The Founder's Trap
The Founder's Trap
Market
Archetype
Mechanical
Natural
Tier
Developing
Trajectory Thumbprint
The Founder's Trap
What does this mean?
10-year flat revenue, below-market executive comp, and a small board. The organization survives purely on the sweat equity of a founder, making it utterly un-transferable.
The Path Forward
The Dispersal
Forces succession planning and structural maturity. It requires raising capacity-building funds to decouple the organization's survival from the founder's personal sacrifice.
The Dispersal
Institutional Health Scores
5-yr trend: The Founder's Trap ↓
Overall
51
Score
Governance
58
Score
Financial
40
Score
Program
60
Score
Title
-
Institutions
-
Avg Revenue
-
Risk Profile
Representative Institutions
Institutional Epochs
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Financial Era
Governance Era
Trajectory Era
Founders Trap
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2023 | Hidden | Hidden | 2.9% | 51 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | 1.3% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2021 | — | — | 1.6% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2020 | — | — | 1.8% | 55 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2019 | — | — | 1.7% | 51 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2018 | — | — | 1.8% | 55 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2017 | — | — | 2.4% | 51 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2016 | — | — | 2.2% | 51 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2015 | — | — | 1.6% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2014 | — | — | 1.6% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2013 | — | — | 1.5% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2012 | — | — | 1.4% | 55 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2011 | — | — | 1.5% | 51 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gail Samuel | Executive Director | Hidden | ||
| Jeffrey Dunn | Executive Director | Hidden | ||
| Maureen Flores | Chief Development Officer | Hidden | ||
| Chad Smith | Executive Director | Hidden | ||
| Timothy Genis | Timpani | Hidden | ||
| John A Ferrillo Jr | Principal Oboe | Hidden | ||
| Alexander Velinzon | Associate Concertmaster | Hidden | ||
| Richard Sebring | Principal Horn | Hidden | ||
| Toby Oft | Principal Trombone | Hidden | ||
| Katherine Decelles | Secretary | Hidden | ||
| Paul Eric Krauss | Chief Financial Officer | Hidden | ||
| Noubar Afeyan | Board Member | — | ||
| David Altshuler | Board Member | — | ||
| Holly Ambler | Board Member | — | ||
| William N Booth | Board Member | — | ||
| Gregory E Bulger | Board Member | — | ||
| Ronald G Casty | Board Member | — | ||
| Susan Bredhoff Cohen | Board Member | — | ||
| Richard F Connolly Jr | Board Member | — | ||
| Angela Q Crispi | Board Member | — | ||
| William Curry MD | Board Member | — | ||
| Phillip J Edmundson | Board Member | — | ||
| Thomas E Faust Jr | Board Member | — | ||
| Todd R Golub | Board Member | — | ||
| Michael Gordon | Board Member | — | ||
| Reverend Dr Ray Hammond | Board Member | — | ||
| Nathan Hayward III | Board Member | — | ||
| Ricki Tigert Helfer | Board Member | — | ||
| Brent L Henry | Board Member | — | ||
| Albert A Holman III | Board Member | — | ||
| Barbara W Hostetter | Board President | — | ||
| David C Howse | Board Member | — | ||
| Giselle J Joffre | Board Member | — | ||
| Stephen W Kidder | Board Member | — | ||
| Tom Kuo | Board Member | — | ||
| Jeffrey Leiden MD PhD | Board Member | — | ||
| Joyce G Linde | Board Member | — | ||
| John M Loder | Board President | — | ||
| Nancy K Lubin | Board Member | — | ||
| Joshua A Lutzker | Treasurer | — | ||
| Pamela L Peedin | Board Member | — | ||
| Steven R Perles | Board Member | — | ||
| Lina S Plantilla MD | Board Member | — | ||
| Andrew S Plump | Board Member | — | ||
| Wendy Shattuck | Board Member | — | ||
| Nicole M Stata | Board Member | — | ||
| Theresa M Stone | Board Member | — | ||
| Caroline Taylor | Board Member | — | ||
| Dr Christoph Westphal | Board Member | — | ||
| D Brooks Zug | Board Member | — | ||
