The mantra for businesses is growth, growth and more growth. The opposite should apply to nonprofits. Nonprofits are created to achieve societal change. Ultimate success occurs when the nonprofit’s mission is achieved and its existence is no longer needed.

Extinction, not growth, should therefore be the endgame for nonprofits. For many reasons, this generally is not the case. After all, it is hard to celebrate the death of an organization, rather than its birth and growth.

However, there are enlightened nonprofit boards and executives of charities – and even foundations – who understand the value of a focused mission, accomplishing it and then closing out.