By Melissa Lagowski Founder/CEO/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group As the new administration stepped into office, many nonprofits have been in a frenzy trying to confirm if they will or won’t have the funding they count on to provide their programs. Whether this is your charitable organization or not, this is a wake-up call for all of us, and we need to band together to advocate for one another. Our industry needs to work together at this time to be heard and protect the funding that many nonprofits rely on. So, first and foremost, contact your congressional leaders to let...
By Amanda Lovell Digital Marketing Manager Big Buzz Idea Group As nonprofits look to the future, one generation stands out for its unique, powerful potential: Gen Z. Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z is already making waves in the philanthropic world, even as most of its members are just beginning their professional lives. This generation is socially conscious, digitally fluent and unafraid to put their values into action, making them a critical demographic for nonprofits to understand and engage. So, why should nonprofits focus on Gen Z as their next wave of donors … and how? Why Gen Z...
By Melissa Lagowski Founder/CEO/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Be it donors or dinners or annual bake sales, nonprofit organizations live and die by their budgets and funding streams. Finding a steady revenue stream may seem difficult but it also might just be hidden in plain sight: look around to discover that opportunities exist to develop a sponsorship program that can play mightily into your success. Established nonprofits already have an underlying support system in their board of directors, staff members, social media followers, donors, etc., who believe in the cause. This network brings obvious value to the organization and...
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...
By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Does your organization have a reserve fund? According to an annual survey conducted by the National Council of Nonprofits, less than 25% of the survey participants had six months of reserves. The majority had less than three months of operating reserves, and 10% had less than 30 days cash on hand. Many nonprofit organizations have budgets that have them eking through the year with a minimal surplus or worse yet, a financial loss. Why any board member would disregard fiduciary responsibilities and approve a negative budget is beyond me, but that...
By: Melissa Lagowski Founder, CEO and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group “Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” ~Albert Einstein Do you feel like your organization is in a rut? Does it seem like no matter what you do, your budget hasn’t seen growth and programs don’t expand as you had anticipated? Are you still struggling with staffing shortages or failing to fill those seats on the Board with engaged leaders? It is not uncommon for nonprofit organizations to rollover their same plan from year to year, but the reality is that if you...
By: Katie George Grant Writer, Big Buzz Idea Group Spring has arrived with the promise of fresh and new! We at Big Buzz Idea Group quite naturally love this time of year; the hive is humming and people are buzzing with energy and activity, preparing for the longer days ahead. It’s that time when New Year’s resolutions, set in the dreary months of winter, are reinvigorated—like dormant trees bursting with leaves to meet the warm sunshine. For some, this means finally getting outside, being active and becoming more physically fit. For nonprofit organizations, this is the season of renewal and...
