September is a fresh start, with so many children returning to schools and in-person learning, in addition to welcoming a new season. With that, we also have several amazing causes to recognize, from celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month to saving our rhino population. No matter what you care about, there’s a way to recognize it in September!
You’ll notice each cause’s alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is a global framework that was adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to address the world’s most pressing causes.
Looking for more inspiration? Be sure to follow our social media accounts where we provide more content about the events, campaigns, and partners who are joining us in the #PledgeToDoGood.
Below you’ll find a monthly guide of causes and nonprofits that you can easily support through Pledge as a way to honor these special dates, but you don’t need a day to do something good. Our Explore Causes page has every organization in our system categorized by topic, from education to the environment.
No matter what you support this month, our platform and products make it easy to donate to any cause of your choice. For more information and see how you can get started, reach out to our Impact Partnerships team at impact@pledge.to today.
All Month: Childhood Cancer Month
SDG Alignment: #3 Good Health and Well-being
According to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of fourteen. September is dedicated to raising awareness around childhood cancer and supporting families and children who face a cancer diagnosis.
All Month: National Hispanic Heritage Month
SDG Alignment: #10 Reduced Inequalities
National Hispanic Heritage Month traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in all Latin American countries. During this month and throughout the year, we are encouraged to share the history, heritage, and accomplishments of Hispanic and Latino Americans of past and present. To help celebrate this month, we encourage you to donate to one or more of the following organizations:
All Month: Hunger Action Month
SDG Alignment: #2 Zero Hunger
The mission to end hunger is critical. More than 40 million people in the United States today are hungry or food insecure. And yet, in this country, we will throw away over 133 billion pounds of good food this year. Organizations are working to spread the word and take action on the hunger crisis throughout the year, and in September in particular, to support this cause.
September 5: International Day of Charity
SDG Alignment: All SDG Goals
This day was created by the United Nations to recognize the critical role of charity in improving the state of the world.
The UN encourages activities on this day that raise awareness, education, and donations for charitable efforts. At Pledge, nonprofit and charitable organizations are at the heart of what we do and inspire us every day. Our database includes over 2MM+ nonprofit and charitable organizations in the U.S. and around the world. To explore our causes, visit https://www.pledge.to/causes.
September 8: National Literacy Day
SDG Alignment: #4 Quality Education
Currently, 773 million adults and young people lack basic literacy skills; which has only worsened since the beginning of the pandemic, when so many lost their access to learning. To give you a sense - during the initial phase of the pandemic, schools were closed disrupting the education of 62.3% of the world’s student population of 1.09 billion.
September 10: World Suicide Prevention Day
SDG Alignment: #3 Good Health and Well-being
Every 40 seconds someone takes their own life according to the World Health Organization (WHO). And with suicide being the leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 29, the need for action around this crisis is greater now than ever. The toll on mental health during the pandemic is crippling as many young adults do not have access to friends, education, and other normalcies of life.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out to the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
September 21: International Day of Peace
SDG Alignment: #16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Established in 1981 by the United Nations, this is a day to focus on how we can reconcile our differences and aim for a more harmonious, global community. Along with supporting the following nonprofits, you can observe the tradition of participating in a minute of silence on this day at noon across all time zones.
September 21: World Alzheimer’s Day
SDG Alignment: #3 Good Health and Well-being
World Alzheimer’s Day is a day on which Alzheimer’s organizations around the world concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a group of disorders that impairs mental functioning. Every 65 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s disease and at current rates, experts believe the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s will quadruple to as many as 16 million by the year 2050.
September 22: World Rhino Day
SDG Alignment: #15 Life on Land
World Rhino Day raises awareness for all five rhino species and the work being done to save them. Currently, only 27,000 rhinos remain in the world - less than half of the population that existed in 1970. Three species are considered critically endangered.
September 26: World Rivers Day
SDG Alignment: #6 Clean Water and Sanitation, #14 Life Below Water
World Rivers Day is a celebration of the world’s waterways. It highlights the many values of our rivers, strives to increase public awareness, and encourages the improved stewardship of all rivers around the world. Rivers in virtually every country face an array of threats, and only through our active involvement can we ensure their health in the years ahead.
What do you #PledgeTo support this month? Share your fundraising campaigns powered by Pledge on your social media accounts for a chance to be featured to our global audience. Thank you for being part of the #PledgeToDoGood!