By Melissa Lagowski Founder/CEO/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group “Larger nonprofits, with annual budgets exceeding $1 million, are adopting AI tools at nearly twice the rate of smaller organizations (66% vs. 34%), underscoring a growing digital divide,” according to the 2025 AI Benchmark Report which appeared in the NonProfit PRO. If you have been too busy to look into what artificial intelligence (AI) can do, you are missing an opportunity to gain valuable support. Nonprofit and association professionals can save time and increase efficiency in a variety of ways. Here are just a few ideas to get started: -Data Entry:...
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 Julia Schroeder Marketing & Nonprofit Account Coordinator Big Buzz Idea Group Change is inevitable for any nonprofit or business, just as people experience times of uncertainty in their own lives. Someone may pass away or lose a job they were counting on to pay the bills. A nonprofit organization may need to dissolve due to a lack of resources or difficulty keeping its supporters engaged. When sudden change occurs – perhaps a loss in major funding or a board member decides to leave before their term is up – the organization may need to scramble to put all the...
By Melissa Lagowski Founder/CEO/Queen Bee Successful financial management is one of the greatest keys to the sustainability of your nonprofit or association. The accuracy of your numbers is crucial for day-to-day funding of staffing, programming and strategic planning. And yet, depending on the source, 40% of nonprofit leaders and 60% of small business owners say they are not good at bookkeeping. Accounting is a highly-regulated area of importance for your organization, and yet most nonprofits do not invest in securing the specialists needed to manage their finances. And even when an association does hire a bookkeeper, leadership might not know...
By Melissa Lagowski Founder/CEO/Queen Bee If your nonprofit or association manages cash flow or oversees the filing of financial documentation on a regular basis, check out these warning signs that indicate when it’s time to hire a new bookkeeper. 1. Missed Deadlines Reconciliations and reporting are on a steady and predictable cycle. Bank statements are issued by the end of the month, so the bookkeeper should be able to reconcile all accounts and provide the monthly reports by the 15th of the following month. Governmental deadlines are also established and follow a regular pattern for submissions. If your filings are...
By Amanda Lovell Digital Marketing Manager Big Buzz Idea Group Do you know the potential costs and impacts that a cyberattack could have on your organization? Are you prepared? In today’s digital age, nonprofits are increasingly becoming targets for cyberattacks, data breaches and ransomware. Your organization’s cybersecurity efforts are crucial, not only to protect sensitive information from theft and damage, but also to maintain the trust and confidence of your stakeholders and your members. Here are some key stats that every nonprofit needs to know: 50% of NGOS reported being targeted by a cyberattack in 2021. 500K confidential records of...
By Melissa Lagowski Founder/CEO/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Every time we interact with another person, we make an impression. Each interaction—especially our very first one with someone—is an opportunity to establish a genuine connection and build a positive relationship. A business may call it a “brand image” or “company image,” but this concept applies to a nonprofit too. Your organization creates its own “brand image” through each touchpoint it has with donors, volunteers, people you serve, and others in the community. Have you paused to think about all those touchpoints and what type of impression your organization is making?...
Staff Report Melissa Lagowski, Founder and CEO of Big Buzz Idea Group, has been selected to serve as a faculty member at the Institute for Organization Management (IOM), the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “It is such an honor to be invited to join the faculty at IOM! We at Big Buzz have always believed in sharing information and lessons learned from our experiences with others in the field so that we can make a greater impact in the world, and this will allow us to continue to do that work on a larger scale,” Lagowski...
By Cat Donovan Executive Assistant Big Buzz Idea Group Navigating the complex landscape of sales tax is a critical task for nonprofit organizations, requiring a thorough understanding of numerous regulations, exceptions and exemptions. It’s up to nonprofit leaders to stay informed about these intricacies to ensure compliance and optimize their financial operations. It is important to keep in mind that sales tax is a state concept, and the regulations will vary by state law. Exempt Organizations Overview Non-profit status is an income tax concept and status, and doesn’t necessarily mean the organization is exempt from sales tax. The Illinois Department...
By Tricia Fusilero Association Manager Big Buzz Idea Group In the vibrant world of nonprofit organizations, time is precious. Every minute spent in a board meeting is a minute invested in moving a mission forward. To make those moments count even more, many nonprofits are turning to a handy little tool: the consent agenda. This ingenious approach transforms board meetings into streamlined gatherings, where routine matters are bundled up neatly, leaving more room for the good stuff—like brainstorming big ideas and making magic happen. At its core, a consent agenda is a bundle of uncontroversial items and everyday tasks that...
