Compensation Escalation Cycle
What does this mean?
Revenue grows modestly, but top officer compensation grows consistently for 5 years, breaching danger zones. The executive is negotiating aggressive raises against a compliant board.
The Path Forward
The Steward
Re-establishes board supremacy over executive extraction. It freezes compensation and mandates that all future financial rewards be tied strictly to verifiable mission expansion.
Title
Representative Institutions
Institutional Epochs
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Hidden | Hidden | 15.8% | 41 | Fragile | Gov Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | 15.2% | 43 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2021 | — | — | 7.7% | 50 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 10.6% | 49 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2019 | — | — | 4.2% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2018 | — | — | 4.7% | 55 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2017 | — | — | — | 52 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2016 | — | — | — | 52 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2015 | — | — | — | 52 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2014 | — | — | — | 52 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2013 | — | — | 6.7% | 50 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2012 | — | — | 5.9% | 50 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2011 | — | — | 7.8% | 50 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID SMITH | Board Member | 15.4% of Rev | ||
| EMILY SHIER | Board President | — | ||
| KEVIN CARNINE | Board President | — | ||
| MICHAEL DERR | Secretary | — | ||
| CHRIS CONNAUGHTY | Treasurer | — | ||
| JESSICA LEFEBER | Board Member | — | ||
| LARRY BARTRUFF | Board Member | — | ||
| SANDY HEIAR | Board Member | — | ||
| KRISTIE LUNDE | Board Member | — | ||
| THEA O'CONNOR | Board Member | — | ||
| CHELSEY SEIPPEL | Board Member | — | ||
| MARK LEFEBER | Board Member | — | ||
| JEN STEINER | Board Member | — | ||
| DAN LANDNESS | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID SANITER | Board Member | 8.2% of Rev | ||
| MICHAEL DERR | Board President | — | ||
| EMILY SHIER | Board President | — | ||
| TONY KIKKERT | Secretary | — | ||
| JAN SUTTER | Treasurer | — | ||
| KEVIN CARNINE | Board Member | — | ||
| BONNIE FRANKE | Board Member | — | ||
| CHRIS CONNAUGHTY | Board Member | — | ||
| KRISTIE LUNDE | Board Member | — | ||
| THEA O'CONNOR | Board Member | — | ||
| JENNIFER SEKEL | Board Member | — | ||
| MARK LEFEBER | Board Member | — | ||
| JEN STEINER | Board Member | — | ||
| DAN LANDNESS | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID SANITER | Board Member | 9.7% of Rev | ||
| MICHAEL DERR | Board President | — | ||
| MARK LEFEBER | Board President | — | ||
| JILL KAUFMANN | Secretary | — | ||
| JAN SUTTER | Treasurer | — | ||
| MICHAEL BELONGIE | Board Member | — | ||
| BONNIE FRANKE | Board Member | — | ||
| TONY KIKKERT | Board Member | — | ||
| KRISTIE LUNDE | Board Member | — | ||
| THEA O'CONNOR | Board Member | — | ||
| JENNIFER SEKEL | Board Member | — | ||
| EMILY SHIER | Board Member | — | ||
| JEN STEINER | Board Member | — | ||
| AMY THRONDSEN | Board Member | — | ||
| SCOTT EBERLE | Board President | — | ||
| JUDY PEARCE | Board Member | — | ||
| RYAN KLUG | Board Member | — | ||
| VENITA MATHEUS | Board Member | — | ||
| JODEE RECHEK | Board Member | — | ||
| SARA SCHRAUTH | Board Member | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 103 other orgs in WI with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: program score sits 17 points above the peer median (45 vs. 28).
5-year trend: Compensation Escalation Cycle
Revenue grows modestly, but top officer compensation grows consistently for 5 years, breaching danger zones. The executive is negotiating aggressive raises against a compliant board.
Overall score has gone from 55 → 41 over 5 years (declining by 14 points). A multi-year directional move of this magnitude is a signal worth investigating.
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 15.8% sits within the sector's healthy band (18–22%).
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).
Improving governance is a board decision. These are the levers.