Compensation Escalation Cycle
What does this mean?
Revenue grows modestly, but top officer compensation grows consistently for 5 years, breaching danger zones. The executive is negotiating aggressive raises against a compliant board.
The Path Forward
The Steward
Re-establishes board supremacy over executive extraction. It freezes compensation and mandates that all future financial rewards be tied strictly to verifiable mission expansion.
Title
Representative Institutions
Institutional Epochs
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2024 | Hidden | Hidden | 44.7% | 30 | Critical Intervention Needed | Gov Risk | |
| 2023 | — | — | 43.2% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Gov Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | 25.7% | 36 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2021 | — | — | 40.1% | 36 | Governance-Stressed | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 36.8% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2019 | — | — | 36.7% | 22 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2018 | — | — | 34.9% | 24 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2017 | — | — | 36.8% | 29 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2016 | — | — | 37.0% | 22 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2015 | — | — | 33.3% | 28 | Critical Intervention Needed | Gov Risk | |
| 2014 | — | — | — | 41 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch | |
| 2013 | — | — | — | 41 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2012 | — | — | — | 51 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2011 | — | — | — | 37 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2026
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zenas Baer | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Jenness | Board Member | — | ||
| Amanda Myhre | Board Member | — | ||
| Scott Ecker | Board Member | — | ||
| Rachel Geinert | Board Member | — | ||
| David Huebner | Board Member | — | ||
| Rachel Asleson | Board President | — | ||
| Chelsea Brown | Secretary | — | ||
| Forrest Steinhoff | Treasurer | — | ||
| Tim Peterson | Board President | — | ||
| Monika Browne-Ecker | Executive Director | — | ||
| Jon Leiseth | Artistic Director | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zenas Baer | Board Member | — | ||
| Lori Horvik | Board Member | — | ||
| Forrest Steinhoff | Board Member | — | ||
| Tucker Lucas | Board Member | — | ||
| David Huebner | Board Member | — | ||
| Rachel Asleson | Board President | — | ||
| Chelsea Brown | Secretary | — | ||
| Tim Peterson | Treasurer | — | ||
| Carrie Wintersteen | Key Employee | — | ||
| Colt Neidhardt | Executive Director | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zenas Baer | Board Member | — | ||
| Scott Ecker | Board Member | — | ||
| Mik Reid | Board Member | — | ||
| Crystal Cossette-Knight | Board Member | — | ||
| Missy Teeters | Board Member | — | ||
| Anthony Faris | Board President | — | ||
| Maureen Olsen | Secretary | — | ||
| Rachel Asleson | Board President | — | ||
| Tim Peterson | Treasurer | — | ||
| Monika Browne-Ecker | Key Employee | — | ||
| Carolyn Wintersteen | Executive Director | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 174 other orgs in MN with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 23 points below the peer median (15 vs. 38).
5-year trend: Compensation Escalation Cycle
Revenue grows modestly, but top officer compensation grows consistently for 5 years, breaching danger zones. The executive is negotiating aggressive raises against a compliant board.
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 44.7% is well above the sector's 90th percentile (healthy band: 18–22%).
- 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:
- Reduce top-officer compensation from 44.7% to under 22% of revenue — would move governance score by ~40 points.
- Separate signing authority from fundraising authority when both are held by one person — removes the concentration penalty (~12 points).
Improving governance is a board decision. These are the levers.