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.
Institutional Epochs
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | — | 2.2% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2022 | — | — | 2.9% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2021 | — | — | 2.6% | 55 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 3.9% | 51 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2019 | — | — | 2.2% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2018 | — | — | 3.2% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2017 | — | — | 2.8% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2016 | — | — | 1.9% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2015 | — | — | 2.1% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2014 | — | — | 1.6% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2013 | — | — | 1.9% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2012 | — | — | 1.9% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2011 | — | — | 2.1% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gail M Harrity Term 321 | Board President | 0.4% of Rev | ||
| Timothy F Rub | Executive Director | 0.3% of Rev | ||
| Deborah Johnston | Treasurer | 0.3% of Rev | ||
| Jonathan L Peterson | Board Member | 0.3% of Rev | ||
| William Weinstein Term 821 | Board Member | 0.3% of Rev | ||
| William Petersen | Secretary | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| Katherine E Reilly | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| Danielle SmereczynskiTerm 122 | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| Jessica Sharpe | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| Al Shaikoli Term 921 | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| Carlos Basualdo | Artistic Director | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| Christine Doobinin | Board Member | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| Amachi Ackah | Board Member | — | ||
| Marta Adelson | Board Member | — | ||
| John R Alchin | Board Member | — | ||
| Dennis Alter | Board Member | — | ||
| Eduardo Ardiles | Board Member | — | ||
| Barbara Aronson | Board Member | — | ||
| Andrea M Baldeck MD | Board Member | — | ||
| Sandra K Baldino | Board Member | — | ||
| Sheldon M Bonovitz | Board Member | — | ||
| Ira Brind | Board Member | — | ||
| Julian Brodsky | Board Member | — | ||
| Ellen Caplan | Board Member | — | ||
| Emily Cavanagh | Board Member | — | ||
| Kemel Dawkins | Board Member | — | ||
| Romulo L Diaz Jr | Board Member | — | ||
| H Richard Dietrich III | Board Member | — | ||
| Orlando Esposito | Board Member | — | ||
| Edward Fernberger Jr | Board Member | — | ||
| Jaimie Spector Field | Board President | — | ||
| Julia Fleischner | Board Member | — | ||
| Amy A Fox | Board Member | — | ||
| Hope D'Oyley-Gay | Board Member | — | ||
| David Haas | Board Member | — | ||
| Phoebe Haddon | Board Member | — | ||
| Anne F Hamilton | Board Member | — | ||
| Rob Hayes | Board Member | — | ||
| Osagie O Imasogie | Board Member | — | ||
| Joan M Johnson | Board Member | — | ||
| Tac Justi | Board Member | — | ||
| George B Kelly | Board Member | — | ||
| David D Langfitt | Board Member | — | ||
| Victoria McNeil Le Vine | Board Member | — | ||
| Maxine Lewis | Board Member | — | ||
| Sueyun Locks | Board Member | — | ||
| Alba Martinez Term 1021 | Board Member | — | ||
| John J Medveckis | Board Member | — | ||
| Leslie A Miller | Board President | — | ||
| Hilarie Morgan | Board Member | — | ||
| Martha Hamilton Morris | Board Member | — | ||
| Michael K Pearson | Board Member | — | ||
| Zoe C Pappas | Board President | — | ||
| Ajay Raju | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Rice | Board Member | — | ||
| Lyn M Ross | Board Member | — | ||
| Marsha W Rothman | Board Member | — | ||
| Pia RoyChowdhury | Board Member | — | ||
| Mark E Rubenstein | Board Member | — | ||
| Angelica Zander Rudenstine | Board Member | — | ||
| Katherine Sachs | Board Member | — | ||
| David William Seltzer | Board Member | — | ||
| Martha McGeary Snider | Board Member | — | ||
| Joan F Thalheimer | Board Member | — | ||
| Bruce E Toll | Board Member | — | ||
| Charles K WilliamsTerm 1021 | Board Member | — | ||
| Constance H Williams | Board President | — | ||
| Jerry Wind | Board Member | — | ||
| Darrell L Clarke | Board Member | — | ||
| John Crable | Board Member | — | ||
| Kirsten Engelman Term 622 | Board Member | — | ||
