Elementum

Wind-Down Decision.

Make the decision to close a clear, honest, board-owned choice made for the mission, not one drifted into by exhaustion or made alone in despair.

First in Wind Down with Dignity, in a real board discussion.

Face the decision squarely

Question	Honest answer
Why is continuing no longer the best way to serve the mission?
What were the alternatives, a merger, a partnership, new leadership, and why do they not hold?
Is this a mission decision, or is it exhaustion or a temporary setback talking?
Would the people we serve be better cared for by another organization?

Question

Honest answer

Why is continuing no longer the best way to serve the mission?

What were the alternatives, a merger, a partnership, new leadership, and why do they not hold?

Is this a mission decision, or is it exhaustion or a temporary setback talking?

Would the people we serve be better cared for by another organization?

The honesty test: if a rested, clear-eyed version of us looked at this in six months, would they agree it is time to close?

Set the guiding principles for doing it well

The people we serve come first.

The staff are treated well.

The mission is handed on.

Every obligation is met.

The board's decision, recorded

A sound decision to close is made clearly, owned by the board, grounded in the mission, and reached after the alternatives were genuinely weighed, not out of a single hard season. If the honesty test gives you pause, return to the Restructuring Diagnostic and test whether a merger or partnership could let the mission continue first. Feeds the Mission and People Transfer Plan.

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