Mission Drift
What does this mean?
Highly volatile revenue swings year over year paired with fluctuating Program Scores. The organization is constantly pivoting to chase restricted grant funding rather than building a sustainable core.
The Path Forward
The Lodestar
A radical recommitment to the core mission. It requires the organization to gain the strength to say 'no' to restricted funding that pulls them away from their true purpose.
Title
Representative Institutions
Institutional Epochs
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | — | — | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | — | 37 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2021 | — | — | 136.4% | 24 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2020 | — | — | — | 47 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2019 | — | — | — | 43 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2018 | — | — | — | 47 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2017 | — | — | — | 37 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch | |
| 2016 | — | — | — | 37 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch | |
| 2015 | — | — | — | 37 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch | |
| 2014 | — | — | — | 37 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch | |
| 2013 | — | — | — | 37 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2012 | — | — | — | 41 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch | |
| 2011 | — | — | — | 41 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Chesser | Executive Director | 40.2% of Rev | ||
| Sarah Moore | Board Member | 0.0% of Rev | ||
| Steve McErleane | Board President | — | ||
| Christine Saplin | Secretary | — | ||
| Stuart Neufeld | Treasurer | — | ||
| Edward Noel Wilson | Board Member | — | ||
| Christia Wicks | Board Member | — | ||
| Elizabeth Wolf | Board Member | — | ||
| BJ Costello | Counsel | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 700 other orgs in NY with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 11 points below the peer median (20 vs. 31).
5-year trend: Mission Drift
Highly volatile revenue swings year over year paired with fluctuating Program Scores. The organization is constantly pivoting to chase restricted grant funding rather than building a sustainable core.
Overall score has gone from 43 → 33 over 5 years (declining by 10 points). A multi-year directional move of this magnitude is a signal worth investigating.
What's driving this score
- All-volunteer org with no paid officers — governance signal is neutral (default 50), not absent.
- Financial resilience score in the bottom quartile — reserves and liabilities ratios warrant review.
What would change this score
The two changes that would most improve this score:
- Build cash reserves to at least 3 months of operating expenses — moves financial resilience score meaningfully (~10 points).
Improving governance is a board decision. These are the levers.