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Powering Nonprofits to Fuel Positive Change

773.804.8589
info@bigbuzzideagroup.com
Big Buzz Idea GroupBig Buzz Idea Group
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Losing Control? Reclaim Your Time!

Losing Control? Reclaim Your Time!

By Melissa Lagowski Big Buzz Idea Group Founder/CEO/Queen Bee Losing Control? Reclaim Your Time! According to the data available, “only 20% of people feel their work is under control daily.” As far back as I can remember, every nonprofit staffer I know has felt the stress of being buried by an enormous and never-ending workload. The industry is known for being notoriously understaffed while still needing to meet the deadlines of the association. Along came 2020 (when everything felt strange, uncertain and uncomfortable) and people remained just as busy, but it was a different kind of busy. The comfort of...

Cross-Train Your Team for Better Outcomes

Cross-Train Your Team for Better Outcomes

By Brad Ball Vice President Big Buzz Idea Group As a leader, you’ve likely spent plenty of time and money hiring just the right person for each role on your team. Here at Big Buzz Idea Group, we have a quote we frequently reference from author Rudyard Kipling: “For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.” Successful teams (the pack) are built from each individual team member (the wolf) bringing their best effort to the company and to the job every day. We count on each other for individual excellence...

Something Good: Building Your Team’s Connection

Something Good: Building Your Team’s Connection

By Brad Ball Vice President Big Buzz Idea Group Celebrating wins and recognizing opportunities for improvement are crucial components of successful and connected teams. Each week, the staff at Big Buzz Idea Group meets on Monday and Friday mornings and included on those agendas is “Something Good” and “Something Better.” By taking just a few minutes each week to connect about successes and SNAFUs, we enjoy a deeper connection to one another and the work we do for our clients. Something Good “The power of progress is fundamental to human nature, but few managers understand it or know how to...

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...

Self-Care: A Necessity for Successful Leadership

Self-Care: A Necessity for Successful Leadership

By: Melissa Lagowski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Have you ever lost sleep at night with the feeling that you aren’t meeting the needs of your nonprofit? Do you devote all your time and effort successfully leading the organization only to receive that one negative comment from a board member that leaves you beating yourself up for days? Are you struggling with keeping your association – as well as your staff, board and volunteers – navigating current events to find yourself completely depleted at the end of the day? There is no “one way” to run a nonprofit organization....

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...

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...

Conference Call Hero – 6 Tips to Master the Art of Video and Audio Conferencing

Conference Call Hero – 6 Tips to Master the Art of Video and Audio Conferencing

By: Brad Ball Vice President Big Buzz Idea Group According to a 2017 Gallup study, nearly one half of the American workforce spends at least some time working from home (WFH). While the study doesn’t specifically identify nonprofit professionals as part of the inquiry, experience tells us that WFH is becoming more commonplace all the way around. One of the more important ways to connect when team members or volunteers are working from home is via the conference call. Available as both dial-in audio-only and increasingly common video conference, here’s a list of how to conference like a pro. Know...

4 Productivity Tips to Elevate Your Nonprofit

4 Productivity Tips to Elevate Your Nonprofit

By: Melissa Lagwoski CEO/Founder/Queen Bee Big Buzz Idea Group Do you feel overwhelmed by the demands of your organization? Struggling to balance all of the responsibilities in your work week? Are the pressures of your nonprofit spilling over into your personal time? These common challenges can happen throughout the year but there are simple actions that will remove those issues for more productivity. And January is a great time to make a few small changes to reclaim your time and elevate your organization to new heights! Identify Your Priorities Take some time to get clear about what you must do...

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...

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Check Out These Recent Posts

  • Losing Control? Reclaim Your Time!
  • Client Spotlight: Old Town School of Folk Music
  • From Awareness to Action: Using Social Media to Reach Your Goals
  • SPONSORSHIP 101: Growing Nonprofit Revenues
  • 8 Tips For Leading Productive Meetings
  • The Importance of Authenticity in Sales and Networking
  • How Big Is Your Fire?

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Insights Blog Archive

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

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

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