Wish you had these monthly ideas for social media, blog posts, or newsletter articles a few weeks ago? 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 next week. Sign up now to get prompts emailed to you monthly.

Here are your Nonprofit Monthly Writing Prompts for October. I hope these help you think a little more creatively about your communications, and avoid the dreaded writer’s block! 

On the Calendar

10/01: National Homemade Cookie Day. Share your favorite cookie recipe or have your staff or supporters shares theirs.

10/04: 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.

10/14: Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s DayWhat new frontiers are you exploring? Or how can you honor those who lived here first?

10/14: Canadian Thanksgiving Day. Thank your clients, volunteers and supporters.

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.

10/26: Make a Difference Day. This is a day to encourage volunteers and community service.

10/29: World Internet Day. So much of our lives is now 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
  • National Diabetes Month
  • Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
  • Domestic Violence Awareness Month
  • Lupus Awareness Month
  • Sarcastic Month

Week 1 of October is “Getting Organized Week”

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

The 14th – 20th is “Earth Sciences Week”

Other Dates:

  • 10/4: World Animal 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 begin the first week of October with the World Series tentatively scheduled to begin October 22nd.

The Democratic Party will hold the fourth presidential primary debate on October 15th-16th.

The NHL season stars October 2nd and the NBA regular season starts October 22nd.

The 2019 Canadian federal election is scheduled to take place on or before the 21st.

Many communities will be hosting Oktoberfests.

Movies being released in theaters this month include Joker, Gemini Man, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, and Zombieland 2: Double Tap.

Netflix also has El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie coming out the 11th and Lifetime has a movie AND documentary on the college admissions scandal on the 12th.

Several TV series start new seasons including The Blacklist, Batwoman, Get Shorty, Mr. Robot, Supergirl, The Walking Dead, Riverdale, Supernatural (it’s 15th and final season!), HBO’s Watchmen, and Silicon Valley.

There is also a weird mixture of Halloween and Christmas specials on TV this month as well.

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.

Feel free to add any dates you think might be helpful for others in the comments below!

And remember, I will email the prompts for November next week. Sign up now to get prompts emailed to you monthly.

Published On: September 24, 2019|Categories: Writing Skills and Content|