Structural Deficit
What does this mean?
Persistently low financial health over 5 years despite strong programmatic output. They are borrowing from their future (or bleeding an endowment) to pay for today's programs.
The Path Forward
The Truth-Teller
Forces necessary, painful cuts to preserve the core. It demands that the organization stop borrowing from its future and align its current programmatic output with actual sustainable revenue.
Title
Representative Institutions
Institutional Epochs
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2023 | Hidden | Hidden | 7.1% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | 2.4% | 43 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2021 | — | — | 9.0% | 30 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 10.1% | 29 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2019 | — | — | — | 29 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2018 | — | — | — | 25 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2017 | — | — | 12.4% | 35 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2016 | — | — | — | 47 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2015 | — | — | — | 47 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2014 | — | — | — | 37 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2013 | — | — | — | 47 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2012 | — | — | — | 45 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2010 | — | — | — | 45 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VERSHAWN SANDERS-WARD | Executive Director | 7.1% of Rev | ||
| CATRINA FRANKLIN | Board President | — | ||
| YEWANDE MADUEKWE | Board President | — | ||
| ANN CARTER | Treasurer | — | ||
| LOLA ENIOLORUNDA | Secretary | — | ||
| SARA COLEMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| LAKESHA LUNDRY | Board Member | — | ||
| ANDRE GILL | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vershawn Sanders Ward | Executive Director | 4.4% of Rev | ||
| Catrina Franklin | Board President | — | ||
| Yewande Maduekwe | Board President | — | ||
| Azeema Akram | Secretary | — | ||
| Ann Carter | Treasurer | — | ||
| Brandi Head | Board Member | — | ||
| Kendell Lebray | Board Member | — | ||
| Derrick Manuel | Board Member | — | ||
| Tia Miller | Board Member | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 196 other orgs in IL with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 36 points below the peer median (0 vs. 36).
5-year trend: Structural Deficit
Persistently low financial health over 5 years despite strong programmatic output. They are borrowing from their future (or bleeding an endowment) to pay for today's programs.
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 7.1% sits within the sector's 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:
- 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.