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Powering Nonprofits to Fuel Positive Change

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How Big Is Your Fire?

How Big Is Your Fire?

By: Devin Ball Director of Operations Do you spend parts of your week addressing issues that unexpectedly require immediate attention and will create a much bigger issue if left unaddressed? At Big Buzz Idea Group, we refer to this phenomenon as “putting out fires.”  If you’re a living, breathing human, chances are you’ve had to “put out a fire” before. Putting out fires usually requires you to push other scheduled tasks further down on your to-do list, which could mean that today’s tasks become tomorrow’s tasks, this week’s tasks become next week’s tasks and so on.  As day-to-day duties are...

The Keys to Presenting Your Nonprofit Online

The Keys to Presenting Your Nonprofit Online

By: Kayla Walke Nonprofit Account Coordinator Knowing how to present your organization online is key for not only conveying and sharing your message with those who are unaware of your organization but also for maintaining current members.  When someone visits your website for the first time, the last thing you want is for them to struggle to find information or dig around for a donate button! Here are a few tips and tricks to remember when working on your organization’s website by focusing on the importance of making a good impression right off the bat. Homepage Perfection  When visiting your...

Client Spotlight: Hope For The Day

Client Spotlight: Hope For The Day

Name/Title: Allison Herman (she/her), Director of Education What is your organization and mission? Hope For The Day is a nonprofit movement empowering the conversation on proactive suicide prevention and mental health education. How many years do you have in the nonprofit industry? 1.5 years / Before working at Hope For The Day, I spent 10+ years working in marketing and advertising. I’ve also been volunteering in nonprofit organizations since childhood. How do you develop and grow your desired culture within your organization? I’m a big fan of leading with empathy and creating psychological safety for the passionate people who work...

Chart a Path for Nonprofit Success

Chart a Path for Nonprofit Success

By Melissa Lagowski Big Buzz Idea Group Founder/CEO/Queen Bee With all the tasks that are on your to-do list, how often are you able to take a step back and think strategically about where the association is headed and what you hope to accomplish? Too often, nonprofit leaders are rushed for time, so to meet all the demands on their time, they wash, rinse and repeat yearend planning documents without much consideration. But if you keep doing what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten. According to the National Center on Charitable Statistics, more than...

Are You Leaving Money On The Table?

Are You Leaving Money On The Table?

By Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group I was at a networking event and chatting with someone about post-COVID challenges, and he suggested that I should look into the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC). He gave me the name and number for an agency that had helped his large company receive hundreds of thousands of dollars back from the CARES Act. The next day, I called that company and learned they wanted to charge me a $10,000 fee just for a review. If I qualified for the program, they would charge a large fee per employee. My heart...

Client Spotlight: Cyberjutsu

Client Spotlight: Cyberjutsu

Name/Title: Mari Galloway, CEO & Founding Board Member What is your organization and mission? Cyberjutsu is a 501c3 cybersecurity community for women to grow and build their #cyberjutsutribe. We empower women to network and lead in the cybersecurity space through hands-on workshops, cyber games, professional development, conference participation, leadership and volunteer opportunities, and more. How many years do you have in the nonprofit industry? 10 Your nonprofit community. Your team. Your mission. Your Board of Directors. Your events. Your volunteers. Your sponsors. How do you manage it all day to day? I don’t, lol. Just kidding. But I wonder about...

Client Spotlight: Illinois Theatre Association

Client Spotlight: Illinois Theatre Association

Name/Title: Carmel DeStefano, Board President Organization: Illinois Theatre Association Mission: The Illinois Theatre Association is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to advocate for the important values that theatre at all levels in the state of Illinois bring to individuals as we work to expand hearts and minds through work both on the stage and off. Our work includes the important mission to inspire, engage, challenge, nurture, educate and empower artists and audiences to enhance the cultural landscape of Illinois, making our state a more conscious and compassionate community. Ultimately, we look to celebrate the essential power of the theatre...

The 3 Mistakes I Made Managing a Nonprofit

The 3 Mistakes I Made Managing a Nonprofit

By Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee It was October 1, 1999, when I began my first full-time position in the nonprofit world. I showed up excitedly and ready to dig in and get started. The president of the organization met me at the office, said the organization was looking forward to working with me, handed me the key to the office and walked out the door. Now what? As a staff of one, I was responsible for what would become 24 annual events, 12 newsletters and 8 committees. I remember looking around the office and trying to figure out where to...

Outsourcing: The Only Solution To Staffing Shortages

Outsourcing: The Only Solution To Staffing Shortages

By Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Debates continue about the “great resignation” and the fast-rising salary demands that are running rampant in the current hiring climate (also known as wage compression). As nonprofits and associations strive to serve their missions with diminishing resources, many are struggling to find the experienced workers they need at a salary they can afford. Just as frustrating, the labor shortage increases the demands on your existing staff (who are already taxed as a result of the pandemic), which results in higher levels of burnout. So, what is an organization to do? We’ve seen a recent rise...

Want To Retain Your Employees? Wellness in the Workplace Matters!

Want To Retain Your Employees? Wellness in the Workplace Matters!

By Cat Donovan Executive Assistant Employee wellness continues to be a topic circulating at the forefront of nonprofits and associations. The pandemic has escalated workplace pressures and shifted expectations placed on employees by both supervisors and also the employees themselves. For example, working from home has made it much easier for employees to check email at all hours of the day and night. Without the real separation of office and home, employees may be off the clock but essentially still “working” and may feel pressure to constantly check in, fearful that others are doing the same and, thus, they might...

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Check Out These Recent Posts

  • 8 Tips For Leading Productive Meetings
  • The Importance of Authenticity in Sales and Networking
  • How Big Is Your Fire?
  • The Keys to Presenting Your Nonprofit Online
  • Best Practices For Nonprofit Management
  • Client Spotlight: Hope For The Day
  • Chart a Path for Nonprofit Success

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501c3 Appreciation Association Association Management Big Buzz Idea Group Board Members Board of Directors Communication Communications Core Values Culture Development Digital Marketing Donations Donors Event Planner Event Planning Events Executive Director Fundraising Goal-Setting Gratitude Leadership Marketing mission Networking Nonprofit Nonprofit Board Members Nonprofit Leadership Nonprofit Management Nonprofit Organization NPO Organization Organization's Culture Organizational Growth Outsourcing pandemic Productivity Social Media Sponsors Sponsorship Staff Strategic Planning Virtual Volunteers

Insights Blog Archive

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

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CONTACT INFO

  • 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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