The Founder's Trap
The Founder's Trap
Market
Archetype
Mechanical
Natural
Tier
Developing
Trajectory Thumbprint
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.
The Dispersal
Institutional Health Scores
5-yr trend: The Founder's Trap ↑
Overall
55
Score
Governance
58
Score
Financial
50
Score
Program
60
Score
Title
-
Institutions
-
Avg Revenue
-
Risk Profile
Representative Institutions
Institutional Epochs
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Financial Era
Governance Era
Trajectory Era
Founders Trap
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2024 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2023 | Hidden | Hidden | 1.3% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2022 | — | — | 1.6% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2021 | — | — | 8.9% | 54 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2020 | — | — | 3.8% | 55 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2019 | — | — | 3.5% | 51 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2018 | — | — | 3.0% | 51 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2017 | — | — | 2.7% | 53 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2016 | — | — | 3.4% | 53 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2015 | — | — | 3.6% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2014 | — | — | 7.2% | 54 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2013 | — | — | 7.8% | 54 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2012 | — | — | 10.2% | 48 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2011 | — | — | 7.0% | 54 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2026
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim Kern | Executive Director | 0.7% of Rev | ||
| Roderick Justice | Artistic Director | 0.5% of Rev | ||
| Chad Stewart | Treasurer | 0.4% of Rev | ||
| Allison Kropp | Board President | — | ||
| Greg Adams | Board President | — | ||
| Andrew Simon | Secretary | — | ||
| Charlie Schiff | Vice Chairman | — | ||
| David Crowley | Treasurer | — | ||
| Jeanette Altenau | Board Member | — | ||
| Nick Binkley | Board Member | — | ||
| Justin Brookhart | Board Member | — | ||
| Darcie D'Ascenzo | Board Member | — | ||
| Peter Brown | Board Member | — | ||
| Melinda Davis | Board Member | — | ||
| Sarah Anne Campbell | Board Member | — | ||
| Dan Driehaus | Board Member | — | ||
| Grant Cooper | Board Member | — | ||
| Maris Croswell | Board Member | — | ||
| Libby Galvin-Brock | Board Member | — | ||
| Molly Garber | Board Member | — | ||
| Paul Griscom | Board Member | — | ||
| Sarah Haines | Board Member | — | ||
| Peter Horton | Board Member | — | ||
| Rajan Kamath | Board Member | — | ||
| Leanne Langdon | Board Member | — | ||
| Kick Lee | Board Member | — | ||
| Skip Merten | Board Member | — | ||
| Katherine Jarnigo | Board Member | — | ||
| Kenneth Jones | Board Member | — | ||
| Meghan Nelson | Board Member | — | ||
| Rana Schiff | Board Member | — | ||
| Kathy Sias | Board Member | — | ||
| Bethany Smith | Board Member | — | ||
| Jeremy Smith | Board Member | — | ||
| Marcus Thompson | Board Member | — | ||
| Diana Victorian | Board Member | — | ||
| Owen Wrassman | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Spieser | Board Member | — | ||
| Scott Stubbins | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim Kern | Executive Director | 0.8% of Rev | ||
| Roderick Justice | Artistic Director | 0.5% of Rev | ||
| Chad Stewart-start Nov 2023 | Treasurer | 0.0% of Rev | ||
| Owen Wrassman | Board Member | — | ||
| Greg Adams | Board President | — | ||
| Charlie Schiff | Vice Chairman | — | ||
| Allison Kropp | Board President | — | ||
| Andrew Simon | Secretary | — | ||
| David Crowley | Treasurer | — | ||
| Jeanette Altenau | Board Member | — | ||
| Libby Galvin Brock | Board Member | — | ||
| Peter Brown | Board Member | — | ||
| Sarah Anne Campbell | Board Member | — | ||
| Grant Cooper | Board Member | — | ||
| Maris Croswell | Board Member | — | ||
| Darcie D'Acenzo | Board Member | — | ||
| Melinda Davis | Board Member | — | ||
| Abby Dougherty | Board Member | — | ||
| Dan Driehaus | Board Member | — | ||
| Molly Garber | Board Member | — | ||
| Paul Griscom | Board Member | — | ||
| Sarah Haines | Board Member | — | ||
| Peter Horton | Board Member | — | ||
| Katherine Jarnigo | Board Member | — | ||
| Leanne Langdon | Board Member | — | ||
| Rajan Kamath | Board Member | — | ||
| Kick Lee | Board Member | — | ||
| Skip Merten | Board Member | — | ||
| Meghan Nelson | Board Member | — | ||
| Kathy Sias | Board Member | — | ||
| Bethany Smith | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Spieser | Board Member | — | ||
| Scott Stubbins | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim Kern | Executive Director | 0.5% of Rev | ||
| Roderick Justice | Artistic Director | 0.4% of Rev | ||
| Greg Adams | Chairman | — | ||
| Danielle Wilson | Vice Chairman | — | ||
| Lisa Reinhard | Vice Chairman | — | ||
| Charlie Schiff | Vice Chairman | — | ||
