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Savannah Philharmonic Corporation

EIN 26-4016312 · Savannah, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INFORM, INSTRUCT AND ENRICH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES; AND TO PROMOTE AND INCREASE COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
69
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$142,556, executive di

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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 85% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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 (1)
  1. $1.7 million spent. ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY: ESTABLISHED 2008, THE SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA (SPO) A 501 (C) 3 HAS GROWN TO A NEARLY 1.7 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET, WITH 5 FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS, 60 CONTRACT-AND FEE-BASED MUSICIANS, 50 VOLUNTEER CHORISTERS, AND 19-MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SPO HAS BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO THE SAVANNAH- METROPOLITAN AREA FOR NEARLY A DECADE THROUGH ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES RANGING FROM CLASSICS TO POPULAR SHOW TUNES. SPO HAS PERFORMED IN A MULTITUDE OF LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SAVANNAH INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE LUCAS THEATRE, CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, TYBEE POST THEATRE, JOHNNY MERCER THEATRE, THE BAND SHELL IN HISTORIC FORSYTH PARK, AND AREA NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY CENTERS. AT ITS LARGEST CAPACITY, SPO HAS PLAYED FOR OVER 20,000 INDIVIDUALS CATERING TOWARDS AN INCLUSIVE AUDIENCE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION NEARLY 13 YEARS AGO, SPO HAS STRENGTHENED THE ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE SAVANNAH-METROPOLITAN AREA THROUGH CONTINUAL WORK TO EXPAND PROGRAMS OFFERED AND ADAPT TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. OUTSIDE THE CONCERT HALL, SPO OFFERS A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, PHIL THE PARK, AND PHIL THE SQUARES. EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OFFERING A FUN, FAMILY-FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE. SPO ALSO TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT TAKE PLACE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SAVANNAH CHATHAM PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. MISSION STATEMENT: SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC, AN INNOVATIVE AND INFLUENTIAL ARTS ORGANIZATION, WILL ENTERTAIN, INSPIRE AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE REGION. COMMUNITY: THE SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC "SOUNDTRACK OF SAVANNAH" IS MORE THAN SIMPLY CONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH MUSIC. IT'S AN OPEN INVITATION TO ENJOY MUSIC WITH OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHILE EXPLORING THE UNIQUE PLACES, FLAVORS, AND EVENTS OF OUR REGION. IN FY20 THE SPO WAS ONE OF FEW ORCHESTRAS TO PERFORM IN THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH CREATIVE COLLABORATION, VENUES, AND PROGRAMMING THE SPO PROVIDED CONCERTS EACH MONTH FOR SOCIALLY DISTANCED AUDIENCES. IN ADDITION THE SPO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN WHICH IT LIVES AND BUILD A 3 YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN. THIS PLAN SETS GOALS FOR FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND ARTISTIC INTEGRITY SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE SPO TO BE A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY WELL INTO THE FUTURE. SPO CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF SAVANNAH TO PRODUCE AND PRESENT PICNIC IN THE PARK - CREATIVELY THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH WTOC THE CONCERT WAS BROADCAST WITH A VIEWERSHIP OF OVER 20,000. ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY: ESTABLISHED 2008, THE SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA (SPO) A 501 (C) 3 HAS GROWN TO A NEARLY 1.7 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET, WITH 5 FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS, 60 CONTRACT-AND FEE-BASED MUSICIANS, 50 VOLUNTEER CHORISTERS, AND 19-MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SPO HAS BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO THE SAVANNAH- METROPOLITAN AREA FOR NEARLY A DECADE THROUGH ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES RANGING FROM CLASSICS TO POPULAR SHOW TUNES. SPO HAS PERFORMED IN A MULTITUDE OF LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SAVANNAH INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE LUCAS THEATRE, CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, TYBEE POST THEATRE, JOHNNY MERCER THEATRE, THE BAND SHELL IN HISTORIC FORSYTH PARK, AND AREA NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY CENTERS. AT ITS LARGEST CAPACITY, SPO HAS PLAYED FOR OVER 20,000 INDIVIDUALS CATERING TOWARDS AN INCLUSIVE AUDIENCE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION NEARLY 13 YEARS AGO, SPO HAS STRENGTHENED THE ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE SAVANNAH-METROPOLITAN AREA THROUGH CONTINUAL WORK TO EXPAND PROGRAMS OFFERED AND ADAPT TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. OUTSIDE THE CONCERT HALL, SPO OFFERS A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, PHIL THE PARK, AND PHIL THE SQUARES. EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OFFERING A FUN, FAMILY-FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE. SPO ALSO TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT TAKE PLACE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SAVANNAH CHATHAM PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. MISSION STATEMENT: SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC, AN INNOVATIVE AND INFLUENTIAL ARTS ORGANIZATION, WILL ENTERTAIN, INSPIRE AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE REGION. COMMUNITY: THE SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC "SOUNDTRACK OF SAVANNAH" IS MORE THAN SIMPLY CONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH MUSIC. IT'S AN OPEN INVITATION TO ENJOY MUSIC WITH OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHILE EXPLORING THE UNIQUE PLACES, FLAVORS, AND EVENTS OF OUR REGION. IN FY20 THE SPO WAS ONE OF FEW ORCHESTRAS TO PERFORM IN THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH CREATIVE COLLABORATION, VENUES, AND PROGRAMMING THE SPO PROVIDED CONCERTS EACH MONTH FOR SOCIALLY DISTANCED AUDIENCES. IN ADDITION THE SPO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN WHICH IT LIVES AND BUILD A 3 YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN. THIS PLAN SETS GOALS FOR FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND ARTISTIC INTEGRITY SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE SPO TO BE A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY WELL INTO THE FUTURE. SPO CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF SAVANNAH TO PRODUCE AND PRESENT PICNIC IN THE PARK - CREATIVELY THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH WTOC THE CONCERT WAS BROADCAST WITH A VIEWERSHIP OF OVER 20,000.

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 June 2009.

    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.