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Powering Nonprofits to Fuel Positive Change

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6 Tips for Recruiting Ideal Board Members

6 Tips for Recruiting Ideal Board Members

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group We regularly hear from nonprofits that their Board of Directors or certain members are not carrying their fair share of the weight. The biggest concern is leadership not delivering on their Board commitments and sometimes they aren’t even showing up to the organization’s events. But imagine the flipside: What if each Board member actively engaged with your organization? What if every Board member met their give-or-get requirements and took their fiduciary responsibilities more seriously? What if every Board member actively served and supported your nonprofit with shared vision and commitment toward...

3 Questions to Ask If You Hope to Grow Your Membership

3 Questions to Ask If You Hope to Grow Your Membership

By: Brad Ball Vice President Big Buzz Idea Group If boosting membership is a key goal for your organization, we’ve got three questions to kick off your strategic planning. To add some context, we spoke with Lynsey Sorrell, the Vice President of Membership for the Ely Chapter of Lambda Alpha International, the Honorary Society for the Advancement of Land Economics. As one of our valued association management clients, she was able to share some of the impactful ways we’ve worked together to improve her organization’s membership. Read on for our thought-starters to move your own membership forward. 1. How can...

Budgeting for Your Nonprofit in Uncertain Times

Budgeting for Your Nonprofit in Uncertain Times

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Far too many nonprofits that we talk to have a wash-rinse-repeat model of budgeting that we at Big Buzz do not generally support. For those readers who have been following us for a while, you know that we believe that forward-thinking budgeting leads to the growth of your organization. We fully believe that when it comes to budgeting, it is imperative to do a deeper dive about where you are and where you want to go as an association. You need to annually evaluate which resources are necessary to elevate your...

9 Lessons Learned from Our First Virtual Conference

9 Lessons Learned from Our First Virtual Conference

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group As we continue to navigate this most historic year, I have personally tried to remain focused on the positive and the valuable lessons learned in 2020. Since March 16th, we have helped nonprofit organizations create virtual meetings, webinars, networking events and happy hours. In August, we added in a virtual festival, and in September, we leveled up to our first virtual conference. In one day, we hosted nine breakout sessions, one general session with a hybrid awards presentation, a diversity panel, a happy hour and an exhibit hall. After kicking the...

Time to Assess Your Year-End Campaigns

Time to Assess Your Year-End Campaigns

By: Sarah Pollock Nonprofit Account Manager Big Buzz Idea Group In the last quarter of what has been a very unpredictable year, everyone is fighting with full force towards their year-end campaigns. With a drastic change in the economy, this year has included more asks and more widespread campaigning from nonprofits, and funding sources, themselves, have to be as strategic as the askers. Though workloads have increased, sifting through donor lists and segmenting campaign asks – tasks which always seem to end up on the back burner as tedious and time-consuming – need to become your immediate goal. The development strategy needs to face three questions: How many donor lists do you currently have? How many times has each donor been asked for a...

Big Buzz Idea Group Launches Additional Services

Big Buzz Idea Group Launches Additional Services

Big Buzz Idea Group has enjoyed consulting nonprofits for the past 15 years, and over that time, whenever we met a new potential client, we heard a very common theme: “I had no idea a company like yours even existed!” The need for assistance has never been more obvious, which is why we are presenting a new suite of budget-friendly services to a larger audience of nonprofits.

Your mission is our mission, and now in addition to “powering nonprofit organizations to fuel positive change in the world,” we want to also “power nonprofit professionals” to accelerate your organization to fuel positive change in the world.

Life After COVID-19: Next Steps for Your Nonprofit

Life After COVID-19: Next Steps for Your Nonprofit

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group   COVID-19 entered the news in early January, but it entered our American lives hard in mid-March. For the last three weeks we have gone from “normal” living to modified living to shelter in place. And now we all wait and wonder when these restrictions will lift and when we will be safe to return to “normal” again. Unfortunately, normal will never be the same for any of us. So, what now? Immediate Needs As we all adjust to this new “normal,” it is important to identify your most immediate needs....

The Board’s Hot (Summer) Topics

The Board’s Hot (Summer) Topics

By: Amy Schiffman Principal and Co-Founder, Giving Tree Associates It’s that time of year when most boards are closing the books on this fiscal year and planning for the next.  Perhaps we’re spending time reviewing new programmatic, fundraising and operational strategies or putting the finishing touches on next year’s budget.  But I’d like to make a case for summer being the right time to consider the health of your organization’s governance program.  And if that sounds either too vague or glaringly obvious, let’s dig down a little deeper, unpack the possibilities, and prioritize.   During this year’s summer board retreat, why...

Communication Tips to Advance Your Organization

Communication Tips to Advance Your Organization

By: Melissa Lagowski President, Founder and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group As our peak event season is ramping up, I am constantly reminded how crucial communication is to success! From staff to volunteers to program participants to donors to Board members, communication is vital to organizational success, and yet, due to the demands and constraints on our time and attention, it is the one thing that often gets shorted. Take a minute to make a plan: Create a standard communication policy. It took me years to learn the importance of this one simple piece of advice. Actually, I don’t...

Goal-Setting For Successful Events

Goal-Setting For Successful Events

Does your organization host an annual event? What is the purpose of the event and why is it relevant? Do your members know and understand this? Are your guests fully aware of the purpose of the event? Far too often when we meet with NPOs, they are not at all clear why they host an event. And at least half of the stories begin with “a key member of the leadership team wanted an event so they created one.” It takes a great deal of time and money to plan and produce an event, so it is imperative that you...

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  • Should Sponsorships Include Membership Dues?
  • Crisis Management: Are You Ready?
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Insights Blog Archive

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

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  • 773.804.8986
  • info@bigbuzzideagroup.com

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