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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | — | 16.4% | 27 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | 23.2% | 27 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2021 | — | — | 15.3% | 27 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2020 | — | — | 21.3% | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2019 | — | — | 18.0% | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2018 | — | — | 16.1% | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2017 | — | — | 23.0% | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2016 | — | — | 23.7% | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2015 | — | — | 26.1% | 26 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2014 | — | — | 22.7% | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2013 | — | — | 26.4% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2012 | — | — | 26.4% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2011 | — | — | — | 51 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2010 | — | — | — | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa Thurrell | Board Member | 8.9% of Rev | ||
| Robert Cleary | Board Member | 7.4% of Rev | ||
| Charles Rentmeesters | Board President | — | ||
| Mats Rudels | Treasurer | — | ||
| Susanne Voeltz | Board Member | — | ||
| Mary Demeter Thurrell | Board Member | — | ||
| Tyler Fritz | Board Member | — | ||
| Carolyn Shadrach | Board Member | — | ||
| Gayle Grigg | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa Thurrell | Board Member | 8.9% of Rev | ||
| Robert Cleary | Board Member | 7.4% of Rev | ||
| Charles Rentmeesters | Board President | — | ||
| Mats Rudels | Treasurer | — | ||
| Susanne Voeltz | Board Member | — | ||
| Mary Demeter Thurrell | Board Member | — | ||
| Tyler Fritz | Board Member | — | ||
| Carolyn Shadrach | Board Member | — | ||
| Gayle Grigg | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa Thurrell | Board Member | 8.4% of Rev | ||
| Robert Cleary | Board Member | 7.6% of Rev | ||
| Adam Simcock | Board President | — | ||
| Charles Rentmeesters | Treasurer | — | ||
| Mats Rudels | Board Member | — | ||
| Susanne Voeltz | Board Member | — | ||
| Mary Demeter Thurrell | Board Member | — | ||
| Tyler Fritz | Board Member | — | ||
| Paolo Desiati | Board Member | — | ||
| Carolyn Shadrach | Board Member | — | ||
| Gayle Grigg | Board Member | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 182 other orgs in WI with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 56 points below the peer median (0 vs. 56).
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 33 → 27 over 5 years (declining by 6 points).
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 16.4% 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:
- Separate signing authority from fundraising authority when both are held by one person — removes the concentration penalty (~12 points).
- 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.