Allentown Symphony Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
INCORPORATED ON JULY 2, 1951, THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION (ASA) IS THE OPERATING ORGANIZATION OF THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (ASO)AND MILLER SYMPHONY HALL (MSH). THE MISSION OF THE ASA IS TO PROVIDE A FIRST-CLASS ORCHESTRA AND HALL, QUALITY PERFORMING ARTS, AND CULTURAL EDUCATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY. EACH YEAR, THE ASA FULFILLS ITS MISSION FIRST THROUGH HIGH- QUALITY PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THAT IMPACT COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES AND SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS AND SECOND THROUGH IMPROVEMENTS AND MAINTENANCE OF MILLER SYMPHONY HALL.
- Income
- $4.7 million
- Spending
- $4.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 242
- Volunteers
- 105
- Highest pay
- $151,541, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2534 of 34 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 May 31, 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 (1)
- $3.7 million spent. THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION OPERATES THE REGION'S ONLY PROFESSIONAL SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA, OWNS/OPERATES HISTORIC MILLER SYMPHONY HALL IN DOWNTOWN ALLENTOWN, PA, AND HAS A TRADITION OF BRINGING INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED GUEST ARTISTS AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING TO AUDIENCES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND SURROUNDING REGION. THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, WHOSE 74 CLASSICALLY TRAINED MUSICIANS ARE DRAWN FROM PENNSYLVANIA AND FOUR SURROUNDING STATES HAS RISEN TO HIGH STANDARDS OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE UNDER MUSIC DIRECTOR DIANE WITTRY DURING 30 SEASONS TO-DATE. THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION IS ONE OF THE SMALLEST BUDGET ORCHESTRAS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT OWNS AND OPERATES ITS OWN PERFORMANCE VENUE, HISTORIC MILLER SYMPHONY HALL. SINCE THE EARLY 2000'S THE SYMPHONY HAS FUNDED A SERIES OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AT A COST OF MORE THAN 12 MILLION, BEGINNING WITH THE FOWLER EDUCATION WING, WHICH PROVIDED THE 1899 -ERA THEATER WITH MUCH NEEDED BACKSTAGE SPACE AND RENOVATED EXISTING SPACES IN THE BUILDING. MILLER SYMPHONY HALL OFFERS THREE PERFORMANCE SPACES AND FACILITIES THAT CAN BE RENTED TO THE PUBLIC FOR MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. DURING THE 2024-2025 SEASON, THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION PRESENTED 18 ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (ASO) CLASSICAL AND POPS CONCERTS, FIVE ASO YOUTH & FAMILY PERFORMANCES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, 12 JAZZ UPSTAIRS PERFORMANCES; EIGHT MET IN HD BROADCASTS; AND A VARIETY OF OTHER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING TWO NEW CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES CONCERTS AS PART OF ITS COMPOSER- IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM. IT ALSO RENTED MILLER SYMPHONY HALL TO EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS FOR MEETINGS, PERFORMANCES, AND PRIVATE EVENTS. THIS INCLUDED TWO PERFORMANCES OF REPERTORY DANCE THEATRE'S NUTCRACKER WHO FEATURED THE ASO IN THEIR PRESENTATION. THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE VITAL TO ITS MISSION. EL SISTEMA LEHIGH VALLEY, THE DAILY AFTERSCHOOL STRING INSTRUMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM, SERVES ABOUT 130 STUDENTS ANNUALLY WHO HAIL FROM MORE THAN 20 LEHIGH VALLEY SCHOOLS. GROUP LESSONS WERE HELD AFTER SCHOOL FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE PROGRAM'S STUDENTS AT ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SHERIDAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHILE STUDENTS ATTENDING RAUB MIDDLE SCHOOL HAD LESSONS 1-2 DAYS PER WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. THE SYMPHONY'S YOUTH AND FAMILY CONCERTS AND YOUNG MUSICIANS STRING FESTIVAL WELCOMED THOUSANDS OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO MILLER SYMPHONY HALL. THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA'S COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM CONTINUED WITH TWO NEW CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES CONCERTS HELD AT MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY AND THE RODALE ROOM AT MILLER SYMPHONY HALL. THE SYMPHONY BALL, WHICH RAISES FUNDING FOR THESE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WAS HELD IN SEPTEMBER 2024 AND RAISED A NEW RECORD AMOUNT OF REVENUE FOR THE ORGANIZATION. THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION OPERATES THE REGION'S ONLY PROFESSIONAL SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA, OWNS/OPERATES HISTORIC MILLER SYMPHONY HALL IN DOWNTOWN ALLENTOWN, PA, AND HAS A TRADITION OF BRINGING INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED GUEST ARTISTS AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING TO AUDIENCES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND SURROUNDING REGION. THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, WHOSE 74 CLASSICALLY TRAINED MUSICIANS ARE DRAWN FROM PENNSYLVANIA AND FOUR SURROUNDING STATES HAS RISEN TO HIGH STANDARDS OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE UNDER MUSIC DIRECTOR DIANE WITTRY DURING 30 SEASONS TO-DATE. THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION IS ONE OF THE SMALLEST BUDGET ORCHESTRAS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT OWNS AND OPERATES ITS OWN PERFORMANCE VENUE, HISTORIC MILLER SYMPHONY HALL. SINCE THE EARLY 2000'S THE SYMPHONY HAS FUNDED A SERIES OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AT A COST OF MORE THAN 12 MILLION, BEGINNING WITH THE FOWLER EDUCATION WING, WHICH PROVIDED THE 1899 -ERA THEATER WITH MUCH NEEDED BACKSTAGE SPACE AND RENOVATED EXISTING SPACES IN THE BUILDING. MILLER SYMPHONY HALL OFFERS THREE PERFORMANCE SPACES AND FACILITIES THAT CAN BE RENTED TO THE PUBLIC FOR MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. DURING THE 2024-2025 SEASON, THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION PRESENTED 18 ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (ASO) CLASSICAL AND POPS CONCERTS, FIVE ASO YOUTH & FAMILY PERFORMANCES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, 12 JAZZ UPSTAIRS PERFORMANCES; EIGHT MET IN HD BROADCASTS; AND A VARIETY OF OTHER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING TWO NEW CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES CONCERTS AS PART OF ITS COMPOSER- IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM. IT ALSO RENTED MILLER SYMPHONY HALL TO EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS FOR MEETINGS, PERFORMANCES, AND PRIVATE EVENTS. THIS INCLUDED TWO PERFORMANCES OF REPERTORY DANCE THEATRE'S NUTCRACKER WHO FEATURED THE ASO IN THEIR PRESENTATION. THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE VITAL TO ITS MISSION. EL SISTEMA LEHIGH VALLEY, THE DAILY AFTERSCHOOL STRING INSTRUMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM, SERVES ABOUT 130 STUDENTS ANNUALLY WHO HAIL FROM MORE THAN 20 LEHIGH VALLEY SCHOOLS. GROUP LESSONS WERE HELD AFTER SCHOOL FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE PROGRAM'S STUDENTS AT ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SHERIDAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHILE STUDENTS ATTENDING RAUB MIDDLE SCHOOL HAD LESSONS 1-2 DAYS PER WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. THE SYMPHONY'S YOUTH AND FAMILY CONCERTS AND YOUNG MUSICIANS STRING FESTIVAL WELCOMED THOUSANDS OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO MILLER SYMPHONY HALL. THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA'S COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM CONTINUED WITH TWO NEW CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES CONCERTS HELD AT MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY AND THE RODALE ROOM AT MILLER SYMPHONY HALL. THE SYMPHONY BALL, WHICH RAISES FUNDING FOR THESE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WAS HELD IN SEPTEMBER 2024 AND RAISED A NEW RECORD AMOUNT OF REVENUE FOR THE ORGANIZATION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 May 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 December 1956.
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.
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