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 | — | — | 5.2% | 40 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2022 | — | — | 9.5% | 36 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2021 | — | — | 16.3% | 43 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2020 | — | — | 7.0% | 34 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2019 | — | — | 4.6% | 41 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2018 | — | — | 7.8% | 36 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2017 | — | — | 5.8% | 40 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2016 | — | — | 7.0% | 36 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2015 | — | — | 6.0% | 40 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch | |
| 2014 | — | — | 7.5% | 40 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch | |
| 2013 | — | — | 4.4% | 41 | Financially Distressed | Recovery | |
| 2012 | — | — | 7.6% | 36 | Financially Distressed | Decline Risk | |
| 2011 | — | — | 5.0% | 40 | Financially Distressed | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT KETRON | Executive Director | 5.0% of Rev | ||
| MEGHAN WAGNER | BAND | — | ||
| CAROL PEDERSON | ADMINISTRATION | — | ||
| CAROLE LEANDER | Treasurer | — | ||
| JEFF CHANG | JAZZ | — | ||
| COURTNEY VETTER | ELEMENTARY-EAST | — | ||
| KASEY ECK | CHORAL | — | ||
| JERILYN HARRIS | ORCHESTRA | — | ||
| ELIZABETH HARVERY | COLLEGIATE | — | ||
| MEAGAN LEY | Board President | — | ||
| RACHEL LAKE | SMALL SCHOOLS | — | ||
| KAREN HELSETH | Board President | — | ||
| CHISTOPHER HANSON | CONNECTIONS PROGRAM COORDINAT | — | ||
| KELLY FOSTER GRIFFIN | ELEMENTARY WEST | — | ||
| RON GERHARDSTEIN | Board President | — | ||
| FRANK LEWS | Board President | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARRIE ROSE | ELEMENTARY EAST | — | ||
| PATTY BOURNE | COLLEGIATEUNIVERSITY | — | ||
| PEARL PETAIA | COLLEGIATE | — | ||
| LAURIE BIANCO | ELEMENTARY WEST | — | ||
| MATT BROWN | SMALL SCHOOLS | — | ||
| BILL KLOUSE | CONNECTIONS PROGRAM COORDINAT | — | ||
| CHRIS BRUYA | JAZZ | — | ||
| CHASE CHANG | ORCHESTRA | — | ||
| DAWN MCCORMICK | CHORAL | — | ||
| BOB COOPER | ADMINISTRATION | — | ||
| LISA RAY | BAND | — | ||
| KAREN HELSETH | PRESIDENTELECT | — | ||
| ANDREA KLOUSE | Board President | — | ||
| SCOTT KETRON | Executive Director | — | ||
| JIM RICE | Board President | — | ||
| JOE DYVIG | Treasurer | — | ||
| FRANK LEWIS | Board President | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 332 other orgs in WA with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 37 points below the peer median (15 vs. 52).
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 41 → 40 over 5 years (declining by 1 points).
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 5.2% 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.