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About Amanda Wilson

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Amanda Wilson has contributed 32 entries to our website, so far.

Take Time to Evaluate Your Events

Take Time to Evaluate Your Events

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Some events can draw crowds for decades while others fall flat after a year or two. It can be tricky to forecast what makes certain gatherings an instant success, but it shouldn’t be difficult to measure an event’s effectiveness over time. “Events are often passed down for years, from one set of staff or board members to another, and no one actually stops to think about what the event should be achieving,” says founder and president of Big Buzz Idea Group Melissa Lagowski. “To properly evaluate an event, you must first...

10 Tips to Cultivate Sponsor Relationships

10 Tips to Cultivate Sponsor Relationships

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Many nonprofits work diligently on annual giving, private donations and grants to fund their organizations, but we find many nonprofits are not tapping into corporate sponsorships as a way to enhance their bottom line. Many corporations sponsor events and organizations as a part of their annual marketing budget and/or as part of their corporate-social responsibility initiatives. Companies generally sponsor for one of two reasons: marketing exposure or brand alignment. If you are working to grow funding for your nonprofit, consider these best practices to help foster financial partners for your cause....

3 Reasons Why Your Organization Should Use Canva

3 Reasons Why Your Organization Should Use Canva

By: Katelyn Foehner Communications Manager Big Buzz Idea Group As many nonprofit executive leaders know, your title encompasses much more than what it states. Many executive directors serve as not only the ED but the bookkeeper, event planner, communications guru and everything in between. Finding easier ways to get the job done is essential to fulfilling all your tasks. Insert Canva into the equation to save stress, time and money. Canva is a free-to-use online design platform. While many people use it to create images for social media, Canva can be used to create t-shirt designs, invitations, blog banners, business...

4 Productivity Tips to Elevate Your Nonprofit

4 Productivity Tips to Elevate Your Nonprofit

By: Melissa Lagwoski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Do you feel overwhelmed by the demands of your organization? Struggling to balance all of the responsibilities in your work week? Are the pressures of your nonprofit spilling over into your personal time? These common challenges can happen throughout the year but there are simple actions that will remove those issues for more productivity. And January is a great time to make a few small changes to reclaim your time and elevate your organization to new heights! Identify Your Priorities Take some time to get clear about what you must do...

Nonprofit Event Venues 101

Nonprofit Event Venues 101

By: Brad Ball Vice President Big Buzz Idea Group Most nonprofit organizations simply love to host events. Whether to fundraise, friendraise, educate or otherwise, the regular gathering of like-minded people is a standard tool in the nonprofit toolkit. One of the key traits of a successful event is choosing the right venue. To help make your organization’s next gathering a success, here are five things to remember when finding your next nonprofit event location: Is your event date available? While this may seem like an obvious place to start, the purposes of asking the question leads to this point: How...

Real Progress Requires Intention: What Do You Want to Achieve in 2020 for Your Nonprofit?

Real Progress Requires Intention: What Do You Want to Achieve in 2020 for Your Nonprofit?

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, December can fly by quickly and it is the New Year before we realize it. For many executive directors and nonprofit leaders, December may be no busier than the rest of the year. But this month, do something special for yourself. Carve out some time when you can be alone without the interruptions of your team, your Board or your email. Turn off your phone and truly focus on your thoughts for an extended period of time. This is an ideal time to...

Tips For Meaningful #GivingTuesday Follow-Up

Tips For Meaningful #GivingTuesday Follow-Up

By: Lidia Varesco Racoma Owner, Lidia Varesco Design You did it—you made it through #GivingTuesday! But your work is not done yet. Take advantage of the momentum of your campaign: Follow up with your donors and supporters, create meaningful connections that will last throughout the year, and use the insights gathered this year to inspire next year’s campaign. Say thank you—and share results Thank your supporters on social media and share the results of your campaign as well as the impact it has on the people your serve. Sharing a video thank you from the organization’s founder or leaders can...

Why You Need to Establish Gratitude as a Pillar at Your Nonprofit

Why You Need to Establish Gratitude as a Pillar at Your Nonprofit

By: Melissa Lagowski Founder, CEO and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group With Thanksgiving upon us, it seems like everyone is talking about gratitude. (To be fair, it’s always top of mind around here-gratitude is one of our core values at Big Buzz!) Is there anything better than feeling appreciated? For nonprofits, acknowledging the contributions of those people directly tied to your organization is important. A simple, inspirational gesture of appreciation cultivates a sense of community, generosity and support for your mission. WHO to Thank Think about all of the people who are a part of your organization. They keep...

