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 | — | — | 21.6% | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2022 | — | — | 28.7% | 30 | Critical Intervention Needed | Gov Risk | |
| 2021 | — | — | 22.3% | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 33.1% | 22 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2019 | — | — | 27.6% | 24 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2018 | — | — | 26.1% | 26 | Critical Intervention Needed | Gov Risk | |
| 2017 | — | — | 26.9% | 26 | Critical Intervention Needed | Gov Risk | |
| 2016 | — | — | 19.9% | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2015 | — | — | 22.9% | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2014 | — | — | 23.8% | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2013 | — | — | — | 27 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2012 | — | — | — | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2011 | — | — | — | 47 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JESSICA MARTIN | Artistic Director | 21.6% of Rev | ||
| JESSICA MARTIN | Artistic Director | 19.7% of Rev | ||
| LAURA PEARSON | Board President | — | ||
| BROOKE STINNETT | Board President | — | ||
| MELISSA GREER | Secretary | — | ||
| DENISE BOUCHER | Treasurer | — | ||
| MELISSA GLADWELL-SAYRE | Board Member | — | ||
| KATLYN HICKMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| JENNA DONAHUE | Board Member | — | ||
| TED DUKE | Board Member | — | ||
| STUART BROWN | Board Member | — | ||
| DENISE BOUCHER | Board President | — | ||
| BROOKE STINNETT | Board President | — | ||
| MELISSA GREER | Secretary | — | ||
| BRIDGETE CASH | Treasurer | — | ||
| JENNIFER BALKEY | Board Member | — | ||
| KATLYN HICKMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| JENNA DONAHUE | Board Member | — | ||
| TED DUKE | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JESSICA MARTIN | Artistic Director | 19.8% of Rev | ||
| DENISE BOUCHER | Board President | — | ||
| FARISHTE IRANI | Board President | — | ||
| MELISSA GREER | Secretary | — | ||
| BRIDGETE CASH | Treasurer | — | ||
| KIMBERLY KENNEDY | Board Member | — | ||
| JENNIFER BALKEY | Board Member | — | ||
| KATLYN HICKMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| BROOKE STINNETT | Board Member | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Fewer than 3 peers found in VA for this NTEE subcategory; peer comparison would not be statistically meaningful.
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 24 → 33 over 5 years (improving by 9 points).
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 21.6% 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.