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.
Institutional Epochs
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | — | 4.1% | 45 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2022 | — | — | 6.2% | 38 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2021 | — | — | 11.5% | 42 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 8.7% | 38 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2019 | — | — | 11.4% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2018 | — | — | 7.1% | 38 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2017 | — | — | 7.8% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2016 | — | — | 6.2% | 38 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2015 | — | — | 10.1% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2014 | — | — | 6.6% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2013 | — | — | 6.5% | 36 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2012 | — | — | 5.7% | 44 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2011 | — | — | 14.3% | 42 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES GROOMS | Secretary | 4.6% of Rev | ||
| KATHRYN FOWLE | Board Member | 2.7% of Rev | ||
| JOSE A ORTIZ | Board Member | 1.5% of Rev | ||
| PETER ELEEY | Artistic Director | 1.2% of Rev | ||
| MOLLY KURZIUS | Board Member | 1.0% of Rev | ||
| MICHAEL J DUTRA | Board Member | 1.0% of Rev | ||
| RUBA KATRIB | Board Member | 0.9% of Rev | ||
| ALISON CUZZOLINO | Treasurer | 0.9% of Rev | ||
| SARAH ARISON | CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| PHILIP E AARONS | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| SIMON MORDANT | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| JOHN L THOMSON | Treasurer | — | ||
| ELYSE BENENSON | Board Member | — | ||
| JOSHUA BLACK | Board Member | — | ||
| ADRIAN CHENG | Board Member | — | ||
| DANA FAROUKI | Board Member | — | ||
| WENDY FISHER | Board Member | — | ||
| NICOLE FLEETWOOD | Board Member | — | ||
| AGNES GUND | Board Member | — | ||
| EDGAR HEAP OF BIRDS | Board Member | — | ||
| HANNAH JOCELYN | Board Member | — | ||
| ADAM KIMMEL | Board Member | — | ||
| SUYDAM LANSING | Board Member | — | ||
| DANIEL NADLER | Board Member | — | ||
| PETER NORTON | Board Member | — | ||
| DIANA WIDMAIER PICASSO | Board Member | — | ||
| LISA ROUMELL | Board Member | — | ||
| TARA SIMON | Board Member | — | ||
| ROBERT SOROS | Board Member | — | ||
| LISE STOLT-NIELSEN | Board Member | — | ||
| BETH SWOFFORD | Board Member | — | ||
| ARA TUCKER | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KATHRYN FOWLE | Board Member | 3.1% of Rev | ||
| ALEXIS SANDLER | Secretary | 1.5% of Rev | ||
| JOSE ORTIZ | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 1.4% of Rev | ||
| PETER ELEEY | Artistic Director | 1.3% of Rev | ||
| MICHAEL DUTRA | Board Member | 1.0% of Rev | ||
| MOLLY KURZIUS | Board Member | 0.9% of Rev | ||
| RUBA KATRIB | Artistic Director | 0.9% of Rev | ||
| ALISON CUZZOLINO | CONTROLLER | 0.9% of Rev | ||
| SARAH ARISON | CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| PHILIP E AARONS | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| SIMON MORDANT | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| JOHN L THOMSON | Treasurer | — | ||
| SHEIKHA HOOR AL-QASIMI | Board Member | — | ||
| JOSHUA BLACK | Board Member | — | ||
| ELYSE BENENSON | Board Member | — | ||
| ADRIAN CHENG | Board Member | — | ||
| GEORGE FARIAS | Board Member | — | ||
| DANA FAROUKI | Board Member | — | ||
| WENDY FISHER | Board Member | — | ||
| NICOLE FLEETWOOD | Board Member | — | ||
| AGNES GUND | Board Member | — | ||
| HANNAH JOCELYN | Board Member | — | ||
| ADAM KIMMEL | Board Member | — | ||
| SVETLANA KUZMICHEVA-USPENSKAYA | Board Member | — | ||
| SUYDAM LANSING | Board Member | — | ||
| SIMON MORDANT | Board Member | — | ||
| DANIEL NADLER | Board Member | — | ||
| PETER NORTON | Board Member | — | ||
| DIANA WIDMAIER PICASSO | Board Member | — | ||
| LISA ROUMELL | Board Member | — | ||
| TARA SIMON | Board Member | — | ||
| ROBERT SOROS | Board Member | — | ||
| LISE STOLT-NIELSEN | Board Member | — | ||
| BETH SWOFFORD | Board Member | — | ||
| ARA TUCKER | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PETER ELEEY | Artistic Director | 1.8% of Rev | ||
| ANGELA GODING | Board Member | 1.6% of Rev | ||
| JOSE ORTIZ | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 1.6% of Rev | ||
| ALEXIS SANDLER | Secretary | 1.5% of Rev | ||
| KATHRYN FOWLE - STARTING 9319 | Board Member | 1.3% of Rev | ||
| MICHAEL DUTRA | Board Member | 1.1% of Rev | ||
| MOLLY KURZIUS | Board Member | 1.0% of Rev | ||
| RUBA KATRIB | Artistic Director | 1.0% of Rev | ||
| AGNES GUND | CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| PHILIP E AARONS | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| SARAH ARISON | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| JOHN COMFORT | Treasurer | — | ||
| SHEIKA HOOR AL QASIMI | Board Member | — | ||
| JOSHUA BLACK | Board Member | — | ||
| ADRIAN CHENG | Board Member | — | ||
| GEORGE FARIAS | Board Member | — | ||
| DANA FAROUKI | Board Member | — | ||
| WENDY FISHER | Board Member | — | ||
| HANNAH JOCELYN | Board Member | — | ||
| ADAM KIMMEL | Board Member | — | ||
| SVETLANA KUZMICHEVA-USPENSKAYA | Board Member | — | ||
| SUYDAM LANSING | Board Member | — | ||
| JENNIFER MCSWEENEY | Board Member | — | ||
| SIMON MORDANT | Board Member | — | ||
| PETER NORTON | Board Member | — | ||
| DIANA WIDMAIER PICASSO | Board Member | — | ||
| LISA ROUMELL | Board Member | — | ||
| CINDY SHERMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| ROBERT SOROS | Board Member | — | ||
| LISE STOLT-NIELSEN | Board Member | — | ||
| BETH SWOFFORD | Board Member | — | ||
| MICKALENE THOMAS | Board Member | — | ||
| JOHN L THOMSON | Board Member | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 38 other orgs in NY with NTEE prefix A5.
Most-divergent component: program score sits 16 points above the peer median (60 vs. 44).
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.
Overall score has gone from 32 → 45 over 5 years (improving by 13 points). A multi-year directional move of this magnitude is a signal worth investigating.
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 4.1% 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.