The Founder's Trap
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
The Dispersal
Institutional Health Scores
5-yr trend: The Founder's Trap
Overall
53
Score
Governance
58
Score
Financial
45
Score
Program
60
Score

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
2024 Hidden Hidden Unknown
2023 Hidden Hidden 2.4% 53 Fragile Recovery
2022 2.4% 49 Fragile Decline Risk
2021 3.9% 49 Fragile Decline Risk
2020 2.4% 53 Fragile Stable Watch
2019 2.0% 53 Fragile Stable Watch
2018 1.4% 53 Fragile Stable Watch
2017 1.9% 53 Fragile Stable Watch
2016 2.1% 53 Fragile Decline Risk
2015 1.8% 55 Fragile Stable Watch
2014 1.9% 55 Fragile Recovery
2013 2.1% 53 Fragile Recovery
2012 2.4% 49 Fragile Decline Risk
2011 1.9% 53 Fragile Stable Watch

Officer compensation history

Tax year 2025

Name Title Phone Email Compensation
MS DEBORAH F RUTTER Board President 0.5% of Rev
MS LESLIE J MILLER Vice President 0.2% of Rev
MS NURIT BAR-JOSEF NSO CONCERTMASTER 0.2% of Rev
MR TIMOTHY O'LEARY Board Member 0.1% of Rev
MS BARBARA A POLK CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER 0.1% of Rev
MS JEAN DAVIDSON Executive Director 0.1% of Rev
MS STACEY B JOHNSON CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 0.1% of Rev
MS ASWATHI ZACHARIAH Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR RALPH BELLANDI Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS MONICA S HOLT Artistic Director 0.1% of Rev
MR YING FU NSO ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER 0.1% of Rev
MR JEFFREY A FINN Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR MARK M COHEE HEAD ELECTRICIAN, OPERA HOUSE 0.1% of Rev
MS EILEEN T ANDREWS Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR ROSS RICHARDS Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR KEVIN F GIGLINTO SVP, MKTG & SALES(THRU 7/2023) 0.1% of Rev
MR GLENN A TURNER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS JORDAN C LASALLE Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR CARL H LINDNER III Board Member
MR DOUGLAS MANCHESTER Board Member
REP KEVIN MCCARTHY Board Member
REP MICHAEL MCCAUL Board Member
SEN MITCH MCCONNELL Board Member
MS PHEFELIA NEZ Board Member
MS CATHERINE B REYNOLDS Board Member
MS KELLY ROBERTS Board Member
MS DARYL ROTH Board Member
MS CARI B SACKS Board Member
THE HON CHARLES F SAMS III Board Member
MS DENISE SAUL Board Member
SEN CHUCK SCHUMER Board Member
MS HILDA SOLIS Board Member
MR MARC I STERN Board Member
MS BILLIE TSIEN Board Member
SEN CHRIS VAN HOLLEN Board Member
MR JON VOIGHT Board Member
SEN MARK WARNER Board Member
MR KELCY WARREN Board Member
MS HEATHER WASHBURNE Board Member
MS PHYLLIS J WASHINGTON Board Member
MR STEVEN WITKOFF Board Member
MS ANDREA WYNN Board Member
MR PAOLO ZAMPOLLI Board Member
MR ANTHONY WELTERS Board President
MS JACQUELINE BADGER MARS Secretary
MS SHONDA RHIMES Treasurer
MR DAVID M RUBENSTEIN CHAIRMAN
MS ADRIENNE ARSHT Board Member
MR BRIAN D BALLARD Board Member
REP JOYCE BEATTY Board Member
THE HON XAVIER BECERRA Board Member
THE HON ANTONY BLINKEN Board Member
MR DAVID C BOHNETT Board Member
MS PAMELA BONDI Board Member
MS MARY HELEN BOWERS Board Member
THE HON MURIEL BOWSER Board Member
MS HANNAH F BUCHAN Board Member
THE HON LONNIE BUNCH Board Member
SEN SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO Board Member
THE HON MIGUEL CARDONA Board Member
SEN TOM CARPER Board Member
MR ROBERT CASTELLANI Board Member
THE HON ELAINE CHAO Board Member
SEN SUSAN COLLINS Board Member
MS TATIANA COPELAND Board Member
MS PAMELLA ROLAND DEVOS Board Member
MR LEWIS FEREBEE Board Member
MS JENNIFER FISCHER Board Member
MS LYNNETTE FRIESS Board Member
REP SAMUEL GRAVES Board Member
MR LEE GREENWOOD Board Member
MS KATE ADAMSON HASELWOOD Board Member
THE HON CARLA HAYDEN Board Member
THE HON MICHAEL HUCKABEE Board Member
REP HAKEEM JEFFRIES Board Member
REP MIKE JOHNSON Board Member
MS MICHELE KESSLER Board Member
REP RICK LARSEN Board Member
MS KAREN TUCKER LEFRAK Board Member
MR ROBERT DRURY LENHARD Board Member
REP JULIA LETLOW Board Member

