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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2024 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2023 | Hidden | Hidden | 0.0% | 51 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | 3.2% | 55 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2021 | — | — | 26.5% | 46 | Fragile | Gov Risk | |
| 2020 | — | — | 16.3% | 47 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2019 | — | — | 3.3% | 55 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2018 | — | — | 16.2% | 47 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2017 | — | — | 7.5% | 54 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2016 | — | — | 5.8% | 54 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2015 | — | — | 13.9% | 44 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2014 | — | — | 14.6% | 48 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2013 | — | — | 5.6% | 54 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2012 | — | — | 19.1% | 37 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2011 | — | — | 17.1% | 43 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2026
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawn Randall | Board Member | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| Jamie Richards | Board Member | — | ||
| Lou Liberatore | Board Member | — | ||
| Donna R Ward | Board President | — | ||
| Russell G Jones | Board President | — | ||
| Eddie Boroevich | Secretary | — | ||
| Jacqueline F Strayer | Board Member | — | ||
| Akyiaa Wilson | Board Member | — | ||
| Danielle Covington | Board Member | — | ||
| Denaka Perry | Board Member | — | ||
| Chau Haber | Board Member | — | ||
| Janet Zarish | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawn Randall | Board Member | 0.0% of Rev | ||
| Lynette R Freeman | Board Member | — | ||
| Lou Liberatore | Board Member | — | ||
| Donna R Ward | Board President | — | ||
| Russell G Jones | Board President | — | ||
| Eddie Boroevich | Secretary | — | ||
| Jacqueline F Strayer | Board Member | — | ||
| Robert Jaffe | Treasurer | — | ||
| Denny Denniston | Board Member | — | ||
| Denaka Perry | Board Member | — | ||
| Chau Haber | Board Member | — | ||
| Janet Zarish | Board Member | — | ||
| Jerry Zaks | Dir. Emeritus | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susan Vitucci | Secretary | 9.2% of Rev | ||
| Graeme Gillis | Interim AD | 7.9% of Rev | ||
| William Carden | Artistic Director | 5.4% of Rev | ||
| Shawn Randall | Board Member | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| Erin Cherry | Board Member | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| Robert Jaffe | Board President | — | ||
| Jerry Zaks | Board Member | — | ||
| Donna R Ward | Board Member | — | ||
| Russell G Jones | Board Member | — | ||
| Eddie Boroevich | Board Member | — | ||
| Kelli Lynn Harrison | Board President | — | ||
| GH Denniston Jr | Treasurer | — | ||
| Ilena George | Board Member | — | ||
| Robert S Isaacson | Board Member | — | ||
| Dee Dee Perry | Board Member | — | ||
| Sharina Martin | Board President | — | ||
| Janet Zarish | Board Member | — | ||
| Kenneth Mandel | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Carden | Artistic Director | 10.7% of Rev | ||
| Susan Vitucci | Executive Dir. | 9.1% of Rev | ||
| Sharina Martin | Board President | 0.3% of Rev | ||
| G H Denniston Jr | Treasurer | — | ||
| Bob Jaffe | Chairman | — | ||
| Kelli Lynn Harrison | Board President | — | ||
| Kenneth Mandel | Board Member | — | ||
| Ilena George | Board Member | — | ||
| Robert Isaacson | Board Member | — | ||
| Russell G Jones | Board Member | — | ||
| Shawn Randall | Board Member | — | ||
| Donna R Ward | Board Member | — | ||
| Jerry Zaks | Board Member | — | ||
| Janet Zarish | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM CARDEN | Artistic Director | 10.7% of Rev | ||
| SUSAN VITUCCI | Executive Director | 2.1% of Rev | ||
| ABIGAL GAMPEL | Board Member | — | ||
| G H DENNISTON JR | Treasurer | — | ||
| ERIN CHERRY | Board President | — | ||
| BOB JAFFE | Board President | — | ||
| FRED BERNER | Board Member | — | ||
| SHARINA MARTIN | Board President | — | ||
| KENNETH MANDEL | Board Member | — | ||
| MELINA BROWN | Board Member | — | ||
| ILENE KRISTEN | Board Member | — | ||
| RUSSEL G JONES | Board Member | — | ||
| JANET ZARISH | Board Member | — | ||
| JERRY ZAKS | Board Member | — | ||
| BOB ISSACSON | Board Member | — | ||
| SHAWN RANDALL | Board Member | — | ||
| DONNA R WARD | Board Member | — | ||
| BRUCE GEISMAR | Board Member | — | ||
| WAYNE KABAK | Secretary | — | ||
| ILENA GEORGE | Board Member | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 699 other orgs in NY 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
- All-volunteer org with no paid officers — governance signal is neutral (default 50), not absent.
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.