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Fundraising

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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...

Financial Planning for Uncertain Times

Financial Planning for Uncertain Times

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...

Tips For Meaningful #GivingTuesday Follow-Up

Tips For Meaningful #GivingTuesday Follow-Up

By: Lidia Varesco Racoma Owner, Lidia Varesco Design You did it—you made it through #GivingTuesday! But your work is not done yet. Take advantage of the momentum of your campaign: Follow up with your donors and supporters, create meaningful connections that will last throughout the year, and use the insights gathered this year to inspire next year’s campaign. Say thank you—and share results Thank your supporters on social media and share the results of your campaign as well as the impact it has on the people your serve. Sharing a video thank you from the organization’s founder or leaders can...

The Hidden Costs Behind Your Fundraiser

The Hidden Costs Behind Your Fundraiser

By: Melissa Lagowski Founder, CEO and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group It happened again last week. A nonprofit organization called to discuss their annual gala, describing how much money they want to raise while lamenting that they have no budget to hire a planner to assist them. Shortest conversation ever. They’re married to this event, though, so who will they find to do the work, and does that appear in the event budget? If they don’t outsource, then they self-produce, which comes at a cost. And staffing costs are a line item expense, so if they aren’t even identified, then...

Nonprofit Form 990: Friend or Foe?

Nonprofit Form 990: Friend or Foe?

By: Sherry Quam Taylor Founder, QuamTaylor LLC   When I started in nonprofit years ago I had no idea what a Form 990 was – all those numbers and check-boxes seemed like a lot of painful information for someone to fill out. Frankly, I didn’t understand what most of it meant. I’ve put off filing because of “more important” business and have admittedly filed a few extensions myself. But that was before I understood the importance of this little gem of a document. You want your donors to see you as a transparent partner, right? You want them to see...

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...

Why Is My Organization Not Growing?

Why Is My Organization Not Growing?

By: Sherry Quam Taylor QuamTaylor LLC The energy and passion needed to successfully fund and launch a nonprofit is not the same energy and passion that will keep it moving forward. Growing your organization takes even more, and most leaders feel this playing out daily. I’ve found that most nonprofits are full of passionate, thoughtful, and sacrificial leaders who have the ideas to make a great impact in the world. But I also know gaining traction and momentum to move forward isn’t easy. Often it takes an outsider’s perspective to bring clarity to problem areas. Whether your organization generates $300K or...

How to Secure Mega Sponsorships For Your Fundraising Event!

How to Secure Mega Sponsorships For Your Fundraising Event!

By: Chris Baylis President & CEO, The Sponsorship Collective Events can be great. They can engage your donors, show off your cause, increase revenue and, most important of all (in my highly biased opinion) drive sponsorship dollars. Sponsorship sales can be a major revenue source from events. With a little effort, you can make your next event a sponsor’s dream! MAKE SURE YOUR ATTENDEES LOVE YOUR EVENT What do your attendees have to do with fundraising event sponsorship? Everything. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that the people at your gala are excited about another 30 second speech from a donor or sponsor....

How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media to Meet Goals

How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media to Meet Goals

8 Ways Social Media Can Further Your Mission By: Melissa Lagowski CEO, Founder and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group When to-do lists run long, social media management is often one of the first things to fall off a busy nonprofit team’s plate. While it’s crucial to stay focused on organizational strategy, building and maintaining a social media presence is a tactic that can help your nonprofit successfully execute that big-picture strategy and meet next-level goals. Social media may seem small-reaching, especially if you’re still working to build a following, but with consistent, engaging content, it has limitless potential. How...

SPONSORSHIP 101: Growing Nonprofit Revenues

SPONSORSHIP 101: Growing Nonprofit Revenues

Part One of a Two-Part Series (Click here to read Part Two) By: Melissa Lagowski CEO, Founder and 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,...

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Check Out These Recent Posts

  • 5 Ways to Generate Sponsor Leads
  • 6 Tips for Recruiting Ideal Board Members
  • 3 Questions to Ask If You Hope to Grow Your Membership
  • Budgeting for Your Nonprofit in Uncertain Times
  • 4 Ways Outsourcing Your Development Work Can Provide Value
  • 2020: A Lesson in Gratitude
  • 9 Lessons Learned from Our First Virtual Conference

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Insights Blog Archive

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

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