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About Sarah Pollock

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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...

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Insights Blog Archive

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

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