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Annapolis Symphony Orchestra Association Inc

EIN 23-7001357 · Annapolis, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ANNAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IS TO INSPIRE, EDUCATE AND ENRICH LIVES NEAR AND FAR BY CREATING EXTRAORDINARY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES WITH UNCOMPROMISING ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE.

Income
$5.3 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
21.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
210
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$175,633, artisitic director and conductor

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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 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)
  1. $260,202 spent. THE CORE PROGRAMMING OF THE ASO DURING ITS 61ST SEASON CENTERED AROUND THE MASTERWORKS SERIES SIX PROGRAMS FEATURING SYMPHONIC REPERTOIRE WITH 12 PERFORMANCES IN MARYLAND HALL, ANNAPOLIS, AND 3 RUN OUTS AT STRATHMORE IN BETHESDA. PROGRAMMING CHOICES CENTERED AROUND THE ASOS COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING AMERICAN MUSIC AND SYMPHONIC MUSIC FROM UNDERREPRESENTED COMPOSERS AND THOSE INCLUDED KOREAN, PACIFIC-ISLANDER, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, JEWISH-UKRAINIAN, AND CANADIAN COMPOSERS IN THIS SEASON. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED DUE TO OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE GABRIELA LENA FRANK ACADEMY TO CO-COMMISSION SYMPHONIC WORKS WITH EMERGING COMPOSERS. SECOND, WE LAUNCHED THE FIRST OF A THREE ALBUM PROJECT WITH LONDON-BASED TOCCATA MUSIC GROUP WITH WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION THROUGH NAXOS MUSIC LIBRARY NML. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 . THE RECORDINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO STUDENTS AND FACULTY ASSOCIATED WITH MANY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD WHO HAVE EDUCATIONAL AGREEMENTS WITH NML. VARIOUS PERIODS OF MUSIC HISTORY WERE INCORPORATED IN OUR SEASON, FEATURING DISTINGUISHED GUEST SOLOISTS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ROSTER OF MUSICAL ARTISTS. THE HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT WAS SOLD OUT. THREE CHAMBER CONCERTS WERE PERFORMED AT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY AND NEIGHBORING COUNTIES. WE PERFORMED TWO LABOR DAY OUTDOOR SYMPHONIC CONCERTS, FREE TO THE COMMUNITY, IN QUIET WATERS AND DOWNS. TWO ANNAPOLIS SYMPHONY ACADEMY CONCERTS AND A FAMILY CONCERT AT MARYLAND HALL WERE PERFORMED IN THE YEAR. THE ASO SERVES AS PIT ORCHESTRA FOR THE ANNAPOLIS OPERA AT MARYLAND HALL AND THE US NAVAL ACADEMY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ARTISTICALLY, MAESTRO NOVO TOOK THE ORCHESTRA TO NEW LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE FEATURING EVER MORE CHALLENGING COMPOSITIONS AND DIVERSE PIECES THAT APPEAL TO BROADER AUDIENCES. IN THIS SEASON, THIS WAS ON FULL DISPLAY DURING OUR FIRST INTERNATIONAL TOUR TO SPAIN. ACCOMPANIED BY WORLD RENOWNED ARTIST, PEPE ROMERO, THE ASO DELIGHTED AUDIENCES AND EARNED MULTIPLE ENCORES WITH EACH PERFORMANCE. OUR ASO MUSICIANS GREW IN THEIR ARTISTRY. ULTIMATELY WHAT YOU HEAR TODAY FROM THE STAGE WAS SHAPED BY THE TOUR. THE ASOS BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES OF PIECES LIKE MAHLERS 6TH SYMPHONY REFLECT THE DYNAMISM AND NEWNESS OF PURPOSE BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE SHARED EXPERIENCES OF MAESTRO AND OUR MUSICIANS IN SPAIN.
  2. $1.8 million spent. KEY COMPONENT OF THE ASO IS ITS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS. THE ASO HAS A LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ANNE ARUNDEL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE ASO PROVIDES THE REQUESTED PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS FOR COACHING/LESSONS FOR THE TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS/PERFORMING ARTS MAGNET SCHOOLS. EVERY YEAR THE ASO OFFERS SCHOOL CONCERTS AND A FAMILY CONCERT FOCUSED ON LEARNING ABOUT MUSIC AND THE ORCHESTRA. THE ASOS COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY IS EVIDENT WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ANNAPOLIS SYMPHONY ACADEMY IN 2018. THE ACADEMYS MISSION IS TO CHANGE LIVES BY PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE HIGH-LEVEL MUSICAL EDUCATION TO STUDENTS OF ALL CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS, WHILE ADDRESSING THE UNDER-REPRESENTATION OF MUSICIANS OF COLOR IN THE CLASSICAL MUSIC FIELD. IN THIS SEASON 84 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED. HALF OF THE ACADEMY STUDENTS ARE FROM UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 THE ACADEMY CREATES A MODEL FOR DIVERSITY THAT EMPHASIZES INTERACTION AND MUTUAL RESPECT IT OFFERS STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. PRIVATE LESSONS, WITH AN OPTION FOR SUMMER LESSONS, WEEKLY ENSEMBLE REHEARSALS, CONCERTS, RECITALS, AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY CHARACTERIZE A TYPICAL ACADEMY YEAR. WINDS AND BRASS INSTRUCTION ARE SLATED TO BEGIN IN SEASON 62, IN ADDITION TO OUR LONG STANDING STRINGS. WE ARE THE ONLY REGIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA WHERE OUR MAESTRO CONDUCTS WEEKLY OUR ACADEMY SESSIONS. OUR EARLY MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM CALLED DISCOVERY WHICH IS OFFERED IN A TITLE 1 SCHOOL AS PART OF THE AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES CONTINUES AND TWO MORE LOCATIONS ARE SLATED TO OPEN IN THE NEXT SEASON. THE ASO ACADEMY PROVIDES ALL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR THESE YOUNG LEARNERS TO BEGIN UNDERSTANDING NOTES, COMPOSITION, AND SOUND AT A VERY EARLY AGE. THE ASO ALSO PROVIDES ADULT EDUCATION WITH PRE-CONCERT LECTURES HELD BEFORE EVERY MASTERWORKS. THE ASO PERFORMS IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY EXTENSIVELY IN THE YEAR. OUR SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES PROVIDE A COMMUNITY SERVICE TO RETIREMENT HOMES, ASSISTED LIVING CENTERS, MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES, ADDICTION FACILITIES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, HOSPITAL EVENTS, AND WE PERFORMED A TOTAL OF 24 TIMES IN THE YEAR. MANY MORE HOURS ARE SPENT PERFORMING IN THE COMMUNITY THAN SPENT IN A CONCERT HALL. THE ASO IS COMMITTED TO MAKING MUSIC AND CONCERTS ACCESSIBLE AND IT PROUDLY SHARES TICKETS TO ALL ITS CONCERTS WITH THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO HELP BRING MORE MUSIC TO MORE PEOPLE.

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

  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 June 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 February 1969.

    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.