Tax year 2023

Name Title Phone Email Compensation
MS DEBORAH F RUTTER Board President 0.3% of Rev
MS BARBARA A POLK CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER 0.1% of Rev
MR GARY GINSTLING Executive Director 0.1% of Rev
MS NURIT BAR-JOSEF NSO CONCERTMASTER 0.1% of Rev
MR TIMOTHY O'LEARY Board Member 0.1% of Rev
MR KEVIN F GIGLINTO Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS LYNNE H PRATT Treasurer 0.1% of Rev
MS LESLIE J MILLER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR ROBERT VAN LEER Artistic Director 0.1% of Rev
MR ELLERY J BROWN Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR JEFFREY A FINN Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR YING FU NSO ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER 0.1% of Rev
MR GLENN A TURNER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS EILEEN T ANDREWS Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS ALICIA B ADAMS Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS JORDAN C LASALLE Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS TRACY HENKE Secretary 0.1% of Rev
MR DAVID M RUBENSTEIN CHAIRMAN
MS ADRIENNE ARSHT Board Member
MR BRIAN D BALLARD Board Member
REP JOYCE BEATTY Board Member
THE HON XAVIER BECERRA Board Member
MR SHAWN BENGE Board Member
THE HON ANTONY BLINKEN Board Member
SEN ROY BLUNT Board Member
MS PAMELA BONDI Board Member
MS MARY HELEN BOWERS Board Member
THE HON MURIEL BOWSER Board Member
MS HANNAH F BUCHAN Board Member
THE HON LONNIE BUNCH Board Member
SEN SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO Board Member
THE HON MIGUEL CARDONA Board Member
SEN TOM CARPER Board Member
MR ROBERT CASTELLANI Board Member
THE HON ELAINE CHAO Board Member
REP PETER DEFAZIO Board Member
MS PAMELLA ROLAND DEVOS Board Member
REP ANNA G ESHOO Board Member
MR FRED EYCHANER Board Member
MR LEWIS FEREBEE Board Member
MS JENNIFER FISCHER Board Member
MS LYNNETTE FRIESS Board Member
REP SAMUEL GRAVES Board Member
MR LEE GREENWOOD Board Member
MS KATE ADAMSON HASELWOOD Board Member
THE HON CARLA HAYDEN Board Member
THE HON MICHAEL HUCKABEE Board Member
MS VALERIE JARRETT Board Member
AMB VICTORIA REGGIE KENNEDY Board Member
MS MICHELE KESSLER Board Member
MS KAREN TUCKER LEFRAK Board Member
MR CARL H LINDNER III Board Member
MR DOUGLAS MANCHESTER Board Member
REP KEVIN MCCARTHY Board Member
SEN MITCH MCCONNELL Board Member
AMB EDWARD MCMULLEN Board Member
MR CHARLES B ORTNER Board Member
REP NANCY PELOSI Board Member
MS CATHERINE B REYNOLDS Board Member
MS KELLY ROBERTS Board Member
MS DARYL ROTH Board Member
THE HON CHARLES F SAMS III Board Member
MS DENISE SAUL Board Member
SEN CHUCK SCHUMER Board Member
MS SUSAN S SHER Board Member
REP JASON SMITH Board Member
MS HILDA SOLIS Board Member
MR MARC I STERN Board Member
MS BILLIE TSIEN Board Member
SEN CHRIS VAN HOLLEN Board Member
MR JON VOIGHT Board Member
SEN MARK WARNER Board Member
MR KELCY WARREN Board Member
MS HEATHER WASHBURNE Board Member
MS PHYLLIS J WASHINGTON Board Member
MR STEVEN WITKOFF Board Member
MS ANDREA WYNN Board Member
MR PAOLO ZAMPOLLI Board Member
MR ANTHONY WELTERS Board President
MS JACQUELINE BADGER MARS Secretary
MS SHONDA RHIMES Treasurer
MR MICHAEL F NEIDORFF Treasurer
MS STACEY B JOHNSON Treasurer
MS ASWATHI ZACHARIAH GEN. COUNSEL (AS OF 04/2022)

