Mission Drift
What does this mean?
Highly volatile revenue swings year over year paired with fluctuating Program Scores. The organization is constantly pivoting to chase restricted grant funding rather than building a sustainable core.
The Path Forward
The Lodestar
A radical recommitment to the core mission. It requires the organization to gain the strength to say 'no' to restricted funding that pulls them away from their true purpose.
Title
Representative Institutions
Institutional Epochs
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2024 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2023 | — | — | 23.0% | 58 | Governance-Stressed | Recovery | |
| 2022 | — | — | 23.8% | 30 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2021 | — | — | 39.9% | 42 | Governance-Stressed | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 13.8% | 35 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2019 | — | — | — | 47 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2018 | — | — | — | 39 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2017 | — | — | — | 41 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2016 | — | — | — | 35 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2015 | — | — | — | 47 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2014 | — | — | — | 43 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2013 | — | — | — | 43 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2012 | — | — | — | 39 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2011 | — | — | — | 43 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2026
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Ailiff | Executive Director | 33.9% of Rev | ||
| Tola Sun Mueller | Treasurer | — | ||
| Brett Hargis | Secretary | — | ||
| David Adler | Board Member | — | ||
| Aaron Bernard | Board Member | — | ||
| Gerald Fitzgerald | Board Member | — | ||
| James Gorsuch | Board Member | — | ||
| Angela Prodrick | Board Member | — | ||
| Michele Sparks | Board Member | — | ||
| Brittany Sumner | Board Member | — | ||
| Gary Tester | Board Member | — | ||
| Simone Wood | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Ailiff | Executive Director | 23.0% of Rev | ||
| Gerald Fitzgerald | Board President | — | ||
| Angela Prodrick | Board President | — | ||
| James Gorsuch | Board President | — | ||
| Brett Hargis | Secretary | — | ||
| Tola Sun | Board Member | — | ||
| David Adler | Board Member | — | ||
| Aaron Bernard | Board Member | — | ||
| Michele Sparks | Board Member | — | ||
| Brittany Sumner | Board Member | — | ||
| Simone Wood | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAUREN RUTLEDGE | ED JAN-SEPT | 21.6% of Rev | ||
| ERIC KERCHNER | ED OCT-DEC | 7.2% of Rev | ||
| JOSH DUNKIN | Board President | — | ||
| JAMIE GORSUCH | VICE PRESIDE | — | ||
| JEAN TUECH | Treasurer | — | ||
| DAVID ADLER | Board Member | — | ||
| CRYSTAL CAULEY | Board Member | — | ||
| CHELSEA ADKINS | Secretary | — | ||
| MARGO LEA | Board Member | — | ||
| JEFF FISSELL | Board Member | — | ||
| BRETT HARGIS | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HANNAH DUNCAN | ED JAN-JUN | 18.0% of Rev | ||
| LAUREN RUTLEDGE | ED JUL-DEC | 11.0% of Rev | ||
| JOSH DUNKIN | Board President | — | ||
| JAMIE GORSUCH | VICE PRESIDE | — | ||
| JEAN TUECH | Treasurer | — | ||
| DAVID ADLER | Board Member | — | ||
| CRYSTAL CAULEY | Board Member | — | ||
| DOUG GELBERT | Board Member | — | ||
| ELISA JARRIN | Board Member | — | ||
| MARGO LEA | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HANNAH DUNCAN | EXECUTIVE DI | 25.6% of Rev | ||
| JOSH DUNKIN | Board President | — | ||
| CHARLES KEEFER | VICE PRESIDE | — | ||
| CHELSEA ATKINS | Secretary | — | ||
| JEAN TUECH | Treasurer | — | ||
| DAVID ADLER | Board Member | — | ||
| CRYSTAL CAULEY | Board Member | — | ||
| DOUG GELBERT | Board Member | — | ||
| JAMIE GORSUCH | Board Member | — | ||
| ELISA JARRIN | Board Member | — | ||
| MARGO LEA | 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 NC with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 53 points above the peer median (90 vs. 37).
5-year trend: Mission Drift
Highly volatile revenue swings year over year paired with fluctuating Program Scores. The organization is constantly pivoting to chase restricted grant funding rather than building a sustainable core.
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 23.0% is modestly above the sector's healthy band (18–22%) — worth monitoring.
What would change this score
The two changes that would most improve this score:
- Separate signing authority from fundraising authority when both are held by one person — removes the concentration penalty (~12 points).
- Reduce top-officer compensation from 23.0% to under 22% of revenue — would move governance score by ~5 points.
Improving governance is a board decision. These are the levers.