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Powering Nonprofits to Fuel Positive Change

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Interim Directors Provide Strength in Times of Transition

Interim Directors Provide Strength in Times of Transition

Interview With: Kimberly Bares President, PLACE Consulting Nonprofit organizations are, by nature, heavily dependent on their Executive Directors, so when an ED resigns or has to be let go, the Board of Directors is often overwhelmed with the looming candidate search that is suddenly before them. In fact, many organizations come to a screeching halt because the Board doesn’t know how to function without an Executive Director. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This month, we interviewed Kimberly Bares, President of PLACE Consulting, who has previously filled the role of Interim Director. BBIG: How did you first become...

Boost Your Daily Productivity

Boost Your Daily Productivity

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO, Founder and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group Do you find yourself buried in overwhelm while reviewing the weekly to-do list? Does it feel as though you work and work but never get to the one thing that needed to get done today? Are you constantly struggling to tame an inbox that constantly floweth over? When overwhelm hits me, I am instantly reminded of Elton John’s “Circle of Life:” “From the day we arrive on the planet, and blinking, step into the Sun, There’s more to be seen than can ever be seen; More to do...

SPONSORSHIP 101: Growing Nonprofit Revenues

SPONSORSHIP 101: Growing Nonprofit Revenues

Part One of a Two-Part Series (Click here to read Part Two) By: Melissa Lagowski CEO, Founder and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group Be it donors or dinners or annual bake sales, nonprofit organizations live and die by their budgets and funding streams. Finding a steady revenue stream may seem difficult but it also might just be hidden in plain sight: look around to discover that opportunities exist to develop a sponsorship program that can play mightily into your success. Established nonprofits already have an underlying support system in their board of directors, staff members, social media followers, donors,...

Innovative Approach to Volunteer Recruitment

Innovative Approach to Volunteer Recruitment

By: Melissa Lagowski President, Founder and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group   After months of planning for your upcoming annual event, you find that there’s very little time available to work on the volunteer component of staffing the operations. Without volunteers, the event comes to a screeching halt. Ugh. How are you going to find hundreds of volunteers to fill the schedule? And when are you going to find the TIME to reach out and find these volunteers? It takes hundreds of hours of outreach, communications, sign-up, tracking, scheduling and follow-up while, at the same time, you are juggling...

How to Rewire Your Brain with Positive Thinking

How to Rewire Your Brain with Positive Thinking

By: Vishen Lakhiani Founder, Mindvalley What is positive thinking?   Many motivational speakers have spoken time and again on the power of positive thinking. It may sound cliché but it really does work. In fact, positive thinking has gained so much traction since the late 90’s that psychology has a separate field to study it called “positive psychology” spearheaded by the famous Dr. Martin Seligman. Positive thinking simply means focusing your thoughts toward the bright side in any situation. If you choose to direct your mental and emotional attitude this way, it affects the outcome and results in your favor. How...

Lessons Learned in Nonprofit Management

Lessons Learned in Nonprofit Management

By: Melissa Lagowski President, Founder and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group At 11 years of age, I wrote to the Muscular Dystrophy Association and requested a kit for creating backyard carnivals to fundraise for those who struggled with Muscular Dystrophy. At the time, I could have never imagined devoting the rest of my life to helping nonprofits, but I went on to recognize that contributing to nonprofit organizations is what I believe my purpose-driven work to be. I have learned so much through my service in the nonprofit sector over the years. The lessons weren’t always clear at the...

Spend Less. Do More. Your Guide to Effective Outsourcing

Spend Less. Do More. Your Guide to Effective Outsourcing

By: Melissa Lagowski President, Founder and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group When I first became an Executive Director, I was so excited! I couldn’t wait to roll up my sleeves and dig into the work to make my organization and the community prosper and thrive. But it didn’t take long to realize that running an organization as a team of one was exhausting, though I couldn’t fully understand why the task seemed so daunting. After many years, as I reflect on my first nonprofit role, it now seems so clear: executive directors are expected to wear many hats. How...

The Board’s Hot (Summer) Topics

The Board’s Hot (Summer) Topics

By: Amy Schiffman Principal and Co-Founder, Giving Tree Associates It’s that time of year when most boards are closing the books on this fiscal year and planning for the next.  Perhaps we’re spending time reviewing new programmatic, fundraising and operational strategies or putting the finishing touches on next year’s budget.  But I’d like to make a case for summer being the right time to consider the health of your organization’s governance program.  And if that sounds either too vague or glaringly obvious, let’s dig down a little deeper, unpack the possibilities, and prioritize.   During this year’s summer board retreat, why...

Four Step Process to Building Better Buy-In

Four Step Process to Building Better Buy-In

By: Melissa Lagowski President, Founder and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~Maya Angelou Think back to the last time that you had an AMAZING customer experience. Was it on the phone? A retail experience in a store? Perhaps it was during a meal at a restaurant or café. It might have even been your morning barista. What made it truly special for you? For me, it can be as simple as a smile that...

Communication Tips to Advance Your Organization

Communication Tips to Advance Your Organization

By: Melissa Lagowski President, Founder and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group As our peak event season is ramping up, I am constantly reminded how crucial communication is to success! From staff to volunteers to program participants to donors to Board members, communication is vital to organizational success, and yet, due to the demands and constraints on our time and attention, it is the one thing that often gets shorted. Take a minute to make a plan: Create a standard communication policy. It took me years to learn the importance of this one simple piece of advice. Actually, I don’t...

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Check Out These Recent Posts

  • 8 Tips For Leading Productive Meetings
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  • Client Spotlight: Hope For The Day
  • Chart a Path for Nonprofit Success

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Insights Blog Archive

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

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