Structural Deficit
What does this mean?
Persistently low financial health over 5 years despite strong programmatic output. They are borrowing from their future (or bleeding an endowment) to pay for today's programs.
The Path Forward
The Truth-Teller
Forces necessary, painful cuts to preserve the core. It demands that the organization stop borrowing from its future and align its current programmatic output with actual sustainable revenue.
Title
Representative Institutions
Institutional Epochs
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Hidden | Hidden | 7.7% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | 7.0% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2021 | — | — | 8.7% | 36 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 13.1% | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2019 | — | — | 12.7% | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2018 | — | — | 7.5% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2017 | — | — | 7.6% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2016 | — | — | 6.6% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2015 | — | — | 6.0% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2014 | — | — | 6.2% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Wilkinson Manley | Artistic Director | 5.4% of Rev | ||
| L Castanuela Barnes 9262021 | Board Member | 1.7% of Rev | ||
| JR Roedel | Board Member | — | ||
| Kelli Luebke Bentzinger | Treasurer | — | ||
| Cindy Ward | Chairwoman | — | ||
| Tim Schafer | Board Member | — | ||
| Lauren Hafla | Secretary | — | ||
| David Manley | Board President | — | ||
| Dr Tara Jae | Board Member | — | ||
| Kristen Ditges Manning | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R Cowden through 61721 | Board Member | 5.3% of Rev | ||
| Julia Wilkinson Manley | Artistic Director | 5.2% of Rev | ||
| Angela Landrum | Board Member | — | ||
| Kristen Manning | Board Member | — | ||
| Kelli Luebke Bentzinger | Treasurer | — | ||
| Cindy Ward | Chairman | — | ||
| Tim Schafer | Board Member | — | ||
| Lauren Hafla | Secretary | — | ||
| David Manley | Board President | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Wilkinson Manley | Artistic Director | 5.0% of Rev | ||
| Richard Cowden | Board Member | 5.0% of Rev | ||
| Kelli Luebke Bentzinger | Treasurer | — | ||
| Cindy Ward | Chairman | — | ||
| Tim Schafer | Board Member | — | ||
| Joleen Polk | Board Member | — | ||
| Lauren Hafla | Secretary | — | ||
| David Manley | Board President | — | ||
| Angela Landrum | Board Member | — | ||
| Kristen Manning | Board Member | — |
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: financial score sits 36 points below the peer median (0 vs. 36).
5-year trend: Structural Deficit
Persistently low financial health over 5 years despite strong programmatic output. They are borrowing from their future (or bleeding an endowment) to pay for today's programs.
Overall score has gone from 31 → 34 over 5 years (improving by 3 points).
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 7.7% sits within the sector's 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:
- 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.