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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2023 | — | — | 4.6% | 41 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2022 | — | — | 16.4% | 29 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2021 | — | — | 6.3% | 36 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 19.4% | 35 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2019 | — | — | 11.8% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2018 | — | — | 7.5% | 42 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2017 | — | — | 7.2% | 36 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2016 | — | — | 4.9% | 35 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2015 | — | — | 7.8% | 42 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2014 | — | — | 9.1% | 42 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2013 | — | — | 9.0% | 44 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2012 | — | — | 7.3% | 38 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2011 | — | — | 10.3% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS CARTER | Board President | 5.1% of Rev | ||
| JAMES W DYAS | Vice President | 3.9% of Rev | ||
| MICHELLE M DAY | Vice President | 3.8% of Rev | ||
| KAMIL WALJI | MGR STRAT PTRSHPS | 3.1% of Rev | ||
| HERBIE HANCOCK | Board President | — | ||
| IRINA BOKOVA | Board Member | — | ||
| Frank O Gehry | Board Member | — | ||
| BRETT HART | Board Member | — | ||
| DEE DEE Bridgewater | Board Member | — | ||
| Marcus Miller | Board Member | — | ||
| ROBERT J PILON | Board Member | — | ||
| JAMES FARMER | Treasurer | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS CARTER | Board President | 4.2% of Rev | ||
| JAMES W DYAS | Vice President | 3.9% of Rev | ||
| MICHELLE M DAY | Vice President | 3.8% of Rev | ||
| HERBIE HANCOCK | Board President | — | ||
| IRINA BOKOVA | Board Member | — | ||
| Frank O Gehry | Board Member | — | ||
| BRETT HART | Board Member | — | ||
| DEE DEE Bridgewater | Board Member | — | ||
| Marcus Miller | Board Member | — | ||
| ROBERT J PILON | Board Member | — | ||
| JAMES FARMER | Treasurer | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS CARTER | Board President | 4.2% of Rev | ||
| JAMES W DYAS | Vice President | 3.9% of Rev | ||
| MICHELLE M DAY | Vice President | 3.9% of Rev | ||
| HERBIE HANCOCK | Board President | — | ||
| IRINA BOKOVA | Board Member | — | ||
| Frank O Gehry | Board Member | — | ||
| DEE DEE Bridgewater | Board Member | — | ||
| WAYNE SHORTER | Board Member | — | ||
| Marcus Miller | Board Member | — | ||
| JAMES FARMER | Treasurer | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 55 other orgs in DC with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: program score sits 18 points above the peer median (60 vs. 42).
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.
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 4.6% 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.