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About Melissa Lagowski

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Melissa Lagowski has contributed 34 entries to our website, so far.

Client Spotlight: Illinois Theatre Association

Client Spotlight: Illinois Theatre Association

Name/Title: Carmel DeStefano, Board President Organization: Illinois Theatre Association Mission: The Illinois Theatre Association is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to advocate for the important values that theatre at all levels in the state of Illinois bring to individuals as we work to expand hearts and minds through work both on the stage and off. Our work includes the important mission to inspire, engage, challenge, nurture, educate and empower artists and audiences to enhance the cultural landscape of Illinois, making our state a more conscious and compassionate community. Ultimately, we look to celebrate the essential power of the theatre...

The 3 Mistakes I Made Managing a Nonprofit

The 3 Mistakes I Made Managing a Nonprofit

By Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee It was October 1, 1999, when I began my first full-time position in the nonprofit world. I showed up excitedly and ready to dig in and get started. The president of the organization met me at the office, said the organization was looking forward to working with me, handed me the key to the office and walked out the door. Now what? As a staff of one, I was responsible for what would become 24 annual events, 12 newsletters and 8 committees. I remember looking around the office and trying to figure out where to...

Outsourcing: The Only Solution To Staffing Shortages

Outsourcing: The Only Solution To Staffing Shortages

By Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Debates continue about the “great resignation” and the fast-rising salary demands that are running rampant in the current hiring climate (also known as wage compression). As nonprofits and associations strive to serve their missions with diminishing resources, many are struggling to find the experienced workers they need at a salary they can afford. Just as frustrating, the labor shortage increases the demands on your existing staff (who are already taxed as a result of the pandemic), which results in higher levels of burnout. So, what is an organization to do? We’ve seen a recent rise...

Want To Retain Your Employees? Wellness in the Workplace Matters!

Want To Retain Your Employees? Wellness in the Workplace Matters!

By Cat Donovan Executive Assistant Employee wellness continues to be a topic circulating at the forefront of nonprofits and associations. The pandemic has escalated workplace pressures and shifted expectations placed on employees by both supervisors and also the employees themselves. For example, working from home has made it much easier for employees to check email at all hours of the day and night. Without the real separation of office and home, employees may be off the clock but essentially still “working” and may feel pressure to constantly check in, fearful that others are doing the same and, thus, they might...

Implementing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Your Nonprofit

Implementing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Your Nonprofit

By Cat Donovan Executive Assistant Big Buzz Idea Group “It’s been a long … a long time coming. But I know a change is gonna come.” Sam Cooke took his real-life experience of being turned away from a whites-only motel in Louisiana during the Civil Rights era and turned it into the 1964 smash hit, “A Change Is Gonna Come.” The message of his song – equal treatment for all – has carried through the airwaves in the decades since. And while significant strides have been put into action by the Black Lives Matters movement, there are still many areas...

Should Sponsorships Include Membership Dues?

Should Sponsorships Include Membership Dues?

By Brad Ball Big Buzz Idea Group Vice President It should go without saying that sponsorship can be a great tool for associations to increase revenue, but what goes into any well-planned program may vary widely depending on context. For example, sponsorship for a single event will likely look very different from an annual sponsorship. There are many excellent resources on sponsorship across the web (including these articles from the Big Buzz Idea Group blog). However, one point that doesn’t seem to get much attention is the touchy subject of whether to include membership dues in your sponsorship packages. This...

Crisis Management: Are You Ready?

Crisis Management: Are You Ready?

By Melissa Lagowski Big Buzz Idea Group CEO/Founder/Queen Bee It is a moment that every nonprofit executive hopes will never come: Your day is flowing like most days, and all is well when, in a blink, a single phone call disrupts the status quo and turns your world upside down. Dazed and confused now, how do you react? What are the next steps? Who ya gonna call? As part of your fiduciary responsibilities to your association, it is prudent to have a crisis communication plan in place. This is a task that many organizations put on their to-do list, but...

Word of the Year: Manifestation

Word of the Year: Manifestation

By Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group What does it mean to manifest something? The spiritual definition of manifestation is “the public display of emotion or feeling, or something theoretical made real.” This concept is part of the Laws of Attraction where positive thoughts beget positive outcomes. So, are you a glass-half-full or a glass-half-empty type of person? Throughout the pandemic, we and many of our clients have continued trying to be optimistic, to roll with the punches, to make lemonade out of lemons. But have you seen this recent meme: Enough is enough already! We at Big Buzz...

Leveraging E-Newsletters For Nonprofit Growth

Leveraging E-Newsletters For Nonprofit Growth

By Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Newsletters sent to your organization’s email list—also known as e-newsletters or electronic, digital or email newsletters—hold incredible value. So many nonprofits are not using this marketing channel to the fullest potential, but newsletters are a key resource and a crucial component of a balanced and successful communication strategy. How effective are newsletters, and how do they help nonprofits? According to a recent survey, 69 percent of nonprofits worldwide regularly send an email newsletter. Nonprofits have the second best industry open rate, with an average open rate of 25.2 percent and click-through...

Cross-Train Your Team for Better Outcomes

Cross-Train Your Team for Better Outcomes

By Brad Ball Vice President Big Buzz Idea Group As a leader, you’ve likely spent plenty of time and money hiring just the right person for each role on your team. Here at Big Buzz Idea Group, we have a quote we frequently reference from author Rudyard Kipling: “For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.” Successful teams (the pack) are built from each individual team member (the wolf) bringing their best effort to the company and to the job every day. We count on each other for individual excellence...

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Insights Blog Archive

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

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