The Founder's Trap
The Founder's Trap
The Founder's Trap Market Archetype Mechanical Natural
Tier
Developing
Trajectory Thumbprint

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.

The Dispersal
The Dispersal
Institutional Health Scores
5-yr trend: The Founder's Trap ↓
Overall
53
Score
Governance
58
Score
Financial
45
Score
Program
60
Score

Institutional Epochs

2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Financial Era
Governance Era
Trajectory Era
Founders Trap

Historical Performance

Year Revenue Top Comp Comp % Rev Score Phase Label Outlook Details
2024 Hidden Hidden — — Unknown —
2023 Hidden Hidden 2.4% 53 Fragile Recovery
2022 — — 2.4% 49 Fragile Decline Risk
2021 — — 3.9% 49 Fragile Decline Risk
2020 — — 2.4% 53 Fragile Stable Watch
2019 — — 2.0% 53 Fragile Stable Watch
2018 — — 1.4% 53 Fragile Stable Watch
2017 — — 1.9% 53 Fragile Stable Watch
2016 — — 2.1% 53 Fragile Decline Risk
2015 — — 1.8% 55 Fragile Stable Watch
2014 — — 1.9% 55 Fragile Recovery
2013 — — 2.1% 53 Fragile Recovery
2012 — — 2.4% 49 Fragile Decline Risk
2011 — — 1.9% 53 Fragile Stable Watch

Officer compensation history

Tax year 2025

Name Title Phone Email Compensation
MS DEBORAH F RUTTER Board President 0.5% of Rev
MS LESLIE J MILLER Vice President 0.2% of Rev
MS NURIT BAR-JOSEF NSO CONCERTMASTER 0.2% of Rev
MR TIMOTHY O'LEARY Board Member 0.1% of Rev
MS BARBARA A POLK CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER 0.1% of Rev
MS JEAN DAVIDSON Executive Director 0.1% of Rev
MS STACEY B JOHNSON CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 0.1% of Rev
MS ASWATHI ZACHARIAH Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR RALPH BELLANDI Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS MONICA S HOLT Artistic Director 0.1% of Rev
MR YING FU NSO ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER 0.1% of Rev
MR JEFFREY A FINN Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR MARK M COHEE HEAD ELECTRICIAN, OPERA HOUSE 0.1% of Rev
MS EILEEN T ANDREWS Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR ROSS RICHARDS Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR KEVIN F GIGLINTO SVP, MKTG & SALES(THRU 7/2023) 0.1% of Rev
