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 | 10.1% | 38 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch | |
| 2022 | — | — | 7.4% | 40 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2021 | — | — | 22.5% | 25 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2020 | — | — | 21.0% | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2019 | — | — | 9.4% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2018 | — | — | 18.2% | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2017 | — | — | 17.5% | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2016 | — | — | 17.0% | 37 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2015 | — | — | 16.3% | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2014 | — | — | 5.0% | 50 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2013 | — | — | 13.6% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2012 | — | — | 18.5% | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patricia Burke | Board Member | 5.4% of Rev | ||
| Heather Jessup | Artistic Director | 4.7% of Rev | ||
| Katie Traverse | Board President | — | ||
| Jennifer Annabel | Board President | — | ||
| Marianne Zollman | Secretary | — | ||
| Cara Holloway | Treasurer | — | ||
| Emily Ewart | Board Member | — | ||
| Galan Ruelos | Board Member | — | ||
| Leon Jackson | Board Member | — | ||
| Molly Terwilliger | Board Member | — | ||
| Margaret Chaykin | Board Member | — | ||
| Tammie Trank | Board Member | — | ||
| Collins Grossman | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Harris | Board Member | — | ||
| Alessandra Savitski | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heather Jessup | Artistic Director | 4.3% of Rev | ||
| Melina Markland | Artistic Director | 4.0% of Rev | ||
| Patti Burke | Board President | — | ||
| Marianne Zollman | Secretary | — | ||
| Cara Holloway | Treasurer | — | ||
| Jennifer Annable | Board Member | — | ||
| Emily Ewart | Board Member | — | ||
| Galan Ruelos | Board Member | — | ||
| Simone Torres | Board Member | — | ||
| Katie Traverse | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heather Jessup | Artistic Director | 4.3% of Rev | ||
| Melina Markland | Artistic Director | 4.3% of Rev | ||
| Patti Burke | Board President | — | ||
| Marianne Zollman | Secretary | — | ||
| Cara Holloway | Treasurer | — | ||
| Jennifer Annable | Board Member | — | ||
| Emily Ewart | Board Member | — | ||
| Leslie Margarones | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Muzia | Board Member | — | ||
| Jim Ruddy | Board Member | — | ||
| Galan Ruelos | Board Member | — | ||
| Simone Torres | Board Member | — | ||
| Katie Traverse | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heather Jessup | Artistic Director | 3.3% of Rev | ||
| Melina Markland | Artistic Director | 2.8% of Rev | ||
| Patti Burke | Board President | — | ||
| Marianne Zollman | Secretary | — | ||
| Cara Holloway | Treasurer | — | ||
| Galan Ruelos | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Annable | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Richardson | Board Member | — | ||
| Jeffray Lewis | Board Member | — | ||
| Jim Ruddy | Board Member | — | ||
| Leslie Margarones | Board Member | — | ||
| Simone Torres | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Muzia | Board Member | — | ||
| Katie Traverse | Board President | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 4 other orgs in WA with NTEE prefix A9.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 51 points below the peer median (15 vs. 66).
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 10.1% 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.