Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AS THE ONLY PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA AND CERTIFIED COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL IN THE STATE, THE RI PHIL ENRICHES AND TRANSFORMS OUR REGION THROUGH SYMPHONIC PERFORMANCES AND MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
- Income
- $10.2 million
- Spending
- $7.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 366
- Volunteers
- 28
- Highest pay
- $219,523, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 51% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $2.7 million spent. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2024-25: WE CONTINUE TO BE THE LARGEST COMBINED PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA AND COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL IN THE NATION. THE ORCHESTRA'S TACO CLASSICAL AND AMICA RUSH HOUR SERIES FEATURED WORLD-CLASS GUEST ARTISTS, DIVERSE REPERTOIRE, AND HIGHLIGHTED A DIFFERENT CONDUCTOR FOR EACH CONCERT AS WE ANTICIPATE MUSIC DIRECTOR RUTH REINHARDT'S 1ST SEASON IN 2025-2026. A SERIES OF POPULAR ARTIST AND HIGHLY ATTENDED SUMMER POPS CONCERTS EXTENDED OUR REACH BEYOND THE CLASSICAL STAGE. IN PERSON LINK UP EDUCATION CONCERTS RETURNED, AND THE PROGRAM REACHED OVER 10,000 STUDENTS IN 90 PARTNER SCHOOL IN 35 DISTRICTS.
- $2.7 million spent. THE RI PHILHARMONIC MUSIC SCHOOL CONTINUED TO REACH STUDENTS AND SERVE OUR REGION'S COMMUNITIES THROUGH TUITION-BASED AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS TAUGHT BY OUTSTANDING FACULTY, INCLUDING ORCHESTRA MEMBERS. WITH ACCESSIBILITY AS A CORNER-STONE, PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS LIKE LINK-UP, VICTORIA'S DREAM PROJECT, AND OUR TUTION-BASED FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM PROVIDED OVER $1 MILLION IN FREE AND HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED INSTRUCTION TO TENS-OF-THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE REGION. OUR CARTER CENTER FOR MUSIC EDUCATION & PERFORMANCE CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A HUB FOR COMMUNITY-BASED MUSIC ACTIVITY, HOSTING PARTNER INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE PROVIDENCE SINGERS, AMERICAN BAND, RI MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION, GIRLS ROCK RI, THE AUTISM PROJECT AND OTHERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1952.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.