MR GLENN A TURNER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS JORDAN C LASALLE Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR CARL H LINDNER III Board Member —
MR DOUGLAS MANCHESTER Board Member —
REP KEVIN MCCARTHY Board Member —
REP MICHAEL MCCAUL Board Member —
SEN MITCH MCCONNELL Board Member —
MS PHEFELIA NEZ Board Member —
MS CATHERINE B REYNOLDS Board Member —
MS KELLY ROBERTS Board Member —
MS DARYL ROTH Board Member —
MS CARI B SACKS Board Member —
THE HON CHARLES F SAMS III Board Member —
MS DENISE SAUL Board Member —
SEN CHUCK SCHUMER Board Member —
MS HILDA SOLIS Board Member —
MR MARC I STERN Board Member —
MS BILLIE TSIEN Board Member —
SEN CHRIS VAN HOLLEN Board Member —
MR JON VOIGHT Board Member —
SEN MARK WARNER Board Member —
MR KELCY WARREN Board Member —
MS HEATHER WASHBURNE Board Member —
MS PHYLLIS J WASHINGTON Board Member —
MR STEVEN WITKOFF Board Member —
MS ANDREA WYNN Board Member —
MR PAOLO ZAMPOLLI Board Member —
MR ANTHONY WELTERS Board President —
MS JACQUELINE BADGER MARS Secretary —
MS SHONDA RHIMES Treasurer —
MR DAVID M RUBENSTEIN CHAIRMAN —
MS ADRIENNE ARSHT Board Member —
MR BRIAN D BALLARD Board Member —
REP JOYCE BEATTY Board Member —
THE HON XAVIER BECERRA Board Member —
THE HON ANTONY BLINKEN Board Member —
MR DAVID C BOHNETT Board Member —
MS PAMELA BONDI Board Member —
MS MARY HELEN BOWERS Board Member —
THE HON MURIEL BOWSER Board Member —
MS HANNAH F BUCHAN Board Member —
THE HON LONNIE BUNCH Board Member —
SEN SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO Board Member —
THE HON MIGUEL CARDONA Board Member —
SEN TOM CARPER Board Member —
MR ROBERT CASTELLANI Board Member —
THE HON ELAINE CHAO Board Member —
SEN SUSAN COLLINS Board Member —
MS TATIANA COPELAND Board Member —
MS PAMELLA ROLAND DEVOS Board Member —
MR LEWIS FEREBEE Board Member —
MS JENNIFER FISCHER Board Member —
MS LYNNETTE FRIESS Board Member —
REP SAMUEL GRAVES Board Member —
MR LEE GREENWOOD Board Member —
MS KATE ADAMSON HASELWOOD Board Member —
THE HON CARLA HAYDEN Board Member —
THE HON MICHAEL HUCKABEE Board Member —
REP HAKEEM JEFFRIES Board Member —
REP MIKE JOHNSON Board Member —
MS MICHELE KESSLER Board Member —
REP RICK LARSEN Board Member —
MS KAREN TUCKER LEFRAK Board Member —
MR ROBERT DRURY LENHARD Board Member —
REP JULIA LETLOW Board Member —

