee County 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 United Way staff about the change.

 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 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 The Salvation Army of Manatee County’s Director of Community Relations & Development by email or phone at Deral.Pitts@uss.salvationarmy.org / 941.595.9812.