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Philadelphia Youth Orchestra

EIN 23-6392235 · Philadelphia, PA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PHILADELPHIA YOUTH ORCHESTRA USES EXTRAORDINARY MUSIC EDUCATION THROUGH THE PURSUIT OF MUSIC EXCELLENCE TO INSPIRE A STRONG SENSE OF CHARACTER, DISCIPLINE, COMMITMENT, AND COMMUNITY FOR OUR DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
12
Volunteers
85
Highest pay
$339,925, pres, ceo, m

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 95% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (3)
  1. $988,518 spent. THE PROGRAMS OF THE PYO PROVIDE MUSIC EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS IN THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA REGION. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, THE PYO HAD THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: PHILADELPHIA YOUTH ORCHESTRA (116 STUDENTS) PHILADELPHIA YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA (111 STUDENTS) YOUNG MUSICIANS DEBUT ORCHESTRA (61 STUDENTS) BRAVO BRASS (11 STUDENTS) PRYSM STRINGS MAIN LINE (160 STUDENTS) PRYSM STRINGS NEW JERSEY (21 STUDENTS) PHILADELPHIA YOUTH SYMPHONIC BAND (22 STUDENTS) PHILADELPHIA YOUTH CONCERT BAND (23 STUDENTS) PHILADELPHIA YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA (19 STUDENTS) THE PROGRAMS OF THE PYO PROVIDE MUSIC EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS IN THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA REGION. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, THE PYO HAD THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: PHILADELPHIA YOUTH ORCHESTRA (116 STUDENTS) PHILADELPHIA YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA (111 STUDENTS) YOUNG MUSICIANS DEBUT ORCHESTRA (61 STUDENTS) BRAVO BRASS (11 STUDENTS) PRYSM STRINGS MAIN LINE (160 STUDENTS) PRYSM STRINGS NEW JERSEY (21 STUDENTS) PHILADELPHIA YOUTH SYMPHONIC BAND (22 STUDENTS) PHILADELPHIA YOUTH CONCERT BAND (23 STUDENTS) PHILADELPHIA YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA (19 STUDENTS)
  2. $376,075 spent. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, THE PYO HAD THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL PROGRAM ACYIVITY: TUNE UP PHILLY (109 STUDENTS) TUNE UP PHILLY STUDENTS RECEIVE FULL TUITION FINANCIAL AID.
  3. $257,654 spent. THE ORCHESTRA IS REGISTERED AS AN EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATION (EIO) AND AN OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDIT (OSTC) UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA'S EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT TAX CREDIT (EITC) PROGRAM. THE ORCHESTRA PROVIDED 25 OSTC SCHOLARSHIPS UNDER THIS PROGRAM IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1962.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 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.