| Mark B Goodheart | Board Member | — | ||
| James F Kenney | Board Member | — | ||
| Thomas Wolf | Board Member | — | ||
| Marlene S Dooner | Board Member | — | ||
| Catherine K Altman | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy F Rub | Executive Director | 0.4% of Rev | ||
| Gail M Harrity Term 0321 | Board President | 0.3% of Rev | ||
| Jonathan L Peterson | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| Deborah Johnston | Treasurer | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| Al Shaikoli | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| Danielle Smereczynski | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| Jeffrey Blair Term 720 | Secretary | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| John Paul Aylmer | Controller | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| Alice Beamesderfer | Board Member | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| William Weinstein | Board Member | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| Christine Doobinin | Board Member | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| Tracy Button Term 0820 | Board Member | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| William Petersen start 820 | Secretary | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| David D Langfitt | Board Member | — | ||
| Victoria McNeil Le Vine | Board Member | — | ||
| Maxine Lewis | Board Member | — | ||
| Sueyun Locks | Board Member | — | ||
| Alba Martinez | Board Member | — | ||
| John J Medveckis | Board Member | — | ||
| Leslie A Miller | Board President | — | ||
| Hilarie Morgan | Board Member | — | ||
| Martha Hamilton Morris | Board Member | — | ||
| Michael K Pearson | Board Member | — | ||
| Zoe C Pappas | Board President | — | ||
| Ajay Raju | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Rice | Board Member | — | ||
| Lyn M Ross | Board Member | — | ||
| Marsha W Rothman | Board Member | — | ||
| Pia RoyChowdhury | Board Member | — | ||
| Mark E Rubenstein | Board Member | — | ||
| Angelica Zander Rudenstine | Board Member | — | ||
| Katherine Sachs | Board Member | — | ||
| David William Seltzer | Board Member | — | ||
| Martha McGeary Snider | Board Member | — | ||
| Joan F Thalheimer | Board Member | — | ||
| Bruce E Toll | Board Member | — | ||
| Constance H Williams | Board President | — | ||
| Charles K Williams II | Board Member | — | ||
| Jerry Wind | Board Member | — | ||
| Darell L Clark | Board Member | — | ||
| John Crable | Board Member | — | ||
| Kristen Engelman | Board Member | — | ||
| Mark B Goodheart | Board Member | — | ||
| James F Kenney | Board Member | — | ||
| Tom Wolf | Board Member | — | ||
| Marlene S Dooner | Board Member | — | ||
| Catherine K Altman | Board Member | — | ||
| Amachi Ackah | Board Member | — | ||
| Marta Adelson | Board Member | — | ||
| John R Alchin | Board Member | — | ||
| Dennis Alter | Board Member | — | ||
| Eduardo Ardiles | Board Member | — | ||
| Barbara Aronson | Board Member | — | ||
| Andrea M Baldeck MD | Board Member | — | ||
| Sandra K Baldino | Board Member | — | ||
| Sheldon M Bonovitz | Board Member | — | ||
| Ira Brind | Board Member | — | ||
| Julian Brodsky | Board Member | — | ||
| Ellen Caplan | Board Member | — | ||
| Emily Cavanagh | Board Member | — | ||
| Kemel Dawkins | Board Member | — | ||
| Romulo L Diaz Jr | Board Member | — | ||
| H Richard Dietrich III | Board Member | — | ||
| Orlando Esposito | Board Member | — | ||
| Edward Fernberger Jr | Board Member | — | ||
| Jaimie Spector Field | Board President | — | ||
| Julia Fleischner | Board Member | — | ||
| Amy A Fox | Board Member | — | ||
| Mrs Jack M Friedland | Board Member | — | ||
| Hope D'Oyley-Gay | Board Member | — | ||
| David Haas | Board Member | — | ||
| Phoebe Haddon | Board Member | — | ||
| Anne F Hamilton | Board Member | — | ||
| Osagie O Imasogie | Board Member | — | ||
| Joan M Johnson | Board Member | — | ||
| Tac Justi | Board Member | — | ||
| George B Kelly | Board Member | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 13 other orgs in PA with NTEE prefix A5.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 12 points above the peer median (50 vs. 38).
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.
Overall score has gone from 55 → 55 over 5 years (stable by 0 points).
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 2.2% 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.