Tax year 2023

Name Title Phone Email Compensation
MS DEBORAH F RUTTER Board President 0.3% of Rev
MS BARBARA A POLK CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER 0.1% of Rev
MR GARY GINSTLING Executive Director 0.1% of Rev
MS NURIT BAR-JOSEF NSO CONCERTMASTER 0.1% of Rev
MR TIMOTHY O'LEARY Board Member 0.1% of Rev
MR KEVIN F GIGLINTO Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS LYNNE H PRATT Treasurer 0.1% of Rev
MS LESLIE J MILLER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR ROBERT VAN LEER Artistic Director 0.1% of Rev
MR ELLERY J BROWN Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR JEFFREY A FINN Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR YING FU NSO ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER 0.1% of Rev
MR GLENN A TURNER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS EILEEN T ANDREWS Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS ALICIA B ADAMS Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS JORDAN C LASALLE Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS TRACY HENKE Secretary 0.1% of Rev
MR DAVID M RUBENSTEIN CHAIRMAN —
MS ADRIENNE ARSHT Board Member —
MR BRIAN D BALLARD Board Member —
REP JOYCE BEATTY Board Member —
THE HON XAVIER BECERRA Board Member —
MR SHAWN BENGE Board Member —
THE HON ANTONY BLINKEN Board Member —
SEN ROY BLUNT Board Member —
MS PAMELA BONDI Board Member —
MS MARY HELEN BOWERS Board Member —
THE HON MURIEL BOWSER Board Member —
MS HANNAH F BUCHAN Board Member —
THE HON LONNIE BUNCH Board Member —
SEN SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO Board Member —
THE HON MIGUEL CARDONA Board Member —
SEN TOM CARPER Board Member —
MR ROBERT CASTELLANI Board Member —
THE HON ELAINE CHAO Board Member —
REP PETER DEFAZIO Board Member —
MS PAMELLA ROLAND DEVOS Board Member —
REP ANNA G ESHOO Board Member —
MR FRED EYCHANER Board Member —
MR LEWIS FEREBEE Board Member —
MS JENNIFER FISCHER Board Member —
MS LYNNETTE FRIESS Board Member —
REP SAMUEL GRAVES Board Member —
MR LEE GREENWOOD Board Member —
MS KATE ADAMSON HASELWOOD Board Member —
THE HON CARLA HAYDEN Board Member —
THE HON MICHAEL HUCKABEE Board Member —
MS VALERIE JARRETT Board Member —
AMB VICTORIA REGGIE KENNEDY Board Member —
MS MICHELE KESSLER Board Member —
MS KAREN TUCKER LEFRAK Board Member —
MR CARL H LINDNER III Board Member —
MR DOUGLAS MANCHESTER Board Member —
REP KEVIN MCCARTHY Board Member —
SEN MITCH MCCONNELL Board Member —
AMB EDWARD MCMULLEN Board Member —
MR CHARLES B ORTNER Board Member —
REP NANCY PELOSI Board Member —
MS CATHERINE B REYNOLDS Board Member —
MS KELLY ROBERTS Board Member —
MS DARYL ROTH Board Member —
THE HON CHARLES F SAMS III Board Member —
MS DENISE SAUL Board Member —
SEN CHUCK SCHUMER Board Member —
MS SUSAN S SHER Board Member —
REP JASON SMITH Board Member —
MS HILDA SOLIS Board Member —
MR MARC I STERN Board Member —
MS BILLIE TSIEN Board Member —
SEN CHRIS VAN HOLLEN Board Member —
MR JON VOIGHT Board Member —
SEN MARK WARNER Board Member —
MR KELCY WARREN Board Member —
MS HEATHER WASHBURNE Board Member —
MS PHYLLIS J WASHINGTON Board Member —
MR STEVEN WITKOFF Board Member —
MS ANDREA WYNN Board Member —
MR PAOLO ZAMPOLLI Board Member —
MR ANTHONY WELTERS Board President —
MS JACQUELINE BADGER MARS Secretary —
MS SHONDA RHIMES Treasurer —
MR MICHAEL F NEIDORFF Treasurer —
MS STACEY B JOHNSON Treasurer —
MS ASWATHI ZACHARIAH GEN. COUNSEL (AS OF 04/2022) —

