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Butte Symphony Association

EIN 23-7315762 · Butte, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ORGANIZED AS THE BUTTE SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION (BSA), THE ALL-VOLUNTEER BUTTE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IS THE OLDEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN MONTANA. FOUNDED IN 1950, THE BUTTE SYMPHONY HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ART AND MUSIC SCENE IN SW MONTANA FOR 76 YEARS. WE ARE THE ONLY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA, SERVING BUTTE AND THE RURAL COMMUNITIES IN POWELL, GRANITE, DEER LODGE, SILVER BOW, JEFFERSON, BEAVERHEAD, AND MADISON COUNTIES. THROUGHOUT ITS SEVENTY SIX -YEAR HISTORY,THE BUTTE SYMPHONY HAS BEEN A BRIGHT CULTURAL ASSET FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE REGION, PROVIDING LIVE CONCERT PERFORMANCE AND IN-SCHOOL AND BEYOND-SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR AREA YOUTH. 35% OF OUR ORCHESTRA MEMBERS ARE STUDENTS IN LOCAL SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE FREE TO SCHOOLS AND YOUTH. EVERY YEAR THE BUTTE SYMPHONY PERFORMS FOR 1000 SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE FREE, EDUCATIONAL CHILDRENS CONCERT FOR 22 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THE 5 CONCERT SEASON INCLUDES A FREE OUTDOOR SUMME

Income
$324,995
Spending
$239,379
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
1
Volunteers
55

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: 80 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 48 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
  1. $182,973 spent. PROMOTING CULTURAL AND MUSICAL EDUCATION THROUGH SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND LIVE PERFORMING ARTS CONCERTS, SERVING BUTTE AND THE RURAL MONTANA COMMUNITIES IN POWELL, GRANITE, DEER LODGE, SILVER BOW, JEFFERSON, BEAVERHEAD, AND MADISON COUNTIES.

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

  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 May 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 June 1975.

    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.