Governance Lag
What does this mean?
Revenue and Program Scale spike rapidly, but the Governance Score remains stagnant. The organization has outgrown its founding era but hasn't installed proper oversight.
The Path Forward
The Scaffold
Brings immediate structural maturity. It represents the necessity of outside, independent oversight to manage new scale, breaking the echo chamber of a founding 'friends and family' board.
Institutional Epochs
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2024 | — | — | 36.8% | 48 | Governance-Stressed | Recovery | |
| 2023 | — | — | — | 39 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2022 | — | — | 41.7% | 32 | Critical Intervention Needed | Gov Risk | |
| 2021 | — | — | — | 41 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 50.6% | 28 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2019 | — | — | — | 23 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2018 | — | — | — | 27 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2017 | — | — | — | 37 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2016 | — | — | — | 35 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2015 | — | — | — | 41 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2014 | — | — | — | 45 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2013 | — | — | — | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch | |
| 2012 | — | — | — | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dietrich Paredes Baralt | Board Member | 27.0% of Rev | ||
| Linda Ackerman | Orchestra Manager | 8.5% of Rev | ||
| Davyd Breeskin | Stage Manager, Substitute Conductor | 1.3% of Rev | ||
| David Tiller | Board President | — | ||
| Tammy Chang | Treasurer | — | ||
| Joellyn Kinzer | Board President | — | ||
| Lauren Nieuwland | Corporate Outreach | — | ||
| Isaac Roberts | Webmaster | — | ||
| Kristen Wilson | Secretary | — | ||
| Gloria Lammers | Corporate Outreach | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dingwall Fleary | Board Member | 15.3% of Rev | ||
| Linda Ackerman | Orchestra Manager | 10.2% of Rev | ||
| Davyd Breeskin | Stage Manager | 1.0% of Rev | ||
| David Tiller | Board President | — | ||
| Tammy Chang | Treasurer | — | ||
| Joellyn Kinzer | Board Member | — | ||
| Bonnie Hudson | Music Librarian | — | ||
| Lisa Barker | Board President | — | ||
| Ben Green | Webmaster | — | ||
| Isaac Roberts | Membership | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dingwall Fleary | Board Member | 26.5% of Rev | ||
| David Tiller | Board President | — | ||
| Tammy Chang | Treasurer | — | ||
| Joellyn Kinzer | Board Member | — | ||
| Davyd Breeskin | Stage Manager | — | ||
| Lloyd Kinzer | Board Member | — | ||
| Linda Ackerman | Orchestra Manager | — | ||
| Daniel Bitman | Board Member | — | ||
| Ben Green | Board Member | — | ||
| Robert Reid | Board Member | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 146 other orgs in VA with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 45 points above the peer median (80 vs. 35).
5-year trend: Governance Lag
Revenue and Program Scale spike rapidly, but the Governance Score remains stagnant. The organization has outgrown its founding era but hasn't installed proper oversight.
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 36.8% is above the 90th percentile for orgs of this size (healthy band: 18–22%).
- Two consecutive years of deficit spending.
What would change this score
The two changes that would most improve this score:
- Reduce top-officer compensation from 36.8% to under 22% of revenue — would move governance score by ~30 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.