The Need to Go Beyond Surveys

The Need to Go Beyond Surveys

By: Emily Taylor Principal, teenyBIG I was listening to a fairy tale with my daughter the other night. It was about a sad princess and how the king wanted to cheer her up. “I’ll paint the palace yellow, that will cheer her up!” he thought. The entire palace was painted yellow, but the princess did not cheer up. Thinking creatively, the king said, “I know, the castle must be the wrong shape!” and had the square castle pulled down and rebuilt into a heart shape. Still, the princess was sad. “Then it must be the cold weather here,” and he...

To Be Successful, Nonprofits and Associations Must Be Forward-Thinking

To Be Successful, Nonprofits and Associations Must Be Forward-Thinking

By: Melissa Lagowski Founder, CEO and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group “Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” ~Albert Einstein Do you feel like your organization is in a rut? Does it seem like no matter what you do, your budget hasn’t seen growth and programs don’t expand as you had anticipated? Are you still struggling with staffing shortages or failing to fill those seats on the Board with engaged leaders? It is not uncommon for nonprofit organizations to rollover their same plan from year to year, but the reality is that if you...

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Insights Blog Archive

  • How To Secure More Donor Dollars
  • How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media to Meet Goals
  • Board or Bored Leadership – Enter the Magnificent Seven
  • The Taxman Cometh (Yes, Even For Your Exempt Organization)
  • Lessons Learned in Nonprofit Management
  • Cancelling or Postponing Your Events in Light of COVID-19
  • DIY Event Photos
  • Leadership Starts with You
  • Cross-Train Your Team for Better Outcomes
  • 3 Tips For Maintaining Your NPO’s Digital Assets
  • How Big Is Your Fire?
  • How to Hire a Consultant
  • Seven Tips to a More Productive Year for Your Organization
  • How to Manage Your Organization During an Election Year Without Violating Your Nonprofit Status
  • Implementing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Your Nonprofit
  • 2020: A Lesson in Gratitude
  • Four Pillars to Attracting and Retaining Ideal Employees
  • Tips for Virtual Event Success
  • Networking for Personal and Professional Growth
  • Is Your Marketing Missing the Mark?
  • 6 Tips for Healthy Collaboration with Your Board Chair
  • Four Tactics to Resolve Nonprofit Staffing Shortages
  • Conference Call Hero – 6 Tips to Master the Art of Video and Audio Conferencing
  • Board Nominating: A Better Way
  • The Importance of Authenticity in Sales and Networking
  • The Hidden Costs Behind Your Fundraiser
  • 5 Reasons to Outsource Instead of Rely on Volunteers
  • Want To Retain Your Employees? Wellness in the Workplace Matters!
  • Please Send a Hi-res Copy of Your Logo
  • Why Is My Organization Not Growing?
  • Keep Your Mission in Mind to Maximize Results
  • Client Spotlight: Illinois Theatre Association
  • SPONSORSHIP 101: To Package or Not to Package
  • Should You Ever Cover Board Member Expenses?
  • Securing Help from Your Board: Are You Ready?
  • To Be Successful, Nonprofits and Associations Must Be Forward-Thinking
  • Team Culture Exists Beyond the Office Walls
  • Tips to Ensure Event Safety
  • Chart a Path for Nonprofit Success
  • Talk to Me! Prioritizing Internal Communications During Times of Transition
  • Post-Pandemic Event Lessons
  • 11 Tips to Make Your Newsletter More Readable
  • What’s Your Nonprofit’s Story
  • Celebrate You and Avoid Nonprofit Burnout
  • Innovative Approach to Volunteer Recruitment
  • Best Practices For Nonprofit Management
  • The Birth of a New Vision
  • Holding On When You Feel Like Throwing In the Towel
  • 4 Ways Outsourcing Your Development Work Can Provide Value
  • Time to Assess Your Year-End Campaigns
  • 5 Ways to Generate Sponsor Leads
  • Leveraging E-Newsletters For Nonprofit Growth
  • Transparency and Nonprofit Organizations
  • The Compelling Case to Renew
