Social Media and Newsletter Ideas for September 2019

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

On the Calendar

9/2: Labor Day. Is your organization helping find jobs for those out of work? Interview a volunteer on how they juggle a career and volunteering.

9/6: Read a Book Day. Review a book that highlights your cause. Suggest books to your volunteers that will help them get fired up. (International Literacy Day is on the 8th)

9/8: Grandparents Day. If you work with seniors, do a photo spread of them with their grandchildren.

9/10: Swap Ideas Day. Find another nonprofit to collaborate with to share ideas on a common problem. Find a staff member who works in another area and ask them their thoughts on a problem your area has (like what should we include in our content).

9/13: Positive Thinking Day. Share how you WILL eradicate the issues your cause faces.

9/19: International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Have fun on social media translating your industry jargon into pirate terms and see if anyone knows what you mean.

9/28: Ask a Stupid Question Day. Is your organization one that’s hard to explain? Know some people who are embarrassed to admit they don’t know the answers? Do a top-ten list of stupid questions you have received. Or turn this idea upside down and take an “apathetic” question like “How can we possibly make a difference, so why bother?” and tell how you will.

September is also:

• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Baby Safety Month
• Self Improvement Month
• Classical Music Month

Other Dates in September:

• International Day of Charity is the 5th
• World Suicide Prevention Day is the 10th
• 911 Remembrance Day is the 11th
• International Day of Democracy is the 15th
• Mexican Independence Day is the 16th
• International Day of Peace is the 21st

Metaphor of the Month

This month’s metaphor is School. Think about classrooms, textbooks, a syllabus, principals, teachers, students, tests, desks, chalkboard, recess, subjects, detention, field trips, homework, and report cards.

How can you relate these things to your organization?

Pop Culture, Events, and News

This NFL season kicks off the 5th.

The US Open for tennis will wrap up the 8th.

The Democratic Party’s third presidential debate will be held on the 12th (and possibly an additional night on the 13th) in Houston, Texas.

September has a Friday the 13th.

Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us is “scheduled” for the 20th. 

The Emmy Awards will be presented on the 22nd.

The first day of Autumn is the 23rd.

Movie releases include IT Chapter Two, Hustlers, The Goldfinch, Rambo: Last Blood and Downton Abbey and Judy.

In TV news, lots of shows will premiere in September: The Real Housewives of Dallas, The Deuce, Ken Burns’ latest documentary Country Music, American Horror Story: 1984, 9-1-1, Empire, NCIS, NCIS: New Orleans and NCIS: Los Angeles, This is US, Chicago Fire, Med and P.D., It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Masked Singer, Modern Family, Survivor, The Good Place, Grey’s Anatomy, How to Get Away with Murder, Law & Order: SVU, Mom, Superstore, Young Sheldon, Shark Tank, and a a two-hour musical final episode of Transparent.

Source of the Month

Blog Round Up. Pick a topic related to your cause and create a blog post with links to recent articles, studies or blog posts. See our Mixed Links and #NPCommLife series for examples.

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 October next week. Sign up now to get prompts emailed to you monthly.