| Allison Kropp | Secretary | — | ||
| David Crowley | Treasurer | — | ||
| Jeanette Altenau | Board Member | — | ||
| Darcie D'Acenzo | Board Member | — | ||
| Melinda Davis | Board Member | — | ||
| Abby Dougherty | Board Member | — | ||
| Dan Driehaus | Board Member | — | ||
| Libby Galvin Brock | Board Member | — | ||
| Molly Garber | Board Member | — | ||
| Paul Griscom | Board Member | — | ||
| Peter Horton | Board Member | — | ||
| Rajan Kamath | Board Member | — | ||
| Leanne Langdon | Board Member | — | ||
| Kick Lee | Board Member | — | ||
| Skip Merten | Board Member | — | ||
| Ryan Messer | Board Member | — | ||
| Avani Modi | Board Member | — | ||
| Meg Nelson | Board Member | — | ||
| Casey Ruschman | Board Member | — | ||
| Robin Sheakley | Board Member | — | ||
| Kathy Sias | Board Member | — | ||
| Andrew Simon | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Spieser | Board Member | — | ||
| Scott Stubbins | Board Member | — | ||
| Adam Uihlein | Board Member | — | ||
| Richard Walburg | Board Member | — | ||
| Owen Wrassman | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim Kern | Executive Director | 0.5% of Rev | ||
| Kim Kern | Executive Director | 0.5% of Rev | ||
| Greg Adams | Chairman | — | ||
| Peter Horton | Vice Chairman | — | ||
| Lisa Reinhard | Vice Chairman | — | ||
| Charlie Schiff | Vice Chairman | — | ||
| Alison Kropp | Secretary | — | ||
| Meghan Nelson | Treasurer | — | ||
| Tara N Adams | Board Member | — | ||
| Jessica Cicchinelli | Board Member | — | ||
| David Crowley | Board Member | — | ||
| Darcie D'Acenzo | Board Member | — | ||
| Melinda Davis | Board Member | — | ||
| Abby Dougherty | Board Member | — | ||
| Dan Driehaus | Board Member | — | ||
| Jessica Guarnaschelli | Board Member | — | ||
| Rajan Kamath | Board Member | — | ||
| Meg Kohnen | Board Member | — | ||
| Carrie Lange | Board Member | — | ||
| Kick Lee | Board Member | — | ||
| Skip Merten | Board Member | — | ||
| Avani Modi | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Madine | Board Member | — | ||
| Heather Muzumdar | Board Member | — | ||
| Jillian Payne | Board Member | — | ||
| Leanne Langdon | Board Member | — | ||
| Casey Ruschman | Board Member | — | ||
| Andrew Simon | Board Member | — | ||
| Robin Sheakley | Board Member | — | ||
| Matthew Stautberg | Board Member | — | ||
| Scott Stubbins | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Suttles | Board Member | — | ||
| Anne Texter | Board Member | — | ||
| Adam Uihlein | Board Member | — | ||
| Amanda Vaugn | Board Member | — | ||
| Richard Walburg | Board Member | — | ||
| Danielle Wilson | Board Member | — | ||
| Owen Wrassman | Board Member | — | ||
| Greg Adams | Chairman | — | ||
| Peter Horton | Vice Chairman | — | ||
| Lisa Reinhard | Vice Chairman | — | ||
| Charlie Schiff | Vice Chairman | — | ||
| Alison Kropp | Secretary | — | ||
| Meghan Nelson | Treasurer | — | ||
| Tara N Adams | Board Member | — | ||
| Jessica Cicchinelli | Board Member | — | ||
| David Crowley | Board Member | — | ||
| Darcie D'Acenzo | Board Member | — | ||
| Melinda Davis | Board Member | — | ||
| Abby Dougherty | Board Member | — | ||
| Dan Driehaus | Board Member | — | ||
| Jessica Guarnaschelli | Board Member | — | ||
| Rajan Kamath | Board Member | — | ||
| Meg Kohnen | Board Member | — | ||
| Carrie Lange | Board Member | — | ||
| Kick Lee | Board Member | — | ||
| Skip Merten | Board Member | — | ||
| Avani Modi | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Madine | Board Member | — | ||
| Heather Muzumdar | Board Member | — | ||
| Jillian Payne | Board Member | — | ||
| Leanne Langdon | Board Member | — | ||
| Casey Ruschman | Board Member | — | ||
| Andrew Simon | Board Member | — | ||
| Robin Sheakley | Board Member | — | ||
| Matthew Stautberg | Board Member | — | ||
| Scott Stubbins | Board Member | — | ||
| Jennifer Suttles | Board Member | — | ||
| Anne Texter | Board Member | — | ||
| Adam Uihlein | Board Member | — | ||
| Amanda Vaugn | Board Member | — | ||
| Richard Walburg | Board Member | — | ||
| Danielle Wilson | Board Member | — | ||
| Owen Wrassman | Board Member | — | ||
| Toyia Montgomery | Board Member | — | ||
| Ryan Messer | Board Member | — | ||
| Paul Griscom | Board Member | — | ||
| Libby Galvin Brock | Board Member | — | ||
| Jeanette Altenau | Board Member | — |
Officer contact details, exact compensation figures, and active litigation are available to verified members.
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Score breakdown
Score breakdown
Financial resilience
50 / 100
weight 40%
Governance risk
58 / 100
weight 40%
Program scale
60 / 100
weight 20%
Overall
55 / 100
Developing
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 212 other orgs in OH with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: program score sits 30 points above the peer median (60 vs. 30).
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
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 1.3% 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.