| Blair Trippe | Board Member | — | ||
| Ted Berk | Board Member | — | ||
| Lynn A Dale | Board Member | — | ||
| Sean C Rush | Board Member | — | ||
| M Lee Pelton | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Volpe | Executive Director | Hidden | ||
| Gail Samuel | Executive Director | Hidden | ||
| Bart Reidy | Secretary | Hidden | ||
| Evelyn Barnes | Chief Financial Officer, Until 06-2022 | Hidden | ||
| Malcolm Lowe | Former Concertmaster | Hidden | ||
| Alexandra Fuchs | Chief Operating Officer | Hidden | ||
| Anthony Fogg | Artistic Director | Hidden | ||
| Lynn Larsen | Orchestra Mgr And Dir Of Orchestra Personnel | Hidden | ||
| John A Ferrillo Jr | Principal Oboe | Hidden | ||
| Thomas Rolfs Jr | Principal Trumpet | Hidden | ||
| Emily Fritz-Endres | Secretary | Hidden | ||
| Giselle J Joffre | Board Member | — | ||
| Stephen Kay | Board Member | — | ||
| Stephen W Kidder | Board Member | — | ||
| Jeffrey Leiden MD PhD | Board Member | — | ||
| Joyce G Linde | Board Member | — | ||
| John M Loder | Board Member | — | ||
| Nancy K Lubin | Board Member | — | ||
| Joshua A Lutzker | Treasurer | — | ||
| Carmine A Martignetti | Board Member | — | ||
| Susan W Paine | Board Member | — | ||
| Peter Palandjian | Board Member | — | ||
| Pamela L Peedin | Board Member | — | ||
| Steven R Perles | Board Member | — | ||
| Lina S Plantilla MD | Board Member | — | ||
| Wendy Shattuck | Board Member | — | ||
| Nicole M Stata | Board Member | — | ||
| Theresa M Stone | Board Member | — | ||
| Caroline Taylor | Board Member | — | ||
| Dr Christoph Westphal | Board Member | — | ||
| D Brooks Zug | Board Member | — | ||
| Tom Kuo | Board Member | — | ||
| Blair Trippe | Board Member | — | ||
| Noubar Afeyan | Board Member | — | ||
| David Altshuler | Board Member | — | ||
| Gregory E Bulger | Board Member | — | ||
| Holly Ambler | Board Member | — | ||
| William N Booth | Board Member | — | ||
| Ronald G Casty | Board Member | — | ||
| Susan Bredhoff Cohen | Board Member | — | ||
| Richard F Connolly Jr | Board Member | — | ||
| William Curry MD | Board Member | — | ||
| Phillip J Edmundson | Board Member | — | ||
| Thomas E Faust Jr | Board Member | — | ||
| Todd R Golub | Board Member | — | ||
| Michael Gordon | Board Member | — | ||
| Nathan Hayward III | Board Member | — | ||
| Ricki Tigert Helfer | Board Member | — | ||
| Brent L Henry | Board Member | — | ||
| Albert A Holman III | Board Member | — | ||
| Barbara W Hostetter | Board President | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Volpe until 06-2021 | Executive Director | Hidden | ||
| Evelyn Barnes | Chief Financial Officer | Hidden | ||
| Malcolm Lowe | Concertmaster | Hidden | ||
| Bart Reidy | Secretary | Hidden | ||
| John A Ferrillo Jr | Principal Oboe | Hidden | ||
| Anthony Fogg | Artistic Director | Hidden | ||
| Alexandra Fuchs | Chief Operating Officer | Hidden | ||
| Lynn Larsen | Orchestra Mgr And Dir Of Orchestra Personnel | Hidden | ||
| Elizabeth Rowe | Principal Flute | Hidden | ||
| William F Achtmeyer until 02-2021 | Board Member | — | ||
| Noubar Afeyan | Board Member | — | ||
| David Altshuler | Board Member | — | ||
| Gregory E Bulger | Board Member | — | ||
| Holly Ambler | Board Member | — | ||
| William N Booth | Board Member | — | ||
| Ronald G Casty | Board Member | — | ||
| Susan Bredhoff Cohen | Board Member | — | ||
| Richard F Connolly Jr | Board Member | — | ||
| Cynthia Curme - until 03-2021 | Board Member | — | ||
| William Curry MD | Board Member | — | ||
| Alan J Dworsky - until 01-2021 | Board Member | — | ||
| Phillip J Edmundson | Board Member | — | ||
| Thomas E Faust Jr | Board Member | — | ||
| Todd R Golub | Board Member | — | ||
| Michael Gordon | Board Member | — | ||
| Nathan Hayward III | Board Member | — | ||
| Ricki Tigert Helfer | Board Member | — | ||
| Brent L Henry | Board Member | — | ||
| Albert A Holman III | Board Member | — | ||
| Barbara W Hostetter | Board President | — | ||
| Giselle J Joffre | Board Member | — | ||
| Stephen Kay | Board Member | — | ||
| Stephen W Kidder | Board Member | — | ||
| Jeffrey Leiden MD PhD | Board Member | — | ||
