The following ideas come from our Monthly Nonprofit Writing Prompts email newsletter. Sign up now to get prompts emailed to you in advance monthly.
As usual, please double-check events to see if they are still happening.
On the Calendar
12/4: Santa’s List Day. This is the day Santa makes his “Naughty or Nice” list. Highlight those that advocate for your cause and those that are against it.
12/7: Letter Writing Day. Write an open letter to your supporters, volunteer, clients, etc. Or write your own letter to “Santa” asking for gifts.
12/6: Hanukkah ends. Reflect on the joy and renewal of Hanukkah or share what you have overcome this year despite great odds.
12/8: Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day. If you could travel in time, what would you change? What message from the future – good or bad – would you send your supporters?
12/15: Bill of Rights Day. Highlight one of the first 10 amendments of the US Constitution that relates to your cause and how our country would be different without it. Or write the amendment you think should have been included.
12/18: Bake Cookies Day. Have your staff share their favorite cookie recipes or have a contest with supporters sending in theirs.
12/21: Winter Solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, this day is the shortest day of the year. How are others “in the dark” about your cause?
12/23: Festivus. A completely made-up holiday popularized by Seinfeld. One of its traditions is the “Airing of Grievances,” so take this time to vent about something that is frustrating you — hopefully in a humorous way!
12/23: Roots Day. If Festivus doesn’t appeal to you, use this day to trace the history of your organization’s founding.
12/25: Christmas. Make a wish list for Santa and his elves asking for things your organization needs. Highlight some of the little miracles you bring to your clients.
12/26: Kwanzaa begins. Relate each of the 7 day’s principals to what your organization is doing. (Unity, self-determination, responsibility, family, purpose, creativity and faith).
12/31: New Year’s Eve. Share your resolutions, trends for 2019 or a “Top Ten” list from 2018.
Other dates in December:
- 01: World AIDS Day
- 03: International Day of People with Disabilities
- 03: International Volunteer Day
- 05: World Soil Day
- 09: International Anti-Corruption Day
- 10: International Human Rights Day
- 18: International Migrants Day
- 26: Boxing Day
Metaphor of the Month
This month’s metaphor is Faith and Spirituality. Think about angels, revival, prayer, church, temples, mosques, meditation, values, reincarnation, salvation, miracles, sins, devotion, spirits, pagan, religion, belief, and worship.
How can you relate these things to your organization?
Pop Culture, Events, and News
Football (both college and the NFL) will be winding down with teams jockeying for better bowl games and the playoffs. And hockey and basketball are getting back into things as well.
The 2021 People’s Choice Awards are on the 7th.
Movies coming out in theaters this month include Being the Ricardos, West Side Story, Violence of Action, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Nightmare Alley, Sing 2, The Matrix Resurrections, The King’s Man, The Tender Bar, American Underdog, A Journal for Jordan, and The Tragedy of MacBeth.
Movies streaming this month are The Power of the Dog, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Shaun The Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas, The Unforgivable, Encounter, Encanto, Don’t Look Up, and The Lost Daughter.
In TV news It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Lost in Space, The Great British Baking Show: Holidays, Harlem, Pen15, The Expanse, 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days, Grand Crew, Young Rock (holiday special), Station Eleven, The Witcher, 1883, Emily in Paris, Cobra Kai, and The Book of Boba Fett
Hallmark movies and other Christmas specials will also be very popular.
You’ll see plenty of “best” and “worst” gift idea lists, as well as holiday sales reports from retailers dominating the news. Can you make a list of your own?
Source of the Month
Highlight local events. There are lots of things happening this time of year. Even if your organization isn’t holding an event, be a helpful friend and share what’s going on in your community. Let people know where they can go to help or where people can go to get help. Share any holiday parades, tree-lighting ceremonies or other events.
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 January later this week. Sign up now to get prompts emailed to you in advance monthly.
