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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2024 | — | — | 28.0% | 36 | Governance-Stressed | Gov Risk | |
| 2023 | — | — | — | 40 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2022 | — | — | 30.5% | 45 | Governance-Stressed | Recovery | |
| 2021 | — | — | — | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 21.2% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2019 | — | — | 26.9% | 28 | Critical Intervention Needed | Gov Risk | |
| 2018 | — | — | — | 27 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2017 | — | — | 19.6% | 22 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2016 | — | — | — | 27 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2015 | — | — | — | 35 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2014 | — | — | — | 47 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2013 | — | — | — | 43 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2012 | — | — | — | 35 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2011 | — | — | — | 41 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JACINDA BOUTON | Board Member | 15.6% of Rev | ||
| JAKE BOLDMAN | Executive Director | 12.4% of Rev | ||
| LISA FUGIT | Board President | — | ||
| FRED SELBY | Board President | — | ||
| ERIC JAMES | Board President | — | ||
| GERALD MELTZER | Treasurer | — | ||
| KATHRYN SMITH | Secretary | — | ||
| CHRISTOPHER BENSON | Board Member | — | ||
| NANCY CASPER | Board Member | — | ||
| GABRIELLE CARDWELL | Board Member | — | ||
| CLAUDIA HERZOG | Board Member | — | ||
| KEN WELLER | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JACINDA BOUTON | Board Member | 12.4% of Rev | ||
| Mary Barnes | Executive Director | 10.4% of Rev | ||
| Jessica Hall | Executive Director | 2.1% of Rev | ||
| FRED SELBY | Board President | — | ||
| GERALD MELTZER | Treasurer | — | ||
| KATHRYN SMITH | Secretary | — | ||
| ERIC JAMES | Board President | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CINDY KESSINGER | EXECUTIVE DI | 8.7% of Rev | ||
| JACINDA BOUTON | MUSIC DIRECT | 8.6% of Rev | ||
| MARY BARNES | Board President | — | ||
| GERALD MELTZER | Treasurer | — | ||
| KATHRYN SMITH | Secretary | — | ||
| DAVID UNKRICH | VICE PRESIDE | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CINDY KESSINGER | EXECUTIVE DI | 10.0% of Rev | ||
| JACINDA BOUTON | MUSIC DIRECT | 9.3% of Rev | ||
| MARY BARNES | Board President | — | ||
| GERALD MELTZER | Treasurer | — | ||
| KATHRYN SMITH | Secretary | — | ||
| DAVID UNKRICH | VICE PRESIDE | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 182 other orgs in CO with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: governance score sits 8 points below the peer median (42 vs. 50).
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 28.0% is modestly above the sector's healthy band (18–22%) — worth monitoring.
What would change this score
The two changes that would most improve this score:
- Reduce top-officer compensation from 28.0% to under 22% of revenue — would move governance score by ~12 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.