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American Symphony Orchestra League

EIN 23-7300636 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE THE EXPERIENCE OF ORCHESTRAL MUSIC, SUPPORT THE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT CREATE IT, AND CHAMPION THE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO THE HEALTH AND VIBRANCY OF COMMUNITIES.

Income
$8.3 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
29
Volunteers
55
Highest pay
$483,379, president/ceo

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

    55 of 55 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 (5)
  1. $2.2 million spent. LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: THE LEAGUE DELIVERS A RANGE OF ONLINE AND IN-PERSON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING SEMINARS AND WEBINARS, CONSTITUENCY MEETINGS, MENTORING PROGRAMS, AND COHORT-BASED PROGRAMS. IT ALSO OPERATES GRANT-MAKING PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING IN INNOVATION AND IN EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, ORCHESTRA STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS, MUSICIANS, AND VOLUNTEERS CAN ACQUIRE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND NETWORKS THAT ARE VITAL TO THEIR LEADERSHIP IN THE FIELD. THE ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE AND MID WINTER MANAGERS MEETING OFFER ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR NETWORKING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WHILE PROVIDING A FORUM TO DISCUSS EMERGING ISSUES AND TRENDS, EXCHANGE IDEAS, AND MODEL POSSIBLE RESPONSES TO FIELD-WIDE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
  2. $677,850 spent. MEMBER SERVICES: THE LEAGUE PROVIDES SOME 2,000 MEMBERS WITH EXTENSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIELD, INCLUDING TRENDS, OPEN POSITIONS, NEW APPOINTMENTS, AND THE MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE NATION'S ORCHESTRAS. SERVICES TO MEMBERS INCLUDE SPECIALIZED GUIDANCE ON OPERATIONS, ARTISTIC, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TOPICS THAT SUPPORT THE CAPACITY OF ORCHESTRAS TO DELIVER ON MISSION. MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ONLINE COMMUNITY, A CONFIDENTIAL SPACE WHERE THEY CAN SHARE THEIR EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND LEARN ABOUT BEST PRACTICES THROUGHOUT THE FIELD.
  3. $648,152 spent. COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS: THE LEAGUE PROVIDES ORCHESTRAS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH UPDATES AND NEWS ABOUT THE FIELD; DEVELOPS STRATEGIC MESSAGING ABOUT THE PUBLIC VALUE OF ORCHESTRAS FOR USE NATIONALLY AND BY ORCHESTRAS LOCALLY; FURNISHES FIELD-WIDE DATA AND CONTEXT TO JOURNALISTS; AND PROVIDES MEDIA RELATIONS GUIDANCE TO ORCHESTRAS NATIONWIDE.
  4. $482,460 spent. ADVOCACY: THE LEAGUE REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ON ISSUES AFFECTING THE ORCHESTRA FIELD; DISTRIBUTES UPDATES ON PENDING LEGISLATION, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LOCAL ACTION; AND PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO ORCHESTRAS TO BUILD THEIR CAPACITY FOR LOCAL AND STATE ADVOCACY.
  5. $540,210 spent. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: THE LEAGUE EQUIPS ORCHESTRAS WITH INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC RESEARCH AND INFORMATION TO FUEL INNOVATION AND PROVIDES THE DATA AND INFORMATION THEY NEED TO MAKE KEY DECISIONS. THE LEAGUE ALSO CONDUCTS, ANALYZES, AND DISSEMINATES A RANGE OF SURVEYS-FROM QUICK QUESTIONS FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC ISSUES, TO ANNUAL, IN-DEPTH STUDIES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1973.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.