Compensation Escalation Cycle
What does this mean?
Revenue grows modestly, but top officer compensation grows consistently for 5 years, breaching danger zones. The executive is negotiating aggressive raises against a compliant board.
The Path Forward
The Steward
Re-establishes board supremacy over executive extraction. It freezes compensation and mandates that all future financial rewards be tied strictly to verifiable mission expansion.
Title
Representative Institutions
Institutional Epochs
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2023 | — | — | 43.1% | 15 | Critical Intervention Needed | Gov Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | 14.0% | 29 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2021 | — | — | 30.9% | 23 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 20.8% | 24 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2019 | — | — | 15.0% | 24 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2017 | — | — | — | 29 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2016 | — | — | — | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2015 | — | — | 0.4% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2014 | — | — | 1.4% | 38 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2013 | — | — | — | 27 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2012 | — | — | 0.8% | 38 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL WOLK | CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| PETER BREGER | Secretary | — | ||
| SETH NADLER | Board Member | — | ||
| SANDRA GILLESPIE | Secretary | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NICHOLAS COTZ | Executive Director | 59.7% of Rev | ||
| MICHAEL WOLK | CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| PETER BREGER | Secretary | — | ||
| MICHAEL GAZDECKI | Board Member | — | ||
| SETH NADLER | Board Member | — | ||
| ERIC FISCHBEIN | Board Member | — | ||
| SANDRA GILLESPIE | Secretary | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NICHOLAS COTZ | Executive Director | 69.5% of Rev | ||
| MICHAEL WOLK | CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| PETER BREGER | Secretary | — | ||
| MICHAEL GAZDECKI | Board Member | — | ||
| SETH NADLER | Board Member | — | ||
| ERIC FISCHBEIN | Board Member | — | ||
| SANDRA GILLESPIE | Secretary | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 699 other orgs in NY with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 26 points below the peer median (5 vs. 31).
5-year trend: Compensation Escalation Cycle
Revenue grows modestly, but top officer compensation grows consistently for 5 years, breaching danger zones. The executive is negotiating aggressive raises against a compliant board.
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 43.1% is well above the sector's 90th percentile (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:
- Reduce top-officer compensation from 43.1% to under 22% of revenue — would move governance score by ~40 points.
- Separate signing authority from fundraising authority when both are held by one person — removes the concentration penalty (~12 points).
Improving governance is a board decision. These are the levers.