Wend was a private social impact and philanthropy organization working across education, Indigenous language, voting access, social justice, arts and culture, and forced migration. It operated quietly and by design kept a low public profile.
What I did
As Chief Strategist I steered financial strategy for a nine-figure budget, aligning resources across the portfolio with the organization's vision. I co-led strategic planning for multiple initiatives and built partnerships across education, the arts and social justice. I also kept the organization's culture intact while its people were distributed across distance and working on very different strategies.
The sunset
I oversaw the restructure and sunset of the organization, including the transition of its people, so the close was dignified and responsible for everyone involved. Wend sunset in fall 2024.
Why it matters
Few operators have run a deliberate wind-down. It calls for the same discipline as a launch: sequencing, stakeholder communication, people care and close attention to obligations.