  • Engage Your Board – Start with Recruiting and End with A High-Performance Culture
  • Budgeting for Your Nonprofit in Uncertain Times
  • Tips For Meaningful #GivingTuesday Follow-Up
  • The Keys to Presenting Your Nonprofit Online
  • Take Time to Evaluate Your Events
  • 9 Lessons Learned from Our First Virtual Conference
  • Meet Big Buzz, the Creators of Ribfest Chicago
  • Client Spotlight: Hope For The Day
  • Does Your Mission Have a Compelling Voice?
  • Should Sponsorships Include Membership Dues?
  • 5 Secrets to Streamlining Your Administrative Tasks
  • 6 Tips for Cultivating Gratitude in the Workplace
  • Communication Tips to Advance Your Organization
  • Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part II
  • New Year’s Resolutions for Board Members
  • 3 Reasons Why Your Organization Should Use Canva
  • Fostering Board Engagement in Virtual Times
  • Defining Your Value: Reclaiming Relevance to the Community You Serve
  • Virtual Fundraising: 18 Ideas for Nonprofit Revenue
  • Make Your Nonprofit Stand Out: Creating Impressions for Impact
  • Life After COVID-19: Next Steps for Your Nonprofit
  • 50 Content Promotion Tactics: How to Drive Traffic to Your Next Article
  • SPONSORSHIP 101: Growing Nonprofit Revenues
  • Organizational Operations Versus Organizational Strategy
  • The Benefits of Outsourcing
  • Real Progress Requires Intention: What Do You Want to Achieve in 2020 for Your Nonprofit?
  • How to Develop Your Nonprofit’s Audience Persona
  • 5 Tips for Prioritizing Your Mental Health in the Workplace
  • 6 Tips for Recruiting Ideal Board Members
  • Goal-Setting For Successful Events
  • Never Overlook the Value of Gratitude
  • Big Buzz Idea Group Launches Additional Services
  • Becoming a Virtual Event Planner in an Instant
  • Financial Planning for Uncertain Times
  • Outsourcing: The Only Solution To Staffing Shortages
  • If You’re Feeling Hopeless of Late, Remember That Your Work Matters and You Do, Too
  • 8 Tips For Leading Productive Meetings
  • Nonprofit Form 990: Friend or Foe?
  • Employee Retention Tax Credit Yields Powerful Opportunity
  • Are You Leaving Money On The Table?
  • Spend Less. Do More. Your Guide to Effective Outsourcing
  • Something Good: Building Your Team’s Connection
  • 7 Tips for Managing Hybrid Events
  • Grateful for Nonprofit Leaders
  • Nonprofit Event Venues 101
  • Client Spotlight: Cyberjutsu
  • Crisis Management: Are You Ready?
  • Why Identifying and Communicating Your Core Values Is Important
  • Re-Imagine the Possibilities to Better Serve Your Mission
  • Word of the Year: Manifestation
  • Organic Methods to Cultivate Sponsorship Leads
  • 10 Tips to Cultivate Sponsor Relationships
  • Boost Your Daily Productivity
  • Cyber Security: How To Protect Yourself In Today’s “Connected” World
  • A Job Gone Wrong
  • Big Buzz Has COVID-19 Resources For You!
  • Silver Linings Discovered Amidst a Pandemic
  • Our Top Five Free Online Tools for Nonprofit Management Teams
  • Why You Need to Establish Gratitude as a Pillar at Your Nonprofit
  • How to Rewire Your Brain with Positive Thinking
  • The Board’s Hot (Summer) Topics
  • The 3 Mistakes I Made Managing a Nonprofit
  • Four Step Process to Building Better Buy-In
  • Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part I
  • Fresh Funding Ideas Are Blooming
  • Why Nonprofits Need to Evaluate Their Budgets Every Year
  • Optimize Your Contact List for Nonprofit Growth
  • Why Your Nonprofit Needs Brand Guidelines
  • How to Keep Your Visuals On-Brand
  • Self-Care: A Necessity for Successful Leadership
  • Making a Case for Strategic Planning
  • How to Secure Mega Sponsorships For Your Fundraising Event!
  • The Need to Go Beyond Surveys
  • Fundraising: Creating a Straighter Path to Revenue Growth
  • 4 Productivity Tips to Elevate Your Nonprofit
  • Put Some Zing in Your Zoom (Or Any Other Virtual Meeting)
  • Interim Directors Provide Strength in Times of Transition
  • Clearer Communication Is the Secret to Better Outcomes
  • 3 Questions to Ask If You Hope to Grow Your Membership

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