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Powering Nonprofits to Fuel Positive Change

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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...

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...

5 Ways to Generate Sponsor Leads

5 Ways to Generate Sponsor Leads

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Nonprofits are constantly looking for new ways to grow their revenues and create additional reliable revenue streams. Sponsorship is often overlooked or deemed to be difficult and time-consuming, but it is a great way to secure additional funding. To date, we have helped clients secure more than $6 million in sponsorship, so we know it works when done properly – and we can help you find ways to generate more dollars. We have previously shared tips on how to organically find sponsors, and we want to share five additional ways to generate...

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Check Out These Recent Posts

  • 8 Tips For Leading Productive Meetings
  • The Importance of Authenticity in Sales and Networking
  • How Big Is Your Fire?
  • The Keys to Presenting Your Nonprofit Online
  • Best Practices For Nonprofit Management
  • Client Spotlight: Hope For The Day
  • Chart a Path for Nonprofit Success

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Insights Blog Archive

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

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

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