"Raising" Your Board

It’s important to honor the time that your board members have served at your institution and continuously thank them for it. It might seem like common sense, but every time a board member gives you $500 for your capital campaign, thank her for both the check and the 15 years she might have spent teaching 5-year-olds to finger paint. People like her are the reason your institution has a fantastic reputation and is ready to grow.

Go from grassroots in the community to a community organization with roots
Since your board members might have come from staff or other groups associated with your organization, or been frends of the director for many years, they have seen your institution grow from servicing a few dozen people to what it is today. They might not have noticed that your budget is sizeable now or that your institution is responsible for the employment of several dozen people or more. In short, they might not have realized that your institution has grown considerably from its humble origins.