The Hollow Shell
What does this mean?
A 10-year slow bleed. Revenue shrinks slightly every year, board size shrinks to the legal minimum, and the organization slowly burns assets to pay a single administrator.
The Path Forward
The Seed
Forces the ultimate reckoning. It requires the board to either secure massive transformative funding immediately or begin the legal process of dissolving to preserve whatever assets remain.
Title
Representative Institutions
Institutional Epochs
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | — | — | 19 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 20.6% | 35 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2019 | — | — | — | 33 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2018 | — | — | — | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2017 | — | — | — | 21 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2016 | — | — | — | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2015 | — | — | — | 25 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2014 | — | — | — | 35 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2013 | — | — | — | 43 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2012 | — | — | — | 47 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2011 | — | — | — | 47 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrique Hurd | Board Member | 41.7% of Rev | ||
| Nicole LaPorte | Artistic Director | 13.9% of Rev | ||
| Lori Strom | Board President | — | ||
| Kati Mercier | Secretary | — | ||
| Chris Edge | Board Member | — | ||
| Nina McFerrin | Board Member | — | ||
| John Pelletier | Board Member | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 130 other orgs in CT with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 39 points below the peer median (0 vs. 39).
5-year trend: The Hollow Shell
A 10-year slow bleed. Revenue shrinks slightly every year, board size shrinks to the legal minimum, and the organization slowly burns assets to pay a single administrator.
Overall score has gone from 21 → 19 over 5 years (declining by 2 points).
What's driving this score
- All-volunteer org with no paid officers — governance signal is neutral (default 50), not absent.
- 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.