| Joyce G Linde | Board Member | — | ||
| John M Loder | Board Member | — | ||
| Nancy K Lubin | Board Member | — | ||
| Joshua A Lutzker | Treasurer | — | ||
| Carmine A Martignetti | Board Member | — | ||
| Robert J Mayer MD until 03-2021 | Board Member | — | ||
| Susan W Paine | Board President | — | ||
| Peter Palandjian | Board Member | — | ||
| Pamela L Peedin | Board Member | — | ||
| Steven R Perles | Board Member | — | ||
| Lina S Plantilla MD | Board Member | — | ||
| Arthur I Segel until 03-2021 | Board Member | — | ||
| Wendy Shattuck | Board Member | — | ||
| Nicole M Stata | Board Member | — | ||
| Theresa M Stone | Board Member | — | ||
| Caroline Taylor | Board Member | — | ||
| Dr Christoph Westphal | Board Member | — | ||
| D Brooks Zug | Board Member | — | ||
| Gail Samuel beginning 06-2021 | Executive Director | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Volpe | Executive Director | Hidden | ||
| John A Ferrillo Jr | Principal Oboe | Hidden | ||
| Tamara Smirnova | Acting Concertmaster | Hidden | ||
| Thomas C Rolfs Jr | Principal Trumpet | Hidden | ||
| Elizabeth Rowe | Principal Flute | Hidden | ||
| Evelyn Barnes | Chief Financial Officer | Hidden | ||
| Timothy Genis | Timpanist | Hidden | ||
| Bart Reidy | Secretary | Hidden | ||
| William F Achtmeyer | Board Member | — | ||
| Noubar Afeyan | Board Member | — | ||
| David Altshuler | Board Member | — | ||
| Gregory E Bulger | Board Member | — | ||
| Holly Ambler | Board Member | — | ||
| William N Booth | Board Member | — | ||
| Ronald G Casty | Board Member | — | ||
| Susan Bredhoff Cohen | Board Member | — | ||
| Richard F Connolly Jr | Board Member | — | ||
| Cynthia Curme | Board Member | — | ||
| William Curry MD | Board Member | — | ||
| Alan J Dworsky | Board Member | — | ||
| Phillip J Edmundson | Board Member | — | ||
| Thomas E Faust Jr | Board Member | — | ||
| Todd R Golub | Board Member | — | ||
| Michael Gordon | Board Member | — | ||
| Nathan Hayward III | Board Member | — | ||
| Ricki Tigert Helfer | Board Member | — | ||
| Brent L Henry | Board Member | — | ||
| Albert A Holman III | Board Member | — | ||
| Barbara W Hostetter | Board President | — | ||
| Giselle J Joffre | Board Member | — | ||
| Stephen Kay | Board Member | — | ||
| Edmund Kelly | Board Member | — | ||
| Stephen W Kidder | Board Member | — | ||
| Jeffrey Leiden MD PhD | Board Member | — | ||
| Joyce G Linde | Board Member | — | ||
| John M Loder | Board Member | — | ||
| Nancy K Lubin | Board Member | — | ||
| Joshua A Lutzker | Treasurer | — | ||
| Carmine A Martignetti | Board Member | — | ||
| Robert J Mayer MD | Board Member | — | ||
| Susan W Paine | Board President | — | ||
| Peter Palandjian | Board Member | — | ||
| Pamela L Peedin | Board Member | — | ||
| Steven R Perles | Board Member | — | ||
| Lina S Plantilla MD | Board Member | — | ||
| Arthur I Segel | Board Member | — | ||
| Wendy Shattuck | Board Member | — | ||
| Nicole M Stata | Board Member | — | ||
| Theresa M Stone | Board Member | — | ||
| Caroline Taylor | Board Member | — | ||
| Dr Christoph Westphal | Board Member | — | ||
| D Brooks Zug | Board Member | — |
Officer contact details, exact compensation figures, and active litigation are available to verified members.
Request access
Score breakdown
Score breakdown
Financial resilience
40 / 100
weight 40%
Governance risk
58 / 100
weight 40%
Program scale
60 / 100
weight 20%
Overall
51 / 100
Developing
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 245 other orgs in MA with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: program score sits 31 points above the peer median (60 vs. 29).
5-year trend: The Founder's Trap
10-year flat revenue, below-market executive comp, and a small board. The organization survives purely on the sweat equity of a founder, making it utterly un-transferable.
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 2.9% sits within the sector's healthy band (18–22%).
What would change this score
No specific high-impact levers identified — this org's score is balanced across components.
Improving governance is a board decision. These are the levers.