Tax year 2022

Name Title Phone Email Compensation
MS DEBORAH F RUTTER Board President 0.2% of Rev
MR GARY GINSTLING Executive Director 0.1% of Rev
MR TIMOTHY O'LEARY Board Member 0.1% of Rev
MS LYNNE H PRATT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 0.1% of Rev
MS LESLIE J MILLER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR ROBERT VAN LEER Artistic Director 0.1% of Rev
MR KEVIN F GIGLINTO Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS NURIT BAR-JOSEF NSO CONCERTMASTER 0.1% of Rev
MS BARBARA A POLK CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER 0.1% of Rev
MR ELLERY J BROWN Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR JEFFREY A FINN Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR GLENN A TURNER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS NICOLE J WEAVER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS EILEEN T ANDREWS Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR YING FU NSO ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER 0.1% of Rev
MS JORDAN C LASALLE Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS TRACY HENKE Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS DONNA S CUTRO Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR SHAWN BENGE Board Member —
THE HON ANTONY BLINKEN Board Member —
SEN ROY BLUNT Board Member —
MS PAMELA BONDI Board Member —
MS MARY HELEN BOWERS Board Member —
THE HON MURIEL BOWSER Board Member —
MS HANNAH F BUCHAN Board Member —
THE HON LONNIE BUNCH Board Member —
SEN SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO Board Member —
THE HON MIGUEL CARDONA Board Member —
SEN TOM CARPER Board Member —
MR ROBERT CASTELLANI Board Member —
THE HON ELAINE CHAO Board Member —
MR NORRIS COCHRAN Board Member —
SEN JOHN CORNYN Board Member —
REP PETER DEFAZIO Board Member —
THE HON BETSY DEVOS Board Member —
MS PAMELLA ROLAND DEVOS Board Member —
REP ANNA G ESHOO Board Member —
MS MARGARET EVERSON Board Member —
MR FRED EYCHANER Board Member —
MR LEWIS FEREBEE Board Member —
MS JENNIFER FISCHER Board Member —
MS SAKURAKO FISHER Board Member —
MS LYNNETTE FRIESS Board Member —
MR JOHN GOLDMAN Board Member —
REP SAMUEL GRAVES Board Member —
MR LEE GREENWOOD Board Member —
MS KATE ADAMSON HASELWOOD Board Member —
THE HON CARLA HAYDEN Board Member —
THE HON MICHAEL HUCKABEE Board Member —
MS VALERIE JARRETT Board Member —
REP JOSEPH P KENNEDY Board Member —
AMB VICTORIA REGGIE KENNEDY Board Member —
MS MICHELE KESSLER Board Member —
MS KAREN TUCKER LEFRAK Board Member —
MR CARL H LINDNER III Board Member —
MR ANDRES W LOPEZ Board Member —
MR BRYAN LOURD Board Member —
MS AMALIA PEREA MAHONEY Board Member —
MR DOUGLAS MANCHESTER Board Member —
MS BARBARA GOODMAN MANILOW Board Member —
MS ALYSSA MASTROMONACO Board Member —
REP KEVIN MCCARTHY Board Member —
SEN MITCH MCCONNELL Board Member —
MR EDWARD MCMULLEN Board Member —
MR W JAMES MCNERNEY JR Board Member —
MR CHARLES B ORTNER Board Member —
REP NANCY PELOSI Board Member —
THE HON MICHAEL POMPEO Board Member —
MR EARL A POWELL III Board Member —
MS CATHERINE B REYNOLDS Board Member —
MS KELLY ROBERTS Board Member —
MR PHILIP H ROSENFELT Board Member —
MS DARYL ROTH Board Member —
MS DENISE SAUL Board Member —
SEN CHUCK SCHUMER Board Member —
MS SUSAN S SHER Board Member —
MR JUSTIN SHUBOW Board Member —
THE HON DANIEL BENNETT SMITH Board Member —
REP JASON SMITH Board Member —
MR MARC I STERN Board Member —
DR BRYAN TRAUBERT Board Member —
MR RANVIR TREHAN Board Member —
MS BILLIE TSIEN Board Member —
MR WALTER F ULLOA Board Member —
SEN CHRIS VAN HOLLEN Board Member —
MR REGINALD VAN LEE Board Member —
MR JON VOIGHT Board Member —
SEN MARK WARNER Board Member —
MR KELCY WARREN Board Member —
MS HEATHER WASHBURNE Board Member —
MS PHYLLIS J WASHINGTON Board Member —
MS ANN MARIE WILKINS Board Member —
MR STEVEN WITKOFF Board Member —
MS ANDREA WYNN Board Member —
THE HON DR MITCHELL M ZAIS Board Member —
MR PAOLO ZAMPOLLI Board Member —
MR ANTHONY WELTERS Board President —
MS JACQUELINE BADGER MARS Secretary —
MR MICHAEL F NEIDORFF Treasurer —
MR DAVID M RUBENSTEIN CHAIRMAN —
MS ADRIENNE ARSHT Board Member —
THE HON ALEX AZAR Board Member —
MR BRIAN D BALLARD Board Member —
SEN JOHN BARRASSO Board Member —
REP JOYCE BEATTY Board Member —
THE HON XAVIER BECERRA Board Member —

