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 | 4.7% | 43 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | 5.0% | 44 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2021 | — | — | 6.0% | 44 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 7.4% | 36 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2019 | — | — | — | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2018 | — | — | — | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2017 | — | — | — | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2016 | — | — | — | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2015 | — | — | — | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2014 | — | — | — | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2013 | — | — | 7.0% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2012 | — | — | 6.0% | 38 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAHRA BUSS | Executive Director | 5.3% of Rev | ||
| KAHRA BUSS | Executive Director | 4.7% of Rev | ||
| BRUCE SMITH | Board President | — | ||
| JESSICA SANT | Board President | — | ||
| SCOTT MERKLE | Treasurer | — | ||
| BRENT THOMPSON | Secretary | — | ||
| PROTIMA BANERJEE | Board Member | — | ||
| HOPE HORWITZ | Board Member | — | ||
| SHARON XIAOYUN HOU | Board Member | — | ||
| CLAUDIA MASTROBUONO | Board Member | — | ||
| KATY RESCH | Board Member | — | ||
| MEGAN BALAREZO RICKBORN | Board Member | — | ||
| LYDIA P SHECKELS | Board Member | — | ||
| KEISHA TAYLOR | Board Member | — | ||
| CHRISTIAN SAFFICI | Board President | — | ||
| BRENT THOMPSON | Board Member | — | ||
| BRUCE SMITH | Board President | — | ||
| SCOTT MERKLE | Treasurer | — | ||
| HOPE HOROWITZ | Board Member | — | ||
| MATTHEW KANE LEFT 22024 | Board Member | — | ||
| KEVIN KELLY LEFT 22024 | Board Member | — | ||
| KATHRYN MYERS LEFT 22024 | Board Member | — | ||
| JESSICA SANT | Secretary | — | ||
| HALA SHAWAF BARSON | Board Member | — | ||
| KEISHA TAYLOR | Board Member | — | ||
| MEGAN BALAREZO | Board Member | — | ||
| CARMINE VALENTINO | Board Member | — | ||
| SHARON XIAOYUN HOU | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAHRA BUSS | Executive Director | 4.0% of Rev | ||
| MELISSA BLANTON | Treasurer | — | ||
| MEGHAN CRNIC LEFT APR 22 | Secretary | — | ||
| SHARLA FRANKO FLOYD | Board Member | — | ||
| SHARON XIAOYUN HOU | Board Member | — | ||
| MATTHEW KANE | Board Member | — | ||
| CHRISTIAN SAFFICI | Board President | — | ||
| CARMINE VALENTINO | Board Member | — | ||
| MEGAN BALAREZO | Board President | — | ||
| ALISON D MANNING | Board Member | — | ||
| MUNIRA WELLS | Board Member | — | ||
| KEVIN KELLY | Board Member | — | ||
| SCOTT MERKLE | Board Member | — | ||
| BRUCE SMITH | Board Member | — | ||
| HALA SHAWAF BARSON | Board Member | — | ||
| LISA STUART LEFT OCT 21 | Board Member | — | ||
| PRISCILLA HOPKINS-SMITH LEFT NOV 21 | Board Member | — | ||
| VEDRA CHANDLER LEFT OCT 21 | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KAHRA BUSS | Executive Director | 4.1% of Rev | ||
| MELISSA BLANTON | Treasurer | — | ||
| MEGHAN CRNIC | Secretary | — | ||
| SHARLA FRANKO FLOYD | Board Member | — | ||
| SHARON XIAOYUN HOU | Board Member | — | ||
| MATTHEW KANE | Board Member | — | ||
| CHRISTIAN SAFFICI | Board President | — | ||
| CARMINE VALENTINO | Board President | — | ||
| MEGAN BALAREZO | Board Member | — | ||
| VEDRA CHANDLER | Board Member | — | ||
| PRISCILLA HOPKINS-SMITH | Board Member | — | ||
| ALISON D MANNING | Board Member | — | ||
| LISA STUART | Board Member | — | ||
| MUNIRA WELLS | Board Member | — | ||
| ALISON S GRIFFIN | Board Member | — | ||
| HOPE HORWITZ | 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 NJ 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.
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 4.7% 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.