Association of California Symphony Orchestras
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP, KNOWLEDGE-BUILDING, ADVOCACY AND CONNECTION TO EXPAND THE VITALITY AND IMPACT OF THE ORCHESTRA AND BROADER MUSIC COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $564,583
- Spending
- $555,561
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 18.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 60%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $132,656, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 87 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (4)
- $216,894 spent. FOUNDED IN 1969, ACSO IS A PROFESSIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATION AND ARTS SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS OVER 130 ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR 3,000 BOARD, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND MUSICIANS. ACSO MEMBERS ARE COMPRISED OF PROFESSIONAL, COLLEGIATE, YOUTH, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORCHESTRAS AND MUSIC ENSEMBLES, CHORUSES, FESTIVALS, AND ALIGNED BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS. ACSO PROVIDES NEWS, RESOURCES, FIELD UPDATES, NETWORKING, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO MEMBERS. IN 2024-25, ACSO ALSO PROVIDED 41 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS REACHING 986 MEMBERS.
- $152,141 spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE INCLUDES EXPERT SPEAKERS AND PEER-TO-PEER FORUMS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE AND INVIGORATE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH THE ORCHESTRA COMMUNITY. THE 2025 CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 270 ATTENDEES.
- YOUTH ORCHESTRA CONFAB 2025: 24 YOUTH ORCHESTRA LEADERS GATHERED IN SAN LUIS OBISPO FOR A DAY OF LEARNING AND NETWORKING. DISCUSSION TOPICS INCLUDED GROWING SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS, DESIGNING INCLUSIVE POLICIES, BOARD DIVERSITY, BEST PRACTICES IN SOCIAL MEDIA, RECRUITING MUSIC DIRECTORS, AND CENTERING THE STUDENT PERSPECTIVE. CEO RETREAT 2025: EIGHTEEN ORCHESTRA LEADERS GATHERED IN BIG SUR, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MONTEREY SYMPHONY AND THE BIG SUR LAND TRUST, TO EXAMINE THE ORCHESTRA BUSINESS MODEL, STRENGTHEN BOARD DEVELOPMENT, AND OFFER PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING AND SUPPORT.
- WEBINARS: ACSO PRESENTED 6 WEBINARS FOR 176 ATTENDEES, WITH CONTENT FOCUSED ON FUNDRAISING, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, CA EMPLOYMENT LAW, AND OPTIMIZING AND BUILDING MORE INCLUSIVE BOARDS.VIRTUAL PEER FORUMS: ACSO ORGANIZED 27 VIRTUAL PEER FORUM MEETINGS FOR 307 ATTENDEES ACROSS 12 CONSTITUENCY GROUPS SUCH AS ORCHESTRA CEOS, ARTISTIC LEADERS, BOARD MEMBERS, COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA LEADERS, DEVELOPMENT STAFF, AND MARKETING STAFF.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1969.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.