End of Life Plan

End of life Plan: Free geek needs to be prepared if it is ever forced to close.
List of Policies - Policy Development

Policy

Free Geek annually estimates the amount of money needed to operate and the amount of money needed to settle any outstanding financial commitments. If cash on hand drops under an amount equivalent to six weeks of operating expenses combined with the amount needed to settle outstanding financial commitments, then Free Geek will shift to shutdown mode to settle all outstanding commitments and clear out hazardous e-waste from building. Free Geek's board of directors may also authorize the termination of the organization, in which case Free Geek will also shift to shutdown mode.

Annotations

Definitions

Cash on hand

The amount of money in the Free Geek's safe, bank accounts, and all other liquid assets.

Shutdown mode

The main activities of the organization would be redirected to terminating the day to day business of the organization, emptying the building of all hazardous and non-hazardous material. Some of Free Geek's regular activities could continue during this phase as long as they further the aim of ending the organization's activities. Sales, refurbishment, and disbursements could continue as needed, or items could be processed for recycling.

Six weeks of operating expenses

This should typically be calculated by first determining the last calendar year's actual operating expenses and multiplying by 11.54%. Other circumstances that affect expected expenses should be taken into account if there are known and significant changes.

Outstanding financial commitments

This should be determined by examining all contracts and leases and determining the amount needed to settle them. This may be the entire balance on the life of the contract, but it may be a lesser amount if there is a buy out clause in the agreement. For example, the current lease with McGuire Bearing says we can end the lease with four months notice, so four months worth of rent would be a part of the outstanding debts amount.

Goals

• empty the building of all hazardous and non-hazardous material
• identify material that can be sold (without compromising our mission or principles)
• identify material that can be given away (without compromising our mission or principles)

Timeline

Day 1

Cash on hand drops below trigger amount. Layoffs of all bargaining unit staff are announced to the union. Notification to board of directors and key volunteers are sent.

Day 2-7

Hold a board meeting to apprise the board of the situation. Schedule an official dissolution board meeting.

Identify job counseling options for staff.

Identify alternative nonprofits that may be able to service clients and customers.

Determine what reuse-bound items will be diverted directly to recycling.

Estimate and schedule vendor pickups.

Pay or settle outstanding debts.

Inform all contracted donors and vendors of imminent closure of Free Geek's business and facility.

Day 8

Union has until this day to respond, requesting a meeting to discuss options. This meeting should be scheduled a soon as feasible, even if before this date.

Day 9

Notify donors. Halt hardware donation receiving. Re-orient all jobs to shutdown activities.

Day 10-29

Honor staff, board, and volunteers. Give them credit and thanks.

Hold a board meeting where the board votes to dissolve the organization. Record that decision in the board minutes.

Document Free Geek's existence. Write down what we have done, our history, our research, the knowledge we have gained. Give the documentation to the Oregon Historical Society and the Nonprofit Association of Oregon.

Inventory all assets, such as money, furniture, web domains, property, mailing lists, etc. Then pass them on to another nonprofit, sell them and use the proceeds to pay your bills, or return them if appropriate.

Day 30

Target date for an empty building.

Shut down all line operations. Lay off all workers not needed for final dissolution and clearing out.

Tax and other regulations

File a formal intent to close with your state (usually the Secretary of State office).

File a final Form 990 tax return with the IRS within 4 months and 15 days of terminating your organization.

Notes

• As decided Board of Directors meeting October 2008 the plan was simply "If cash on hand drops under $75,000 shift to shutdown mode to clear out hazardous e-waste from building". The board also approve a one time budget expense of $1000 to have staff to estimate/refine cost of shutdown (in 3-6 months) and policy. This work was never completed.
• As Free Geek has grown and changed, it has become apparant that the $75,000 trigger amount is too little. For example, Article 21 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement requires 30 days notice of layoffs, and a shutdown would almost certainly be considered a layoff situation. $75,000 represented about three weeks of operating expenses in 2010 and 2011. Management suggests doubling this amount and re-phrasing the amount to be a formula. --RfS 19:52, 17 March 2012 (UTC)