• Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Case Studies
  • Blog
  • Join the Team
  • Contact

Powering Nonprofits to Fuel Positive Change

773.804.8589
info@bigbuzzideagroup.com
Big Buzz Idea GroupBig Buzz Idea Group
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Case Studies
  • Blog
  • Join the Team
  • Contact

About Sarah Pollock

This author hasn't written their bio yet.
Sarah Pollock has contributed 24 entries to our website, so far.

Keep Your Mission in Mind to Maximize Results

Keep Your Mission in Mind to Maximize Results

By Melissa Lagowski CEO / Queen Bee / Founder Big Buzz Idea Group Nonprofit organizations exist to serve a very specific purpose. You know that your mission should always be the driving force for every project, program and event that you host. But how focused on that mission are you? What about your Board of Directors and your staff? Are you utilizing yours properly for decision-making? There are times when a nonprofit might accidentally lose its way. It may be a well-intended meeting that veers off-course. The enthusiasm builds and before you realize it, the committee has created an entire...

6 Tips for Healthy Collaboration with Your Board Chair

6 Tips for Healthy Collaboration with Your Board Chair

By Melissa Lagowski CEO / Queen Bee / Founder Big Buzz Idea Group In thinking back to my first day as an Executive Director (E.D.), I realize now that the tone was set right there on day one. I met the Board President at my new office. He unlocked the door, handed me the key and said, “Have a nice day” as he left. There was no training, nobody to answer my questions. I don’t even know if I saw any of the board members between meetings (except, on occasion, for the Board member who owned the building where my...

Board Nominating: A Better Way

Board Nominating: A Better Way

By Brad Ball Vice President Big Buzz Idea Group “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” – Douglas Adams Simply too many organizations think about bringing new people onto the board of directors as a last-minute activity. They wait until just before the Annual Meeting, have a few quick, quiet conversations about who has time and is willing to join the board for the next term. Those people say ‘yes,’ the names are hastily approved, and thus, the next year’s board of directors is born. And this story repeats itself, often with just...

How to Develop Your Nonprofit’s Audience Persona

How to Develop Your Nonprofit’s Audience Persona

By: Lidia Varesco Racoma Brand Strategist & Creative Marketer Lidia Varesco Design Determining your organization’s audience is a crucial part of branding and marketing. Developing a persona for each segment of your audience provides a framework for your content and assures that your outreach is strategic, focused and targeted. What Is a Persona? A persona is a representation of the target audience segment you are trying to reach based on internal data and research, and it includes the basics of who they are, as well as insights into their challenges and values. Some personas even include a name and image...

Put Some Zing in Your Zoom (Or Any Other Virtual Meeting)

Put Some Zing in Your Zoom (Or Any Other Virtual Meeting)

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Routine “bored” meetings have transitioned from conference rooms to Zoom rooms for today’s remote workforce (and many are still a challenge to get enthused about…). Video conferencing is here to stay, so if you want your meetings to stand out while you increase engagement and avoid contributing to your staff’s zoom fatigue, you’ll want to pay attention. Whether you are using Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts or one of the many other online video platforms, it is always a good idea to look for ways to increase the engagement of your...

Leadership Starts with You

Leadership Starts with You

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired and success achieved.” ~Helen Keller When you think of a “leader,” who comes to mind? We typically list examples of great leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi and other famous people, but we overlook the value that each of us possess as leaders. Does your organization have strong leadership? How enthusiastic and impassioned are the leaders that sit on your board of directors?...

How to Hire a Consultant

How to Hire a Consultant

By Brad Ball Vice President Big Buzz Idea Group As an association management company and nonprofit consultant, we’ve written extensively about the benefits of outsourcing for your organization. Outsourcing can help you navigate a tight job market or hiring market, ensuring that tasks are performed by competent professionals and the office is running efficiently throughout the hiring process. It can cost less than hiring new staff, is more reliable than counting on volunteers, and can even allow you to bring in an expert with a specific skillset you need for a limited time. With more and more complex tasks and responsibilities...

Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part II

Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part II

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group In “Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part I” we covered ideas for you to utilize relative to email marketing, leveraging your community and capitalizing on some basic public relations tactics. Part II will advance the promotional discussions and cover more ideas for digital exposure. Online Marketing Marketing online via social media remains an important part of overall promotions for nonprofits and associations so we encourage our clients to include online promotions to achieve maximum exposure. Social media options can be a bit overwhelming, so it’s best to compare the various...

Silver Linings Discovered Amidst a Pandemic

Silver Linings Discovered Amidst a Pandemic

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group We have always known that, out of necessity, nonprofit organizations are incredibly nimble and resilient. Over the last 12 months, organizations have made quick pivots and showed great commitment and creativity to the missions they serve. Now that it has been a full year of life with COVID-19, we asked our clients if they had any unexpected positive results from the pandemic. Here is what they had to say:   Rogers Park Business Alliance “We added video interviews to our Small Business Saturday event in 2020. The pivot to video for...

Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part I

Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part I

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group I recently heard a horror story about a nonprofit that was promised a packed room for their annual fundraiser. The development team guaranteed that the tables would be full and the event would be a huge success. I don’t know all the intricacies, but in the end, their promotions clearly failed as there were not even three full tables and it was a huge flop. This is everyone’s worst nightmare. We are constantly tasked with growing our audiences and engaging new supporters but often don’t know where to begin. This list...

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Check Out These Recent Posts

  • Client Spotlight: Hope For The Day
  • Chart a Path for Nonprofit Success
  • Are You Leaving Money On The Table?
  • Client Spotlight: Cyberjutsu
  • Employee Retention Tax Credit Yields Powerful Opportunity
  • Client Spotlight: Illinois Theatre Association
  • The 3 Mistakes I Made Managing a Nonprofit

Sign up for Insights newsletter

Select list(s) to subscribe to


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Big Buzz Idea Group, 4055 W. Peterson Ave., Chicago, IL, 60646, http://bigbuzzideagroup.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Tag Cloud

501c3 Appreciation Association Association Management Big Buzz Idea Group Board Members Board of Directors Communication Communications Core Values Culture Development Digital Marketing Donations Donors Event Planner Event Planning Events Executive Director Fundraising Goal-Setting Gratitude Leadership Marketing mission Nonprofit Nonprofit Board Members Nonprofit Fundraising Nonprofit Leadership Nonprofit Management Nonprofit Organization NPO Organization Organization's Culture Organizational Growth Outsourcing pandemic Productivity Social Media Sponsors Sponsorship Staff Strategic Planning Virtual Volunteers

Insights Blog Archive

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

Contact Us

Want more info? Have a question? Send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

Send Message
Spark the growth and power of your organization. Schedule your FREE consultation today. Let's Connect

CONTACT INFO

  • Big Buzz Idea Group
  • 4055 W. Peterson Ave., #105 Chicago, IL 60646
  • 773.804.8589
  • 773.804.8986
  • info@bigbuzzideagroup.com

Connect with us

Twitter

  • Today we're showing our appreciation for our Executive Assistant, Cat Donovan. We are grateful for all her hard wor…  http://t.co/jfi1zNB4yX 
  • 10 months ago
  • If you're a #nonprofit leader, what are some #goals that your organization is working towards? Sound off below! ⤵️
  • 10 months ago

Follow @BigBuzzIG

© 2021 — Big Buzz Idea Group

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Case Studies
  • Blog
  • Join the Team
  • Contact