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Powering Nonprofits to Fuel Positive Change

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The 3 Mistakes I Made Managing a Nonprofit

The 3 Mistakes I Made Managing a Nonprofit

By Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee It was October 1, 1999, when I began my first full-time position in the nonprofit world. I showed up excitedly and ready to dig in and get started. The president of the organization met me at the office, said the organization was looking forward to working with me, handed me the key to the office and walked out the door. Now what? As a staff of one, I was responsible for what would become 24 annual events, 12 newsletters and 8 committees. I remember looking around the office and trying to figure out where to...

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...

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 Manage Your Organization During an Election Year Without Violating Your Nonprofit Status

How to Manage Your Organization During an Election Year Without Violating Your Nonprofit Status

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group During an election year, people within your nonprofit may want to support political causes and candidates. What does this mean for your 501(c)(3) organization? To maintain tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code, your organization cannot directly or indirectly participate in a political campaign to support or oppose a candidate for elected office. This means your nonprofit cannot show political bias. You may not, in any way, indicate that the organization favors or opposes a candidate. Your organization cannot make political statements or endorsements in favor of one candidate or make...

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.

Re-Imagine the Possibilities to Better Serve Your Mission

Re-Imagine the Possibilities to Better Serve Your Mission

You might feel like you will never break free from Zoom calls and virtual meetings right now, but we will reach the other side of this “shelter in place” soon. However, the world as we knew it will never be the same. Have you started thinking about what this means for you and your nonprofit?

Many organizations have been extremely busy as a result of COVID-19, trying to keep up with an increased demand from core constituencies and working to pivot their in-person services to virtual programming. Nonprofit leaders have been struggling to stay abreast of financial assistance programs, additional giving campaigns and managing remote workforces. We get that you are busier than ever right now, but times like this are for preparation and innovation. If you actively invest the time now to plan out what you want to achieve on the other side of COVID-19, you are far more likely to succeed. You must make the time to begin planning for a future that has already been altered.

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...

If You’re Feeling Hopeless of Late, Remember That Your Work Matters and You Do, Too

If You’re Feeling Hopeless of Late, Remember That Your Work Matters and You Do, Too

By: Vu Le Founder, NonprofitAF.com Writer, Speaker and Executive Director of Rainier Valley Corps   Hi everyone, the last few weeks have been rough. I was glad to end it with the #NonprofitHaiku contest to bring some levity and humor. A colleague on Twitter, though, pointed out the seriousness of all the challenges we face beneath the lightheartedness: “It’s a cute joke that there are raccoons in our supply closet. It’s hilarious. […] The conditions we work in, the demoralizing chaos and the barriers to success are literally killing people.” In my travels around the country, and in the various...

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...