Tax year 2022

Name Title Phone Email Compensation
MS DEBORAH F RUTTER Board President 0.2% of Rev
MR GARY GINSTLING Executive Director 0.1% of Rev
MR TIMOTHY O'LEARY Board Member 0.1% of Rev
MS LYNNE H PRATT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 0.1% of Rev
MS LESLIE J MILLER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR ROBERT VAN LEER Artistic Director 0.1% of Rev
MR KEVIN F GIGLINTO Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS NURIT BAR-JOSEF NSO CONCERTMASTER 0.1% of Rev
MS BARBARA A POLK CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER 0.1% of Rev
MR ELLERY J BROWN Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR JEFFREY A FINN Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR GLENN A TURNER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS NICOLE J WEAVER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS EILEEN T ANDREWS Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR YING FU NSO ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER 0.1% of Rev
MS JORDAN C LASALLE Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS TRACY HENKE Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS DONNA S CUTRO Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR SHAWN BENGE Board Member
THE HON ANTONY BLINKEN Board Member
SEN ROY BLUNT Board Member
MS PAMELA BONDI Board Member
MS MARY HELEN BOWERS Board Member
THE HON MURIEL BOWSER Board Member
MS HANNAH F BUCHAN Board Member
THE HON LONNIE BUNCH Board Member
SEN SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO Board Member
THE HON MIGUEL CARDONA Board Member
SEN TOM CARPER Board Member
MR ROBERT CASTELLANI Board Member
THE HON ELAINE CHAO Board Member
MR NORRIS COCHRAN Board Member
SEN JOHN CORNYN Board Member
REP PETER DEFAZIO Board Member
THE HON BETSY DEVOS Board Member
MS PAMELLA ROLAND DEVOS Board Member
REP ANNA G ESHOO Board Member
MS MARGARET EVERSON Board Member
MR FRED EYCHANER Board Member
MR LEWIS FEREBEE Board Member
MS JENNIFER FISCHER Board Member
MS SAKURAKO FISHER Board Member
MS LYNNETTE FRIESS Board Member
MR JOHN GOLDMAN Board Member
REP SAMUEL GRAVES Board Member
MR LEE GREENWOOD Board Member
MS KATE ADAMSON HASELWOOD Board Member
THE HON CARLA HAYDEN Board Member
THE HON MICHAEL HUCKABEE Board Member
MS VALERIE JARRETT Board Member
REP JOSEPH P KENNEDY Board Member
AMB VICTORIA REGGIE KENNEDY Board Member
MS MICHELE KESSLER Board Member
MS KAREN TUCKER LEFRAK Board Member
MR CARL H LINDNER III Board Member
MR ANDRES W LOPEZ Board Member
MR BRYAN LOURD Board Member
MS AMALIA PEREA MAHONEY Board Member
MR DOUGLAS MANCHESTER Board Member
MS BARBARA GOODMAN MANILOW Board Member
MS ALYSSA MASTROMONACO Board Member
REP KEVIN MCCARTHY Board Member
SEN MITCH MCCONNELL Board Member
MR EDWARD MCMULLEN Board Member
MR W JAMES MCNERNEY JR Board Member
MR CHARLES B ORTNER Board Member
REP NANCY PELOSI Board Member
THE HON MICHAEL POMPEO Board Member
MR EARL A POWELL III Board Member
MS CATHERINE B REYNOLDS Board Member
MS KELLY ROBERTS Board Member
MR PHILIP H ROSENFELT Board Member
MS DARYL ROTH Board Member
MS DENISE SAUL Board Member
SEN CHUCK SCHUMER Board Member
MS SUSAN S SHER Board Member
MR JUSTIN SHUBOW Board Member
THE HON DANIEL BENNETT SMITH Board Member
REP JASON SMITH Board Member
MR MARC I STERN Board Member
DR BRYAN TRAUBERT Board Member
MR RANVIR TREHAN Board Member
MS BILLIE TSIEN Board Member
MR WALTER F ULLOA Board Member
SEN CHRIS VAN HOLLEN Board Member
MR REGINALD VAN LEE Board Member
MR JON VOIGHT Board Member
SEN MARK WARNER Board Member
MR KELCY WARREN Board Member
MS HEATHER WASHBURNE Board Member
MS PHYLLIS J WASHINGTON Board Member
MS ANN MARIE WILKINS Board Member
MR STEVEN WITKOFF Board Member
MS ANDREA WYNN Board Member
THE HON DR MITCHELL M ZAIS Board Member
MR PAOLO ZAMPOLLI Board Member
MR ANTHONY WELTERS Board President
MS JACQUELINE BADGER MARS Secretary
MR MICHAEL F NEIDORFF Treasurer
MR DAVID M RUBENSTEIN CHAIRMAN
MS ADRIENNE ARSHT Board Member
THE HON ALEX AZAR Board Member
MR BRIAN D BALLARD Board Member
SEN JOHN BARRASSO Board Member
REP JOYCE BEATTY Board Member
THE HON XAVIER BECERRA Board Member

