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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...

4 Ways Outsourcing Your Development Work Can Provide Value

4 Ways Outsourcing Your Development Work Can Provide Value

Three Nonprofit Leaders Share the Benefits of Enlisting Outside Support for Development Assistance By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group For nonprofits with a small development department—or perhaps none at all—outsourcing is a valuable option. In our work at Big Buzz, we provide support with fundraising, events, communications, database management, marketing and more, offering a deeply impactful value to nonprofit organizations. But you don’t have to take our word for it. This month, we talked to three client partners to hear (directly from them) about the value they saw in outsourcing development work. Here are the main benefits...

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...

Tips for Virtual Event Success

Tips for Virtual Event Success

By: Debbie McCann Partner W4Sight A virtual event is a great opportunity to showcase your nonprofit’s resilience and demonstrate your impact amidst the “new normal.” Just like with any in-person event, good planning is critical to virtual event success. Keep these three tips in mind to ensure that people remember the inspiring speaker, the amazing video, or the thought-provoking panel discussion – not the glitches. Tip #1: Set Expectations. Make sure people know what your event is all about, especially if you are doing a virtual event that specifically takes the place of an in-person event. In your email blasts...

Our Top Five Free Online Tools for Nonprofit Management Teams

Our Top Five Free Online Tools for Nonprofit Management Teams

By: Brad Ball Vice President Big Buzz Idea Group Whether you are well-seasoned in your nonprofit management career, just starting out at an entry-level nonprofit job or somewhere in the middle, you most likely spend a good deal of time in the digital workspace. In this post, we’re going to tell you about our top five favorite online tools to make your life easier and keep your nonprofit organization running smoothly without spending a penny. DESIGN: Canva We’ve written about this one before and it’s worth mentioning again because it’s such a powerful tool for your nonprofit marketing team. Keep...

Virtual Fundraising: 18 Ideas for Nonprofit Revenue

Virtual Fundraising: 18 Ideas for Nonprofit Revenue

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group COVID-19 has wreaked havoc with nonprofit organizations this year, and many organizations have been forced to cancel or postpone their fundraising initiatives. We have seen organizations focus on their individual giving campaigns, and we have heard some greatly inspiring stories about donors who have really stepped up for causes close to their hearts. But on the other side, there are also many NPOs that are not traditional 501c3 organizations. Many of these other organizations do not have access to grants, donations or governmental funding, so what are they to do during...

Cancelling or Postponing Your Events in Light of COVID-19

Cancelling or Postponing Your Events in Light of COVID-19

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group   We watched the world change, hour by hour, for several days until landing in our current “Shelter in Place” status. Initially, as the country began to respond to the coronavirus, we started to feel the impact on our nonprofit events, but they didn’t appear to be in the direct line of fire. But then on March 15th, the CDC issued new guidelines that stated that all gatherings with more than 50 people should be cancelled until at least May 12, 2020. The initial potential impact was now an impending multi-car...

Becoming a Virtual Event Planner in an Instant

Becoming a Virtual Event Planner in an Instant

By: Amanda Wilson Nonprofit Account Manager Big Buzz Idea Group   Imagine we’re in the year 2000 and a respiratory virus is spreading throughout the world, causing all events and social gatherings to be canceled and forcing businesses to close. The internet, while gaining traction, is still rudimentary. Google was invented only two years prior and popular websites like Wikipedia, MySpace or Facebook are still years away. With mandates to socially isolate to help stop the spread of this disease, meetings would cease and businesses would have been unable to maintain daily operations. Additional programming like professional development seminars would...

Take Time to Evaluate Your Events

Take Time to Evaluate Your Events

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Some events can draw crowds for decades while others fall flat after a year or two. It can be tricky to forecast what makes certain gatherings an instant success, but it shouldn’t be difficult to measure an event’s effectiveness over time. “Events are often passed down for years, from one set of staff or board members to another, and no one actually stops to think about what the event should be achieving,” says founder and president of Big Buzz Idea Group Melissa Lagowski. “To properly evaluate an event, you must first...

Nonprofit Event Venues 101

Nonprofit Event Venues 101

By: Brad Ball Vice President Big Buzz Idea Group Most nonprofit organizations simply love to host events. Whether to fundraise, friendraise, educate or otherwise, the regular gathering of like-minded people is a standard tool in the nonprofit toolkit. One of the key traits of a successful event is choosing the right venue. To help make your organization’s next gathering a success, here are five things to remember when finding your next nonprofit event location: Is your event date available? While this may seem like an obvious place to start, the purposes of asking the question leads to this point: How...

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Insights Blog Archive

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

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