The Founder's Trap
What does this mean?
10-year flat revenue, below-market executive comp, and a small board. The organization survives purely on the sweat equity of a founder, making it utterly un-transferable.
The Path Forward
The Dispersal
Forces succession planning and structural maturity. It requires raising capacity-building funds to decouple the organization's survival from the founder's personal sacrifice.
Institutional Epochs
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2024 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2023 | — | — | 2.2% | 55 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | 2.1% | 59 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2021 | — | — | 5.8% | 54 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2020 | — | — | 5.9% | 54 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2019 | — | — | 3.6% | 59 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2018 | — | — | 2.9% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2017 | — | — | 3.8% | 55 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2016 | — | — | 3.5% | 51 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2015 | — | — | 2.1% | 59 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2014 | — | — | 1.7% | 55 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2013 | — | — | 2.7% | 49 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2012 | — | — | 3.7% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2011 | — | — | 1.7% | 55 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2026
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADAM LEVINE | Executive Director | 0.8% of Rev | ||
| JENNIFER MCCARY | CHIEF CULTURE AND BRAND EX | 0.3% of Rev | ||
| GARY GONYA | Board Member | 0.3% of Rev | ||
| PATRICIA O'TOOLE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| ANDREA GARDNER | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| RHONDA SEWELL | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| DEB BALL | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| DIANE WRIGHT | Artistic Director | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| LAURIE FRENCH | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| MARK GOETZ | Treasurer | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| RANDY OOSTRA | Board Member | — | ||
| JOE NAPOLI | Board Member | — | ||
| SHARON SPEYER | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| THOMAS WINSTON | Secretary | — | ||
| ELIZABETH BRADY | Board Member | — | ||
| JUDITH HERB | Board Member | — | ||
| MIKE HYLANT | Board Member | — | ||
| SUSAN PALMER | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| MIKE THAMAN | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| DAVID KROCK | Board Member | — | ||
| RITA MANSOUR | Board Member | — | ||
| PAT BOWE | Treasurer | — | ||
| RODNEY EASON | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| JAY SECOR | Board Member | — | ||
| SARA JANE DEHOFF | CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| CYNTHIA THOMPSON | Board Member | — | ||
| LISA MCDUFFIE | Board Member | — | ||
| ROMULES DURANT | Board Member | — | ||
| BRIAN CHAMBERS | Board Member | — | ||
| SHANKH MITRA | Board Member | — | ||
| DR GREGORY POSTEL | Board Member | — | ||
| DR DIONE SOMERVILLE | Board Member | — | ||
| MARGY TRUMBULL | Board Member | — | ||
| JOAQUIN CINTRON-VEGA | Board Member | — | ||
| MIKE BAUER | Board Member | — | ||
| MAJIDA MOURAD | Board Member | — | ||
| PRAKASH KARAMCHANDANI | Board Member | — | ||
| ANN MCCAULEY | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADAM LEVINE | Executive Director | 0.8% of Rev | ||
| JENNIFER MCCARY | CHIEF CULTURE AND BRAND EXPERIENCE OFFICER | 0.3% of Rev | ||
| PATRICIA O'TOOLE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| GARY GONYA | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| ANDREA GARDNER | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| MICHAEL DEETSCH | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| RHONDA SEWELL | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| DIANE WRIGHT | Artistic Director | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| RANDY OOSTRA | CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| STEPHEN D TAYLOR | VICE CHAIRMAN THRU 12-31-23 | — | ||
| JOE NAPOLI | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| SHARON SPEYER | Secretary | — | ||
| THOMAS WINSTON | Treasurer | — | ||
| ELIZABETH BRADY | Board Member | — | ||
| JUDITH HERB | Board Member | — | ||
| MIKE HYLANT | Board Member | — | ||
| SUSAN PALMER | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| MIKE THAMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| DAVID K WELLES JR | Board Member | — | ||
| DAVID KROCK | Board Member | — | ||
| RITA MANSOUR | Board Member | — | ||
| PAT BOWE | Board Member | — | ||
| RODNEY EASON | Board Member | — | ||
| JAY SECOR | Board Member | — | ||
| SARA JANE DEHOFF | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| CYNTHIA THOMPSON | Board Member | — | ||
| LISA MCDUFFIE | Board Member | — | ||
| ROMULES DURANT | Board Member | — | ||
| BRIAN CHAMBERS | Board Member | — | ||
| SHANKH MITRA | Board Member | — | ||
| DR GREGORY POSTEL | Board Member | — | ||
| DR DIONE SOMERVILLE | Board Member | — | ||
| MARGY TRUMBULL | Board Member | — | ||
| JOAQUIN CINTRON-VEGA | Board Member | — | ||
| MIKE BAUER | Board Member | — | ||
| ANN STRICKLER | Board Member | — | ||
| CYNTHIA BEEKLEY | Board Member | — | ||
| MAJIDA MOURAD | Board Member | — | ||
| SUSAN DENNY | Board Member | — | ||
| ANNETTE DONAR | Board Member | — | ||
| PRAKASH KARAMCHANDANI | Board Member | — | ||
| ANN MCCAULEY | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADAM LEVINE | Executive Director | 0.5% of Rev | ||
