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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...

Fostering Board Engagement in Virtual Times

Fostering Board Engagement in Virtual Times

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Congrats on carefully selecting and approving new board members for your nonprofit organization! You have every reason to be excited about this ideal blend of leaders who are all passionate about your cause and ready to do great things. Cohesive leadership teams don’t just happen; they are the result of serious intention, and much of this work is the result of proper onboarding. Generally, your annual retreat brings new board members “up to speed” on the organization while providing a way for all members of the team to get to know...

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...

Securing Help from Your Board: Are You Ready?

Securing Help from Your Board: Are You Ready?

By: Melissa Lagowski
CEO/Founder/Queen Bee of Big Buzz Idea Group

We all dream of a Board that wants to help move the mission outside of the Board Meeting. All too often, many Executive Directors share woeful stories of board members who barely show up for the meetings let alone support the organization in other ways. But lately, we have been hearing stories about boards and volunteers who are looking for ways to contribute in more meaningful ways. To maximize the willingness of leaders to support your nonprofit, it is important that you properly prepare for these opportunities.

Why You Need to Establish Gratitude as a Pillar at Your Nonprofit

Why You Need to Establish Gratitude as a Pillar at Your Nonprofit

By: Melissa Lagowski Founder, CEO and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group With Thanksgiving upon us, it seems like everyone is talking about gratitude. (To be fair, it’s always top of mind around here-gratitude is one of our core values at Big Buzz!) Is there anything better than feeling appreciated? For nonprofits, acknowledging the contributions of those people directly tied to your organization is important. A simple, inspirational gesture of appreciation cultivates a sense of community, generosity and support for your mission. WHO to Thank Think about all of the people who are a part of your organization. They keep...

Should You Ever Cover Board Member Expenses?

Should You Ever Cover Board Member Expenses?

By: Joan Garry Principal and Founder, Joan Garry Consulting  When my wife ran The Food Network, she often got 911 calls during Thanksgiving week. “Eileen, do you brine your turkey?”   “What’s your favorite stuffing recipe?”   It was actually hilarious. Eileen is a very good cook mind you but she would respond to all callers the same way. “I am not a chef; I make TV shows.” As for me, I get more than my fair share of 911 calls. Some folks expect me to be an accountant, a human resources professional and oh my, lots of folks ask me...

Engage Your Board – Start with Recruiting and End with A High-Performance Culture

Engage Your Board – Start with Recruiting and End with A High-Performance Culture

By: Rena Henderson Founder and CEO, Bold Agenda  After hanging up the phone, I realized that this was the third time in one week that an Executive Director or Board Chair described to me the same problem. My client left another uninspired and unfocused board meeting and complained of the malaise on his board:  poor attendance at meetings, missed fundraising goals, board meetings that were not focused or goal-oriented, and a certain few board members dominating the discussion. He was frustrated because he knew they could not bring new board members in, nor close their increasing deficit with half of...

Board or Bored Leadership – Enter the Magnificent Seven

Board or Bored Leadership – Enter the Magnificent Seven

By: Denise Dahl, MPA Founder & Principal, Epiphany Planning & Development Nonprofit Leadership & Strategy   One of the most common questions I receive is “How do I get my board to do more?” The answer is easy, but the implementation can be a bit more challenging as board members each come with their own motivation regarding serving. Maybe they are serving as the cause is dear to them. Maybe they are serving because they feel a type of ownership (founder’s syndrome). Maybe they are serving to build their resume. Reasons to serve on a board are as varied as...

New Year’s Resolutions for Board Members

New Year’s Resolutions for Board Members

By: Gail Perry President, Gail Perry Associates Philanthropy Consultants   It’s the New Year – and it’s a great time to make smart resolutions for the future! This post is a perennial favorite with my readers – I’ve updated it for this year. Here are some ideas for nonprofit board members – to help everyone get started on the right foot for the year and keep on track as we launch into the new year. You might find that these ideas will open up some interesting discussions – about expectations, attitudes and actions needed from ALL board members.   How...

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Insights Blog Archive

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

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