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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2024 | Hidden | Hidden | 17.9% | 26 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2023 | — | — | 14.8% | 24 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | 22.8% | 25 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2021 | — | — | — | 36 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2018 | — | — | — | 43 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2017 | — | — | — | 41 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2016 | — | — | — | 37 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch | |
| 2015 | — | — | — | 37 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2014 | — | — | — | 47 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2013 | — | — | — | 51 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2012 | — | — | — | 51 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHANIE LAWSON | OPERATIONS | 17.9% of Rev | ||
| RAY SINGER | Board President | — | ||
| COREY FAGE | Treasurer | — | ||
| DAVID SEVIER | Board Member | — | ||
| DWAYNE HAWKINS | Secretary | — | ||
| ANN COLLETTE | Board Member | — | ||
| STEVEN PAYNE | Board President | — | ||
| PAT WARD | Board Member | — | ||
| JANE MARSH | Board Member | — | ||
| BRAD LAMB | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHANIE LAWSON | OPERATIONS | 16.8% of Rev | ||
| RAY SINGER | Board President | — | ||
| JOE WAKHAM | Treasurer | — | ||
| DONNA CUMMING | Secretary | — | ||
| DWAYNE HAWKINS | Board Member | — | ||
| ANN COLLETTE | Board Member | — | ||
| STEVEN PAYNE | Board Member | — | ||
| PAT WARD | Board Member | — | ||
| STEPHANIE LAWSON | OPERATIONS | — | ||
| RAY SINGER | Board President | — | ||
| JOE WAKHAM | Treasurer | — | ||
| DONNA CUMMING | Secretary | — | ||
| DWAYNE HAWKINS | Board Member | — | ||
| ANN COLLETTE | Board Member | — | ||
| STEVEN PAYNE | Board Member | — | ||
| PAT WARD | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAY SINGER | Board President | — | ||
| JOE WAKHAM | Treasurer | — | ||
| DONNA CUMMING | Secretary | — | ||
| LORY BRECKLER | Board Member | — | ||
| ANN COLLETTE | Board Member | — | ||
| NANCY SHARBER | Board Member | — | ||
| PAT WARD | Board Member | — | ||
| FRANCES CAMPBELL | OPERATIONS | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 46 other orgs in TN with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 27 points below the peer median (10 vs. 37).
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 17.9% 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:
- 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.