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Powering Nonprofits to Fuel Positive Change

773.804.8589
info@bigbuzzideagroup.com
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Crisis Management: Are You Ready?

Crisis Management: Are You Ready?

By Melissa Lagowski Big Buzz Idea Group CEO/Founder/Queen Bee It is a moment that every nonprofit executive hopes will never come: Your day is flowing like most days, and all is well when, in a blink, a single phone call disrupts the status quo and turns your world upside down. Dazed and confused now, how do you react? What are the next steps? Who ya gonna call? As part of your fiduciary responsibilities to your association, it is prudent to have a crisis communication plan in place. This is a task that many organizations put on their to-do list, but...

Keep Your Mission in Mind to Maximize Results

Keep Your Mission in Mind to Maximize Results

By Melissa Lagowski CEO / Queen Bee / Founder Big Buzz Idea Group Nonprofit organizations exist to serve a very specific purpose. You know that your mission should always be the driving force for every project, program and event that you host. But how focused on that mission are you? What about your Board of Directors and your staff? Are you utilizing yours properly for decision-making? There are times when a nonprofit might accidentally lose its way. It may be a well-intended meeting that veers off-course. The enthusiasm builds and before you realize it, the committee has created an entire...

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?...

Budgeting for Your Nonprofit in Uncertain Times

Budgeting for Your Nonprofit in Uncertain Times

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Far too many nonprofits that we talk to have a wash-rinse-repeat model of budgeting that we at Big Buzz do not generally support. For those readers who have been following us for a while, you know that we believe that forward-thinking budgeting leads to the growth of your organization. We fully believe that when it comes to budgeting, it is imperative to do a deeper dive about where you are and where you want to go as an association. You need to annually evaluate which resources are necessary to elevate your...

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...

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...

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.

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Check Out These Recent Posts

  • Client Spotlight: Hope For The Day
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  • Are You Leaving Money On The Table?
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  • Client Spotlight: Illinois Theatre Association
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Insights Blog Archive

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

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

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