Tax year 2021

Name Title Phone Email Compensation
MS DEBORAH F RUTTER Board President 0.5% of Rev
MR GARY GINSTLING Executive Director 0.2% of Rev
MS NURIT BAR-JOSEF NSO CONCERTMASTER 0.1% of Rev
MR TIMOTHY O'LEARY Board Member 0.1% of Rev
MS LYNNE H PRATT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 0.1% of Rev
MR ROBERT VAN LEER Artistic Director 0.1% of Rev
MS LESLIE J MILLER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR ELLERY J BROWN Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR KEVIN F GIGLINTO Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS NICOLE J WEAVER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR MARIO R ROSSERO Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR YING FU NSO ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER 0.1% of Rev
MS MARIA KERSTEN GENERAL COUNSEL 0.1% of Rev
MR MARK M COHEE HEAD ELECTRICIAN, OPERA HOUSE 0.1% of Rev
MR JEFFREY A FINN Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MR GLENN A TURNER Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS EILEEN T ANDREWS Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS BARBARA A POLK Vice President 0.1% of Rev
MS TRACY HENKE Vice President 0.0% of Rev
MS MICHELE KESSLER Board Member —
MS KAREN TUCKER LEFRAK Board Member —
MR CARL H LINDNER III Board Member —
MR MICHAEL LOMBARDO Board Member —
MR ANDRES W LOPEZ Board Member —
MR BRYAN LOURD Board Member —
MS AMALIA PEREA MAHONEY Board Member —
MS BARBARA GOODMAN MANILOW Board Member —
MS ALYSSA MASTROMONACO Board Member —
REP KEVIN MCCARTHY Board Member —
SEN MITCH MCCONNELL Board Member —
MR W JAMES MCNERNEY JR Board Member —
MR CHARLES B ORTNER Board Member —
REP NANCY PELOSI Board Member —
THE HON MICHAEL POMPEO Board Member —
MR EARL A POWELL III Board Member —
MS LAURA RICKETTS Board Member —
MS KELLY ROBERTS Board Member —
MS DARYL ROTH Board Member —
MS MARGARET RUSSELL Board Member —
MS DENISE SAUL Board Member —
SEN CHUCK SCHUMER Board Member —
MS SUSAN S SHER Board Member —
REP JASON SMITH Board Member —
MR MARC I STERN Board Member —
DR BRYAN TRAUBERT Board Member —
MR RANVIR TREHAN Board Member —
MR WALTER F ULLOA Board Member —
MR REGINALD VAN LEE Board Member —
MR DAVID VELA Board Member —
MR JON VOIGHT Board Member —
SEN MARK WARNER Board Member —
MR KELCY WARREN Board Member —
MS HEATHER WASHBURNE Board Member —
MS PHYLLIS J WASHINGTON Board Member —
MS ANN MARIE WILKINS Board Member —
MR STEVEN WITKOFF Board Member —
MS ANDREA WYNN Board Member —
MS JACQUELINE BADGER MARS Secretary —
MR MICHAEL F NEIDORFF Treasurer —
MR DAVID M RUBENSTEIN CHAIRMAN —
MS ADRIENNE ARSHT Board Member —
THE HON ALEX AZAR Board Member —
SEN JOHN BARRASSO Board Member —
REP JOYCE BEATTY Board Member —
SEN ROY BLUNT Board Member —
THE HON MURIEL BOWSER Board Member —
THE HON LONNIE BUNCH Board Member —
SEN TOM CARPER Board Member —
SEN JOHN CORNYN Board Member —
REP PETER DEFAZIO Board Member —
THE HON BETSY DEVOS Board Member —
MS MARGARET EVERSON Board Member —
MR FRED EYCHANER Board Member —
MR LEWIS FEREBEE Board Member —
MS JENNIFER FISCHER Board Member —
MS SAKURAKO FISHER Board Member —
MR JOHN GOLDMAN Board Member —
REP SAMUEL GRAVES Board Member —
MR LEE GREENWOOD Board Member —
THE HON CARLA HAYDEN Board Member —
MS JANET HILL Board Member —
THE HON MICHAEL HUCKABEE Board Member —
MS VALERIE JARRETT Board Member —
REP JOSEPH P KENNEDY Board Member —
MS VICTORIA REGGIE KENNEDY Board Member —
Officer contact details, exact compensation figures, and active litigation are available to verified members.
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Score breakdown

Score breakdown

Financial resilience
45 / 100
weight 40%
Governance risk
58 / 100
weight 40%
Program scale
60 / 100
weight 20%
Overall
53 / 100
Developing

The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →

Peer comparison

Compared to 106 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: 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

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.