Need some ideas for social media updates, blog posts, newsletter articles, or other content for October? Today’s post will help.

These ideas come from our Monthly Nonprofit Writing Prompts email newsletter*. If you would like these ideas sent to your inbox a month in advance, sign up for our Monthly Nonprofit Writing Prompts. I send this email newsletter the first week of every month with prompts for the following month. For example, I will email the prompts for November later this week. Sign up now to get prompts emailed to you in advance monthly.

*Please double-check any events to see if they have changed due to the pandemic or other current events.

On the Calendar

10/01: National Homemade Cookie Day or World Vegetarian Day. Share your favorite cookie or vegetarian recipes or have your staff or supporters shares theirs.

10/02: World Smile Day. Share photos of your volunteers or clients smiling and tell their stories. If you are a health related org, you can promote dental health.

10/05: Do Something Nice Day. Encourage your supporters to do something nice for someone else in your name.

10/05: World Teacher’s Day. Point out some of the educators in your field and what they have done for your cause.

10/12: Moment of Frustration Day. Vent away or provide some ideas on releasing frustration in a healthy way. Encourage your readers to share what frustrates them on Facebook, Twitter or in the comment section on your blog.

10/12: National Freethought Day. Encourage people to be free thinkers and to base opinions on facts, science, logic and reason.

10/12: Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s Day. What new frontiers are you exploring? Or how can you honor those who lived here first?

10/12: Canadian Thanksgiving Day. Thank your clients, volunteers and supporters.

10/13: Train Your Brain Day. Share some brain teasers, word puzzles or riddles that relate to your organization and get your supporters using their brains in a different way.

10/16: Dictionary Day. Help your readers define some of the jargon associated with your cause. (Then stop using it in communications to them!)

10/19: Evaluate Your Life Day. Report back to your donors on what’s happening at your nonprofit.

10/24: Make a Difference Day. This is a day to encourage volunteers and community service.

10/29: International Internet Day. Especially now, so much of our lives is online. How can you celebrate this invention that changed the world?

10/30: Mischief Night. Encourage your supporters to make a little mischief and flood your legislators inboxes, voicemails, and mail boxes with concerns on a vote or issue that affects your cause.

10/31: Halloween. Give us some insight into staff personalities and let us know what they will be for Halloween. Tell us what your favorite candy is. This can be a great time for lighter updates if your org deals with heavy topics.

October is also:

  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  • Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
  • Domestic Violence Awareness Month
  • Sarcastic Month

Week 1 of October is “Getting Organized Week”

Week 2 is “Fire Prevention Week” and “Pet Peeve Week”

The 11th – 17th is “Earth Sciences Week”

Other Dates:

  • 10/4: World Animal Day
  • 10/5: World Teachers Day
  • 10/10: World Mental Health Day
  • 10:16: World Food Day
  • 10/17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Metaphor of the Month

This month’s metaphor is Sports. Think about teams, teaming up, scoring, winning, losing, competition, practice, game face, slam dunk, heavy hitting, goal, touchdown, three strikes, penalty, take aim, best shot, marathon, sore loser, pros, A-game.

How can you relate these things to your organization?

Pop Culture, Events, and News

Many organizations’ Fiscal Years begin on the 1st.

The MLB Playoffs will continue though October with the World Series tentatively scheduled to begin October 23rd.

Presidential debates will take place October 15th and October 22nd. The Vice Presidential debate will be on the 7th.

Both the Billboard and CMT Music Awards are taking place on the 14th after being rescheduled from April.

Several TV series start new seasons including Undercover Boss, Black-ish, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: The World Beyond, Fear the Walking Dead, The Real Housewives of Orange County, Supernatural, The 40-Year-Old Version, The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Right Stuff, One Day at a Time, The Bachelorette, Marvel’s Helstrom, Shark Tank, America’s Funniest Home Videos, The Voice, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Superstore, Bad Hair, and The Mandolorian.

Source of the Month

Embrace your fears this Halloween season. Be bold and tackle an issue you have been too afraid to write about because it might ruffle some feathers. Or share what scares you.

Remember to sign up for our Monthly Nonprofit Writing Prompts if you would like ideas like these sent to your inbox a month in advance.

Published On: September 29, 2020|Categories: Writing Skills and Content|