Creative Solutions & Innovations, Inc. Creative Solutions & Innovations, Inc.
Creative Solutions & Innovations, Inc.
  • Welcome
  • CS&I Blog
  • About
  • Shared Resources
  • Contact
  • Welcome
  • CS&I Blog
  • About
  • Shared Resources
  • Contact
Your Nonprofit’s Linchpin: Special Events
Building a Successful Fundraising Board

Brainstorming – Your Key to Creative Solutions

February 9, 2010 1 Comment Written by admin
“Imagination is more important than knowledge” Albert Einstein

Creative Thinking

What a dynamic session! I had the privilege of teaching another event management course for the Georgia Center for Nonprofit’s Nonprofit University.

I always encourage people to start the planning phase of all marketing communications initiatives with a brainstorming session. It is very useful when planning a new or updating an established special event.

Brainstorming creates a freewheeling environment in which everyone is encouraged to participate. There are no “wrong” or “bad” ideas.

Make sure participants have fun brainstorming. Encourage them to come up with as many ideas as possible, from the solidly practical to whimsical. Welcome creativity!

Here are some suggestions for holding a great brainstorming session. These are from Notes For Nonprofits :

  1. Set a Goal – This helps keep everyone on track
  2. Be Strategic – Invite people with diverging opinions. Be sure and create a mix of  big picture thinkers.
  3. Post an Agenda – Brainstorming doesn’t necessarily mean a free for all. Creating an outline will keep you on task and help you focus on specific sections.
  4. Start the session off with leading questions.
  5. Encourage everyone to speak.
  6. Determine data collection. I like to provide a flip chart so everyone can see all the responses.
  7. Set a time limit. I suggest you break the session into 1/2 hour segments. If not, the session tends to become dry.

Brainstorming to add to your next special event? Once the goal is set, hold your brainstorming session. Betsy Wiersma and Karl Strolberg suggest using four open-ended questions to add WOW to your event:

  • What will surprise our guests?
  • What will they talk about after the event?
  • What will leave a lasting impression?
  • What will be extra special or unique?

Have you had any successes brainstorming? I would love to hear from you!

Nonprofit Event Planning
brainstorming, creative solutions, nonprofit, planning, strategy

No Comments Yet

1 Ping/Trackback

  1. Creative Solutions Innovations Inc. | Atlanta GA | Blog | Lessons learned honoring First Lady Nancy Reagan - on March 15, 2016 at 3:27 pm

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Comments

  • 3 Lessons for Kenyan Activists from Irungu Houghton – Hisani Ideas on Learning 5 Indicators of Social Change
  • BAPPY on Why I love local newspapers
  • Creative Solutions Innovations Inc. | Atlanta GA | Blog | Do you really - really know your audience? - on Using The POST Method to Guide Nonprofit Marketing Communications
  • Creative Solutions Innovations Inc. | Atlanta GA | Blog | Social Change Communication on Learning 5 Indicators of Social Change
  • Creative Solutions Innovations Inc. | Atlanta GA | Blog | How Mobile Marketing is Changing the Way We Raise Funds on Add marketing strategy into your nonprofit strategic planning

Categories

  • Deborah's Musings
  • Nonprofit Communication
  • Nonprofit Consulting
  • Nonprofit Event Planning
  • Nonprofit Fundraising
  • Nonprofit Management
  • Nonprofit Strategic Marketing
  • Social Change Communication
  • Social Media

© Creative Solutions & Innovations, Inc. All rights reserved. •  Powered by WordPress