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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2022 | — | — | 31.0% | 19 | Critical Intervention Needed | Gov Risk | |
| 2021 | — | — | 19.8% | 40 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 32.2% | 19 | Critical Intervention Needed | Gov Risk | |
| 2019 | — | — | 26.0% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Gov Risk | |
| 2018 | — | — | 13.4% | 35 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2017 | — | — | — | 42 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2016 | — | — | — | 35 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2015 | — | — | — | 45 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2014 | — | — | — | 39 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2013 | — | — | — | 45 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2012 | — | — | — | 39 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM BUSCH | Executive Director | 31.0% of Rev | ||
| JOE CIANCAGALINI | Board President | — | ||
| KATHRYN LOMANSEY | Board President | — | ||
| ANNE PLICHTA | Secretary | — | ||
| ROSS BUKOURICZ | Treasurer | — | ||
| WILLIAM ANDERSON | Board Member | — | ||
| REBECCA BELVILLE | Board Member | — | ||
| SYLVIA DIEDRICH | Board Member | — | ||
| JARED GREANYA | Board Member | — | ||
| CAROL GREIF SCHUELE | Board Member | — | ||
| OLIVER JOHNSON | Board Member | — | ||
| ERIN LEVZOW | Board Member | — | ||
| MORIAH PIERCE | Board Member | — | ||
| KELLY SCHLICHT | Board Member | — | ||
| JAMEELAH SHAREEF | Board Member | — | ||
| ELIZABETH DANNECKER | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM BUSCH | Executive Director | 31.0% of Rev | ||
| JOE CIANCAGALINI | Board President | — | ||
| KELLY SCHLICHT | Board President | — | ||
| ANNE PLICHTA | Secretary | — | ||
| ROSS BUKOURICZ | Treasurer | — | ||
| WILLIAM ANDERSON | Board Member | — | ||
| ELIZABETH DANNECKER | Board Member | — | ||
| SYLVIA DIEDRICH | Board Member | — | ||
| CAROL GREIF SCHUELE | Board Member | — | ||
| OLIVER JOHNSON | Board Member | — | ||
| ERIN LEVZOW | Board Member | — | ||
| KATHRYN LOMANSEY | Board Member | — | ||
| MORIAH PIERCE | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LYNN SWANSON | Executive Director | 24.1% of Rev | ||
| WILLIAM BUSCH | Executive Director | 19.4% of Rev | ||
| JOE CIANCAGALINI | Board President | — | ||
| BRENDA DUKE | Board President | — | ||
| ANNE PLICHTA | Secretary | — | ||
| ROSS BUKOURICZ | Treasurer | — | ||
| TOM BAGWELL | Board Member | — | ||
| KATHRYN LOMANSEY | Board Member | — | ||
| EMILY SCHLEY | Board Member | — | ||
| JACLYN STOCZANYN | Board Member | — | ||
| JENNIFER OHLENDORF | Board Member | — | ||
| BRENDA DUKE | Board Member | — | ||
| NKENGE KIRTON | Board Member | — | ||
| DARIN JANECEK | Board Member | — | ||
| KELSEY NUGENT | Board Member | — | ||
| ANNE PLICHTA | Board Member | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 104 other orgs in WI with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 32 points below the peer median (5 vs. 37).
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 31.0% is above the 90th percentile for orgs of this size (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 31.0% to under 22% of revenue — would move governance score by ~18 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.