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Insights Blog Archive

  • 9 Lessons Learned from Our First Virtual Conference
  • 3 Tips For Maintaining Your NPO’s Digital Assets
  • 4 Productivity Tips to Elevate Your Nonprofit
  • DIY Event Photos
  • Should Sponsorships Include Membership Dues?
  • The Birth of a New Vision
  • SPONSORSHIP 101: Growing Nonprofit Revenues
  • Nonprofit Form 990: Friend or Foe?
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  • Transparency and Nonprofit Organizations
  • Defining Your Value: Reclaiming Relevance to the Community You Serve
  • Client Spotlight: Illinois Theatre Association
  • Conference Call Hero – 6 Tips to Master the Art of Video and Audio Conferencing
  • Time to Assess Your Year-End Campaigns
  • Budgeting for Your Nonprofit in Uncertain Times
  • How to Hire a Consultant
  • The Need to Go Beyond Surveys
  • Optimize Your Contact List for Nonprofit Growth
  • Four Pillars to Attracting and Retaining Ideal Employees
  • Boost Your Daily Productivity
  • Organizational Operations Versus Organizational Strategy
  • New Year’s Resolutions for Board Members
  • How to Develop Your Nonprofit’s Audience Persona
  • Cancelling or Postponing Your Events in Light of COVID-19
  • Cross-Train Your Team for Better Outcomes
  • 11 Tips to Make Your Newsletter More Readable
  • Leveraging E-Newsletters For Nonprofit Growth
  • Keep Your Mission in Mind to Maximize Results
  • Board or Bored Leadership – Enter the Magnificent Seven
  • 6 Tips for Healthy Collaboration with Your Board Chair
  • 6 Tips for Recruiting Ideal Board Members
  • Does Your Mission Have a Compelling Voice?
  • Silver Linings Discovered Amidst a Pandemic
  • Becoming a Virtual Event Planner in an Instant
  • To Be Successful, Nonprofits and Associations Must Be Forward-Thinking
  • Chart a Path for Nonprofit Success
  • 10 Tips to Cultivate Sponsor Relationships
  • 7 Tips for Managing Hybrid Events
  • The 3 Mistakes I Made Managing a Nonprofit
  • Making a Case for Strategic Planning
  • Something Good: Building Your Team’s Connection
  • Engage Your Board – Start with Recruiting and End with A High-Performance Culture
  • What’s Your Nonprofit’s Story
  • Interim Directors Provide Strength in Times of Transition
  • Cyber Security: How To Protect Yourself In Today’s “Connected” World
  • How to Manage Your Organization During an Election Year Without Violating Your Nonprofit Status
  • Real Progress Requires Intention: What Do You Want to Achieve in 2020 for Your Nonprofit?
  • Client Spotlight: Hope For The Day
  • A Job Gone Wrong
  • Please Send a Hi-res Copy of Your Logo
  • Should You Ever Cover Board Member Expenses?
  • Why Your Nonprofit Needs Brand Guidelines
  • Word of the Year: Manifestation
  • Nonprofit Event Venues 101
  • Crisis Management: Are You Ready?
  • Outsourcing: The Only Solution To Staffing Shortages
  • Financial Planning for Uncertain Times
  • Meet Big Buzz, the Creators of Ribfest Chicago
  • 5 Ways to Generate Sponsor Leads
  • Communication Tips to Advance Your Organization
  • 3 Questions to Ask If You Hope to Grow Your Membership
  • Networking for Personal and Professional Growth
  • 6 Tips for Cultivating Gratitude in the Workplace
  • Re-Imagine the Possibilities to Better Serve Your Mission
  • Celebrate You and Avoid Nonprofit Burnout
  • Fresh Funding Ideas Are Blooming
  • Make Your Nonprofit Stand Out: Creating Impressions for Impact
  • Client Spotlight: Cyberjutsu
  • Tips to Ensure Event Safety
  • SPONSORSHIP 101: To Package or Not to Package
  • Lessons Learned in Nonprofit Management
  • Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part II
  • Employee Retention Tax Credit Yields Powerful Opportunity
  • Life After COVID-19: Next Steps for Your Nonprofit
  • Innovative Approach to Volunteer Recruitment
  • Talk to Me! Prioritizing Internal Communications During Times of Transition
  • Spend Less. Do More. Your Guide to Effective Outsourcing
  • Seven Tips to a More Productive Year for Your Organization
  • Organic Methods to Cultivate Sponsorship Leads
  • 50 Content Promotion Tactics: How to Drive Traffic to Your Next Article
  • 4 Ways Outsourcing Your Development Work Can Provide Value
  • Fostering Board Engagement in Virtual Times
  • Grateful for Nonprofit Leaders
  • Take Time to Evaluate Your Events
  • 5 Secrets to Streamlining Your Administrative Tasks
  • Four Tactics to Resolve Nonprofit Staffing Shortages
  • Goal-Setting For Successful Events
  • 5 Reasons to Outsource Instead of Rely on Volunteers
  • 5 Tips for Prioritizing Your Mental Health in the Workplace
  • 2020: A Lesson in Gratitude
  • How to Secure Mega Sponsorships For Your Fundraising Event!
  • The Hidden Costs Behind Your Fundraiser
  • Tips For Meaningful #GivingTuesday Follow-Up
  • Team Culture Exists Beyond the Office Walls
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  • Securing Help from Your Board: Are You Ready?
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  • Post-Pandemic Event Lessons
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  • Want To Retain Your Employees? Wellness in the Workplace Matters!
  • Fundraising: Creating a Straighter Path to Revenue Growth
  • How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media to Meet Goals
  • Best Practices For Nonprofit Management

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  • 4055 W. Peterson Ave., #105 Chicago, IL 60646
  • 773.804.8589
  • 773.804.8986
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