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 | 3.2% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2022 | — | — | 5.9% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2021 | — | — | 11.2% | 29 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2020 | — | — | 10.4% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2019 | — | — | 24.8% | 27 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2018 | — | — | — | 29 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2017 | — | — | — | 43 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2016 | — | — | — | 41 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janeece Freeman-Clark | Artistic Director | 3.8% of Rev | ||
| Janeece Freeman-Clark | Artistic Director | 3.5% of Rev | ||
| Jessica Sporn | Executive Director | 1.9% of Rev | ||
| Jessica Sporn | Board Member | 1.8% of Rev | ||
| Hilary Hoover | Board Member | — | ||
| Stacey Kilkenny | Board Member | — | ||
| Meryl Budnick | Board Member | — | ||
| Patti Gonzalez | Board Member | — | ||
| Sariah Johnson | Board Member | — | ||
| Ilena Silverman | Board Member | — | ||
| Kate Larsen | Board Member | — | ||
| Veena Raj | Board Member | — | ||
| Maureen Ludwig | Board Member | — | ||
| Christopher Joyce | Board President | — | ||
| Lindsay Roberts | Board President | — | ||
| Terri Gorgone | Secretary | — | ||
| Melani Wilson Smith | Treasurer | — | ||
| Anuraj Bismal | Board Member | — | ||
| Hilary Hoover | Board Member | — | ||
| Stacey Kilkenney | Board Member | — | ||
| Meryl Budnick | Board Member | — | ||
| MaryBeth Boger | Board President | — | ||
| Jennene Tierney | Board President | — | ||
| Ilena Silverman | Board Member | — | ||
| Veena Raj | Board Member | — | ||
| Kate Larsen | Board Member | — | ||
| Maureen Ludwig | Treasurer | — | ||
| Lindsay Roberts | Board Member | — | ||
| Melani Wilson Smith | Treasurer | — | ||
| Christopher Joyce | Board Member | — | ||
| Terri Gorgone | Secretary | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janeece Freeman-Clark | Artistic Director | 3.5% of Rev | ||
| Jessica Sporn | Board Member | 1.8% of Rev | ||
| Meryl Budnick | Board Member | 0.3% of Rev | ||
| Nadine Dubois | Treasurer | 0.1% of Rev | ||
| Patti Gonzalez | Board Member | — | ||
| Sariah Johnson | Board Member | — | ||
| Ilena Silverman | Board Member | — | ||
| Christopher Joyce | Board President | — | ||
| Kawanzaa King | Board President | — | ||
| Terri Gorgone | Secretary | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janeece Freeman-Clack | Board Member | 2.9% of Rev | ||
| Janeece Freeman-Clack | Unspecified Role | 2.9% of Rev | ||
| Jessica Sporn | Executive Dir. | 1.2% of Rev | ||
| Jessica Sporn | Unspecified Role | 1.2% of Rev | ||
| Melissa McHugh | Unspecified Role | 0.5% of Rev | ||
| Tira Johnson-Allen | Unspecified Role | 0.4% of Rev | ||
| Nadine Dubois | Treasurer | 0.3% of Rev | ||
| Nadine Dubois | Unspecified Role | 0.3% of Rev | ||
| Meryl Budnick | Board Member | 0.3% of Rev | ||
| Terri Gorgone | Secretary | 0.2% of Rev | ||
| Patty Gonzalez | Board Member | — | ||
| Sahirah Johnson | Board Member | — | ||
| Ilena Silverman | Board Member | — | ||
| Christopher Joyce | Board President | — | ||
| Kawanzaa King | Board President | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 175 other orgs in NJ with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 34 points below the peer median (0 vs. 34).
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 27 → 32 over 5 years (improving by 5 points).
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 3.2% 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.