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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2024 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2023 | Hidden | Hidden | 6.5% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | 5.6% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2021 | — | — | 14.2% | 46 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 6.4% | 44 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2019 | — | — | 6.2% | 38 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2018 | — | — | 7.4% | 36 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2017 | — | — | 5.5% | 44 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2016 | — | — | 8.2% | 38 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2015 | — | — | 11.6% | 39 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2014 | — | — | 13.4% | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2013 | — | — | 5.8% | 44 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2012 | — | — | 3.4% | 43 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2011 | — | — | 6.6% | 38 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN MUELLER | MANAGING DIRECT | 3.3% of Rev | ||
| RICHARD D THOMPSON | Artistic Director | 3.2% of Rev | ||
| KAREN MUELLER | MANAGING DIRECT | 3.1% of Rev | ||
| RICHARD D THOMPSON | Artistic Director | 3.1% of Rev | ||
| CANDACE CAMPBELL | Board President | — | ||
| CHERYL L MOORE | Board Member | — | ||
| DR JON THOMAS | Board Member | — | ||
| GENE LINK | Board Member | — | ||
| GEORGE DOW | Board Member | — | ||
| KERA PETERSON | Board Member | — | ||
| JAMES ROLLWAGEN | Board Member | — | ||
| CANDACE CAMPBELL | Board President | — | ||
| JENNIFER SIMEK | Board Member | — | ||
| CHERYL L MOORE | Board Member | — | ||
| JOHN F APITZ | Board Member | — | ||
| DAVE BEEHLER | Board Member | — | ||
| JOHN SEBASTIAN | Board President | — | ||
| DR JON THOMAS | Board Member | — | ||
| KATRINA PHILLIPS | Board Member | — | ||
| GENE LINK | Board Member | — | ||
| KENNETH SCHAEFER | Board Member | — | ||
| GEORGE DOW | Board Member | — | ||
| KERA PETERSON | Board Member | — | ||
| JAMES ROLLWAGEN | Board Member | — | ||
| LOIS DUFFY | Secretary | — | ||
| JENNIFER SIMEK | Board Member | — | ||
| TYLER ZEHRING | Treasurer | — | ||
| JOHN F APITZ | Board Member | — | ||
| JOHN SEBASTIAN | Board President | — | ||
| KATRINA PHILLIPS | Board Member | — | ||
| LOIS DUFFY | Secretary | — | ||
| PONDIE NICHOLSON TAYLOR | Board Member | — | ||
| SUSAN KIMBERLY | Board Member | — | ||
| TYLER ZEHRING | Treasurer | — | ||
| KENNETH SCHAEFER | Board President | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN MUELLER | MANAGING DIRECT | 2.7% of Rev | ||
| RON PELUSO | Artistic Director | 2.7% of Rev | ||
| KERA PETERSON | Board Member | — | ||
| CANDACE CAMPBELL | Board President | — | ||
| CHARLES A SLOCUM | Board Member | — | ||
| CHERYL L MOORE | Board Member | — | ||
| DAVE BEEHLER | Board Member | — | ||
| DR JON THOMAS | Board Member | — | ||
| GENE LINK | Board Member | — | ||
| GEORGE DOW | Board Member | — | ||
| JAMES ROLLWAGEN | Board Member | — | ||
| JENNIFER SIMEK | Board Member | — | ||
| JESSICA LOOMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| JOHN F APITZ | Board Member | — | ||
| JOHN SEBASTIAN | Board President | — | ||
| KATRINA PHILLIPS | Board Member | — | ||
| KENENTH SCHAEFER | Board Member | — | ||
| LOIS DUFFY | Secretary | — | ||
| MICHELE KELM-HELGEN | Board Member | — | ||
| PONDIE NICHOLSON TAYLOR | Board Member | — | ||
| SUSAN KIMBERLY | Board Member | — | ||
| TYLER ZEHRING | Treasurer | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN MUELLER | MANAGING DIRECT | 2.7% of Rev | ||
| RON PELUSO | Artistic Director | 2.7% of Rev | ||
| CANDACE CAMPBELL | Board Member | — | ||
| CHARLES A SLOCUM | Board Member | — | ||
| CHERYL L MOORE | Board Member | — | ||
| DAVE BEEHLER | Board Member | — | ||
| GENE LINK | Board Member | — | ||
| GENE MERRIAM | Board Member | — | ||
| GEORGE DOW | Board Member | — | ||
| KATRINA PHILLIPS | Board Member | — | ||
| JAMES ROLLWAGEN | Board Member | — | ||
| JEFFREY K PETERSON | Board Member | — | ||
| DR JON THOMAS | Board Member | — | ||
| JOHN F APITZ | Board Member | — | ||
| JOHN SEBASTIAN | Board President | — | ||
| KEN PETERSON | Board Member | — | ||
| SUSAN KIMBERLY | Board Member | — | ||
| MICHELE KELM-HELGEN | Board Member | — | ||
| PONDIE NICHOLSON TAYLOR | Board Member | — | ||
| ROGER BROOKS | Secretary | — | ||
| WILLIE JOHNSON | Board Member | — | ||
| TYLER ZEHRING | Treasurer | — | ||
| WAYNE HAMILTON | Board Member | — | ||
| JESSICA LOOMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| LOIS DUFFY | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN MUELLER | MANAGING DIRECT | 3.1% of Rev | ||
| RON PELUSO | Artistic Director | 3.1% of Rev | ||
| CANDACE CAMPBELL | Board Member | — | ||
| CHARLES A SLOCUM | Board Member | — | ||
| CHERYL L MOORE | Board Member | — | ||
| DAVE BEEHLER | Board Member | — | ||
| GENE LINK | Board Member | — | ||
| GENE MERRIAM | Board President | — | ||
| GEORGE DOW | Board Member | — | ||
| IXCHEL MCKINNIE | Board Member | — | ||
| JAMES ROLLWAGEN | Board Member | — | ||
| JEFFREY K PETERSON | Board Member | — | ||
| DR JON THOMAS | Board Member | — | ||
| JOHN F APITZ | Board Member | — | ||
| JOHN SEBASTIAN | Board President | — | ||
| KEN PETERSON | Board Member | — | ||
| MELISSA MULLOY | Board Member | — | ||
| MICHELE KELM-HELGEN | Board Member | — | ||
| PONDIE NICHOLSON TAYLOR | Board Member | — | ||
| ROGER BROOKS | Secretary | — | ||
| WILLIE JOHNSON | Board Member | — | ||
| TYLER ZEHRING | Treasurer | — | ||
| WAYNE HAMILTON | Board Member | — | ||
| JESSICA LOOMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| LOIS DUFFY | Board Member | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 174 other orgs in MN with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 38 points below the peer median (0 vs. 38).
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 6.5% 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.