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Powering Nonprofits to Fuel Positive Change

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Board Nominating: A Better Way

Board Nominating: A Better Way

By Brad Ball Vice President Big Buzz Idea Group “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” – Douglas Adams Simply too many organizations think about bringing new people onto the board of directors as a last-minute activity. They wait until just before the Annual Meeting, have a few quick, quiet conversations about who has time and is willing to join the board for the next term. Those people say ‘yes,’ the names are hastily approved, and thus, the next year’s board of directors is born. And this story repeats itself, often with just...

How to Develop Your Nonprofit’s Audience Persona

How to Develop Your Nonprofit’s Audience Persona

By: Lidia Varesco Racoma Brand Strategist & Creative Marketer Lidia Varesco Design Determining your organization’s audience is a crucial part of branding and marketing. Developing a persona for each segment of your audience provides a framework for your content and assures that your outreach is strategic, focused and targeted. What Is a Persona? A persona is a representation of the target audience segment you are trying to reach based on internal data and research, and it includes the basics of who they are, as well as insights into their challenges and values. Some personas even include a name and image...

Put Some Zing in Your Zoom (Or Any Other Virtual Meeting)

Put Some Zing in Your Zoom (Or Any Other Virtual Meeting)

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Routine “bored” meetings have transitioned from conference rooms to Zoom rooms for today’s remote workforce (and many are still a challenge to get enthused about…). Video conferencing is here to stay, so if you want your meetings to stand out while you increase engagement and avoid contributing to your staff’s zoom fatigue, you’ll want to pay attention. Whether you are using Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts or one of the many other online video platforms, it is always a good idea to look for ways to increase the engagement of your...

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?...

Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part II

Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part II

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group In “Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part I” we covered ideas for you to utilize relative to email marketing, leveraging your community and capitalizing on some basic public relations tactics. Part II will advance the promotional discussions and cover more ideas for digital exposure. Online Marketing Marketing online via social media remains an important part of overall promotions for nonprofits and associations so we encourage our clients to include online promotions to achieve maximum exposure. Social media options can be a bit overwhelming, so it’s best to compare the various...

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...

Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part I

Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part I

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group I recently heard a horror story about a nonprofit that was promised a packed room for their annual fundraiser. The development team guaranteed that the tables would be full and the event would be a huge success. I don’t know all the intricacies, but in the end, their promotions clearly failed as there were not even three full tables and it was a huge flop. This is everyone’s worst nightmare. We are constantly tasked with growing our audiences and engaging new supporters but often don’t know where to begin. This list...

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...

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...

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

  • 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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Insights Blog Archive

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

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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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