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 | Hidden | Hidden | 12.9% | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | — | 35 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2021 | — | — | — | 36 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 23.4% | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2019 | — | — | 20.9% | 27 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2018 | — | — | 29.7% | 26 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2016 | — | — | — | 35 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2015 | — | — | — | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2014 | — | — | — | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2013 | — | — | 31.3% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2012 | — | — | — | 35 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2011 | — | — | — | 35 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cary Gibson | Board President | — | ||
| Daniel Gordon | Board President | — | ||
| Fritz Olbricht | Board Member | — | ||
| James Petrick | Treasurer | — | ||
| Dawna Steelman | Board Member | — | ||
| Greg Michaels | Board Member | — | ||
| Jahnissi Tirado | Board Member | — | ||
| Sarah Bruno | Secretary | — | ||
| Cary Gibson | Board President | — | ||
| Daniel Gordon | Board President | — | ||
| Fritz Olbricht | Board Member | — | ||
| James Petrick | Treasurer | — | ||
| Dawna Steelman | Board Member | — | ||
| Greg Michaels | Board Member | — | ||
| Jahnissi Tirado | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Simmons | Artistic Director | 10.9% of Rev | ||
| Chris Urquiaga | Artistic Director | 5.5% of Rev | ||
| Katherine Kovacovich | Board Member | 3.7% of Rev | ||
| Kay Howell | Executive Director | 3.0% of Rev | ||
| Harlie Sponaugle | Executive Director | 2.8% of Rev | ||
| Cary Gibson | Board President | — | ||
| Daniel Gordon | Board President | — | ||
| Fritz Olbricht | Board Member | — | ||
| James Petrick | Treasurer | — | ||
| Dawna Steelman | Board Member | — | ||
| Greg Michaels | Board Member | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 56 other orgs in DC with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 20 points below the peer median (5 vs. 25).
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 27 → 31 over 5 years (improving by 4 points).
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 12.9% 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.