Happy Holidays! Toward the end of every year, we spread some good cheer with some free stuff for our awesome readers like you! Today I share social media and newsletter ideas for January and how you can get ideas every month by subscribing to the Monthly Nonprofit Writing Prompts email newsletter.
Monthly Nonprofit Writing Prompts
Let’s take some of the grief out of nonprofit writing and smash through your writer’s block!
At the start of each month, we’ll send you an email with at least 10 prompts to get you thinking about articles, stories, press releases, blog posts, Facebook updates, letters, and other content that you could write for the following month. For example, at the start of January, you’d get writing prompts for February. That way you’ll have time to think about the ideas and incorporate them into your calendar.
The idea isn’t to do your editorial calendar for you or to tell you what to say to your supporters. Only you can figure that out. What we will do is give you at least 10 prompts to get you thinking more creatively and strategically about what you’ll write. See our ideas for January below.
Nonprofit Writing Prompts for January 2021
On the Calendar
You’ll find events with specific dates on the .
1/01: New Year’s Day. Share your resolutions and plans for the new year. Ask your supporters to add a cause-related resolution to their own lists.
1/04: Trivia Day. Stump your readers with questions about your cause or fun facts about your staff or volunteers.
01/10: Peculiar People Day. Celebrate those out-of-the-box thinkers and quirky people who make your organization run.
01/13: Make Your Dream Come True Day. Share an awesome story about someone you helped. Or ask your supporters to help make someone else’s dreams come true.
1/18: Martin Luther King Day (US). Inspire your readers to dream and stand up for what is right.
1/18: Thesaurus Day. Explain some confusing terms or other jargon associated with your cause and tell supporters what words they should use instead. Then show everyone in your organization and stop using jargon!
1/24: Compliment Day. Say nice things about your supporters, or about other organization’s working in your field.
1/25: Opposite Day. Share what your community would be like if your organization didn’t exist.
1/28: Fun at Work Day. Ask your followers to share their funny pictures at work or you can share what your staff does to unwind. Suggest ways to create a less stressful office culture.
1/31: Inspire Your Heart with Art Day. Encourage supporters to send in drawings, photographs or other artistic pieces that celebrate your cause. Or feature clients’ artwork.
Other dates in January:
- 11: National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
- 20: World Religion Day
January is also:
- National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
- National Hobby Month
- National Mentoring Month
- Mental Wellness Month
- Healthy Weight Awareness Month
- Veganuary (UK)
Metaphor of the Month
This month’s metaphor is Health and Fitness. Think about new year’s resolutions, gyms, Fitbits/Apple Watches, exercise, treadmills, calorie counting, weighing in, personal trainers, nutrition, running, eating healthy, sports, yoga, vitamins, and annual physicals.
How can you relate these things to your organization?
Pop Culture, Events, and News
Expect posts on trends for the new year and resolution features.
The NFL playoffs will begin January 9th.
The college football championship game is set for Monday, January 11th.
The inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States takes place on January 20th.
The Grammy Awards are on the 31st.
Movies that may or may not be coming out in theaters are Chaos Walking, Mortal Combat, Charles, Peter Rabbit2: The Runaway, The Little Things and Breaking News in Yuba County.
Lots of TV premieres in January including Elizabeth Is Missing, Last Man Standing, The Rookie, the Watch, The Bachelor, Ellen’s Game of Games, Say Yes to the dress, Nurses, This Is Us, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, all those Chicago shows, Undercover Billionaire, Dateline NBC, Law and Order: SVU, Mr. Mayor, Cobra Kai, All Creatures Great and Small, American Gods, The Good Doctor, The Weakest Link, Prodigal Son, The Resident, American Housewife, Superstore, WandaVision, Batwoman, the 9-1-1 shows, Riverdale Snowpiercer, and black-ish.
Source of the Month
Analytics. Run your Google analytics and see what the most popular topics have been and what people are searching on to find your site. Base your content around those keywords and searches.
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