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Powering Nonprofits to Fuel Positive Change

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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...

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?...

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...

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...

3 Questions to Ask If You Hope to Grow Your Membership

3 Questions to Ask If You Hope to Grow Your Membership

By: Brad Ball Vice President Big Buzz Idea Group If boosting membership is a key goal for your organization, we’ve got three questions to kick off your strategic planning. To add some context, we spoke with Lynsey Sorrell, the Vice President of Membership for the Ely Chapter of Lambda Alpha International, the Honorary Society for the Advancement of Land Economics. As one of our valued association management clients, she was able to share some of the impactful ways we’ve worked together to improve her organization’s membership. Read on for our thought-starters to move your own membership forward. 1. How can...

5 Secrets to Streamlining Your Administrative Tasks

5 Secrets to Streamlining Your Administrative Tasks

By: Melissa Lagowski Founder, CEO and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group Nonprofit leadership and high-level salaried staff need time and space to focus on their organization’s mission, growth, strategy and fundraising. But all too often, we see these leaders become bogged down and burned out by administrative tasks trying to wear a million different hats. Does this sound familiar? With a few changes, it’s possible to streamline your nonprofit’s admin tasks and create effective systems. These efficiencies will improve day-to-day operations to benefit your leadership, staff and those you serve. #1 Segment Calls, Emails and Other Communications Managing incoming and...

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...

Holding On When You Feel Like Throwing In the Towel

Holding On When You Feel Like Throwing In the Towel

Holding On When You Feel Like Throwing In the Towel: Seven Tips To Keeping a Positive Mindset By: Melissa Lagowski CEO, Founder and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group The nonprofit space is filled with good people doing good work, but in being a servant leader, you encounter many different personalities along the way. Most of the people who devote themselves to the nonprofit world are optimistic people hoping to make a meaningful contribution. But, unfortunately, along the way, there are also a lot of curmudgeons and naysayers, and it is incredible how much negativity enters the arena. How can...

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...

The Benefits of Outsourcing

The Benefits of Outsourcing

Save time, money and effort By: Melissa Lagowski CEO, Founder and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group When your plate is full—perhaps too full—it’s hard to do anything well as you’re pulled in different directions and constantly hurtling from one task to the next. Meanwhile, your team is also working hard, but they likely don’t have the time or all the necessary skills to propel your nonprofit’s growth. The result? Burnout, stagnation and missed opportunities. Rather than focus internally, the solution may lie outside of your organization. Partnering with an external business to delegate key tasks or areas of expertise...

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Insights Blog Archive

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

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  • 4055 W. Peterson Ave., #105 Chicago, IL 60646
  • 773.804.8589
  • 773.804.8986
  • info@bigbuzzideagroup.com

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