| PATRICIA O'TOOLE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| ANDREA GARDNER | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| DIANE WRIGHT | Artistic Director | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| MICHAEL DEETSCH | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| JENNY WENSINK | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| KRISTINA CRYSTAL | CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| RANDY OOSTRA | CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| STEPHEN D TAYLOR | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| JOE NAPOLI | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| SHARON SPEYER | Secretary | — | ||
| THOMAS WINSTON | Treasurer | — | ||
| ALLAN BLOCK | Board Member | — | ||
| ELIZABETH BRADY | Board Member | — | ||
| JUDITH HERB | Board Member | — | ||
| MIKE HYLANT | Board Member | — | ||
| HARLEY J KRIPKE | Board Member | — | ||
| SUSAN PALMER | Board Member | — | ||
| MIKE THAMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| DAVID K WELLES JR | Board Member | — | ||
| DAVID KROCK | Board Member | — | ||
| RITA MANSOUR | Board Member | — | ||
| PAT BOWE | Board Member | — | ||
| RODNEY EASON | Board Member | — | ||
| JAY SECOR | Board Member | — | ||
| SARA JANE DEHOFF | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| CYNTHIA THOMPSON | Board Member | — | ||
| LISA MCDUFFIE | Board Member | — | ||
| ROMULES DURANT | Board Member | — | ||
| BRIAN CHAMBERS | Board Member | — | ||
| COLLEEN BARRON | Board Member | — | ||
| SHANKH MITRA | Board Member | — | ||
| DR GREGORY POSTEL | Board Member | — | ||
| KIRAN RAI | Board Member | — | ||
| DR DIONE SOMERVILLE | Board Member | — | ||
| MARGY TRUMBULL | Board Member | — | ||
| JOAQUIN CINTRON-VEGA | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADAM LEVINE | Executive Director | 0.3% of Rev | ||
| KRISTINA CRYSTAL | CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| PATRICIA O'TOOLE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| DIANE WRIGHT | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| JOHN STANLEY | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| TODD AHRENS | Board Member | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| LAWRENCE NICHOLS | Artistic Director | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| MICHAEL DEETSCH | Board Member | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| RANDY OOSTRA | CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| STEPHEN D TAYLOR | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| JOE NAPOLI | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| SHARON SPEYER | Secretary | — | ||
| THOMAS WINSTON | Treasurer | — | ||
| ALLAN BLOCK | Board Member | — | ||
| ELIZABETH BRADY | Board Member | — | ||
| JUDITH HERB | Board Member | — | ||
| JAMES A HOFFMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| MIKE HYLANT | Board Member | — | ||
| HARLEY J KRIPKE | Board Member | — | ||
| SUSAN PALMER | Board Member | — | ||
| MIKE THAMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| DAVID K WELLES JR | Board Member | — | ||
| DAVID KROCK | Board Member | — | ||
| RITA MANSOUR | Board Member | — | ||
| PAT BOWE | Board Member | — | ||
| RODNEY EASON | Board Member | — | ||
| JAY SECOR | Board Member | — | ||
| SARA JANE DEHOFF | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| CYNTHIA THOMPSON | Board Member | — | ||
| CYNTHIA SKAFF | Board Member | — | ||
| LISA MCDUFFIE | Board Member | — | ||
| MARY GALVIN | Board Member | — | ||
| ROMULES DURANT | Board Member | — | ||
| BRIAN CHAMBERS | Board Member | — | ||
| MARY ELLEN PISANELLI | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRIAN KENNEDY | Executive Director | 0.4% of Rev | ||
| JOHN STANLEY | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| LYNN MILLER | Board Member | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| KRISTINA CRYSTAL | CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| PATRICIA O'TOOLE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| TODD AHRENS | Board Member | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| RANDY OOSTRA | CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| STEPHEN D TAYLOR | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| JOE NAPOLI | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| MARY ELLEN PISANELLI | Secretary | — | ||
| JOHN SZUCH | Treasurer | — | ||
| ALLAN BLOCK | Board Member | — | ||
| ELIZABETH BRADY | Board Member | — | ||
| JUDITH HERB | Board Member | — | ||
| JAMES A HOFFMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| MIKE HYLANT | Board Member | — | ||
| GEORGE M JONES III | Board Member | — | ||
| HARLEY J KRIPKE | Board Member | — | ||
| SUSAN PALMER | Board Member | — | ||
| MIKE THAMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| DAVID K WELLES JR | Board Member | — | ||
| DAVID KROCK | Board Member | — | ||
| RITA MANSOUR | Board Member | — | ||
| SHARON SPEYER | Board Member | — | ||
| THOMAS WINSTON | Board Member | — | ||
| PAT BOWE | Board Member | — | ||
| RODNEY EASON | Board Member | — | ||
| GRETCHEN ROHM | Board Member | — | ||
| JAY SECOR | Board Member | — | ||
| ELLEN WISE | Board Member | — | ||
| SARA JANE DEHOFF | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| SCOTT TRUMBULL | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | ||
| CYNTHIA THOMPSON | Board Member | — | ||
| ADAM LEVINE | Executive Director | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 10 other orgs in OH with NTEE prefix A5.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 6 points above the peer median (50 vs. 44).
5-year trend: The Founder's Trap
10-year flat revenue, below-market executive comp, and a small board. The organization survives purely on the sweat equity of a founder, making it utterly un-transferable.
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 2.2% sits within the sector's healthy band (18–22%).
What would change this score
No specific high-impact levers identified — this org's score is balanced across components.
Improving governance is a board decision. These are the levers.