Tax year 2021

Name Title Phone Email Compensation
MS DEBORAH F RUTTER Board President 0.5% of Rev
MR GARY GINSTLING Executive Director 0.2% of Rev
MS NURIT BAR-JOSEF NSO CONCERTMASTER 0.1% of Rev
MR TIMOTHY O'LEARY Board Member 0.1% of Rev
MS LYNNE H PRATT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 0.1% of Rev
MR ROBERT VAN LEER Artistic Director 0.1% of Rev
MS LESLIE J MILLER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR ELLERY J BROWN Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR KEVIN F GIGLINTO Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS NICOLE J WEAVER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR MARIO R ROSSERO Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR YING FU NSO ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER 0.1% of Rev
MS MARIA KERSTEN GENERAL COUNSEL 0.1% of Rev
MR MARK M COHEE HEAD ELECTRICIAN, OPERA HOUSE 0.1% of Rev
MR JEFFREY A FINN Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR GLENN A TURNER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS EILEEN T ANDREWS Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS BARBARA A POLK Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS TRACY HENKE Vice President 0.0% of Rev
MS MICHELE KESSLER Board Member
MS KAREN TUCKER LEFRAK Board Member
MR CARL H LINDNER III Board Member
MR MICHAEL LOMBARDO Board Member
MR ANDRES W LOPEZ Board Member
MR BRYAN LOURD Board Member
MS AMALIA PEREA MAHONEY Board Member
MS BARBARA GOODMAN MANILOW Board Member
MS ALYSSA MASTROMONACO Board Member
REP KEVIN MCCARTHY Board Member
SEN MITCH MCCONNELL Board Member
MR W JAMES MCNERNEY JR Board Member
MR CHARLES B ORTNER Board Member
REP NANCY PELOSI Board Member
THE HON MICHAEL POMPEO Board Member
MR EARL A POWELL III Board Member
MS LAURA RICKETTS Board Member
MS KELLY ROBERTS Board Member
MS DARYL ROTH Board Member
MS MARGARET RUSSELL Board Member
MS DENISE SAUL Board Member
SEN CHUCK SCHUMER Board Member
MS SUSAN S SHER Board Member
REP JASON SMITH Board Member
MR MARC I STERN Board Member
DR BRYAN TRAUBERT Board Member
MR RANVIR TREHAN Board Member
MR WALTER F ULLOA Board Member
MR REGINALD VAN LEE Board Member
MR DAVID VELA Board Member
MR JON VOIGHT Board Member
SEN MARK WARNER Board Member
MR KELCY WARREN Board Member
MS HEATHER WASHBURNE Board Member
MS PHYLLIS J WASHINGTON Board Member
MS ANN MARIE WILKINS Board Member
MR STEVEN WITKOFF Board Member
MS ANDREA WYNN Board Member
MS JACQUELINE BADGER MARS Secretary
MR MICHAEL F NEIDORFF Treasurer
MR DAVID M RUBENSTEIN CHAIRMAN
MS ADRIENNE ARSHT Board Member
THE HON ALEX AZAR Board Member
SEN JOHN BARRASSO Board Member
REP JOYCE BEATTY Board Member
SEN ROY BLUNT Board Member
THE HON MURIEL BOWSER Board Member
THE HON LONNIE BUNCH Board Member
SEN TOM CARPER Board Member
SEN JOHN CORNYN Board Member
REP PETER DEFAZIO Board Member
THE HON BETSY DEVOS Board Member
MS MARGARET EVERSON Board Member
MR FRED EYCHANER Board Member
MR LEWIS FEREBEE Board Member
MS JENNIFER FISCHER Board Member
MS SAKURAKO FISHER Board Member
MR JOHN GOLDMAN Board Member
REP SAMUEL GRAVES Board Member
MR LEE GREENWOOD Board Member
THE HON CARLA HAYDEN Board Member
MS JANET HILL Board Member
THE HON MICHAEL HUCKABEE Board Member
MS VALERIE JARRETT Board Member
REP JOSEPH P KENNEDY Board Member
MS VICTORIA REGGIE KENNEDY 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
45 / 100
weight 40%
Governance risk
58 / 100
weight 40%
Program scale
60 / 100
weight 20%
Overall
53 / 100
Developing

The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →

Peer comparison

Compared to 55 other orgs in DC with NTEE prefix A6.

Most-divergent component: financial score sits 20 points above the peer median (45 vs. 25).

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

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.