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Chicago Symphony Orchestra

EIN 36-2167823 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

With the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at its core, the mission of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association is to enrich, inspire and transform lives through music, community engagement and education - locally, nationally and internationally.

Income
$125.9 million
Spending
$88.9 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
11.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
1,141
Volunteers
819
Highest pay
$990,985, president

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    129 of 130 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (10)
  1. $53.8 million spent. Chicago Symphony Orchestra Concerts - During its 134th season, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra inspired audiences through more than 130 performances, including 32 weeks of subscription concerts. The 2024/25 Season was highlighted by landmark performances with Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Makela and Music Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo Muti. Makela, whose tenure as the CSO's 11th Music Director begins in the 2027/28 Season, returned for a two-week spring residency that featured Mahler's Third Symphony and a program with Dvorak's Seventh Symphony and Brahms' Second Piano Concerto, featuring 2024/25 CSO Artist-in-Residence Daniil Trifonov. Muti conducted four distinct programs in Chicago, including a program featuring the world premiere of the CSO-commissioned Megalopolis Suite by former Mead Composer-in-Residence Osvaldo Golijov, and capped the season with four capacity performances of Verdi's Requiem Mass. This followed a critically acclaimed U.S. tour in January 2025 led by Muti, which included performances in Florida, at New York's Carnegie Hall and the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Other artistic milestones included a 2025 European tour with Jaap van Zweden on the podium, where the CSO was the only North American ensemble invited to perform at the Mahler Festival in Amsterdam, followed by concerts in Hamburg, Dresden, Prague, and Wroclaw, Poland, and a collaboration with The Joffrey Ballet that featured two newly commissioned ballets.
  2. $5.2 million spent. Symphony Center Presents Concerts - Symphony Center Presents (SCP) programs throughout the 2024/25 Season welcomed a wide array of world-class artists and ensembles. The SCP Chamber Music series featured the return of viol player Jordi Savall with his early music ensembles; violinist Julia Fischer with pianist Jan Lisiecki, and a trio comprising violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, pianist Yefim Bronfman, and cellist Pablo Ferrandez. The SCP Piano series brought legendary artists like Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Daniil Trifonov, Emanuel Ax, Evgeny Kissin, and Vikingur Olafsson back to Orchestra Hall, alongside notable debuts by Alexandre Kantorow and Mao Fujita. The SCP Jazz series included performances by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Cecile McLorin Salvant, the Bill Charlap Trio, Hiromi, the Brandee Younger Trio, Eliane Elias, and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra in a tribute to Oscar Peterson. Other highlights included Grammy Award-winning vocalist Lila Downs returning for a Dia de los Muertos program, as well as performances by the Sphinx Virtuosi, Kodo, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and Pink Martini.
  3. $2.7 million spent. Education Concerts and Activities - Programs of the Negaunee Music Institute (NMI) engaged many communities, with 275 Chicago-area schools participating in programs that reached 25,000 students, teachers, and families. Two-thirds of student attendance came from Chicago Public Schools, who received free bus transportation. The Institute collaborated with 90 schools and community partners to deliver education and community engagement programs throughout the year. Training programs and performance opportunities for young musicians included the Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition, Chicago Youth in Music Festival, Percussion Scholarship Program, Young Composers Initiative and partnerships with local schools and the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative. The NMI continued to co-present Notes for Peace, a songwriting project that empowers parents who have lost children to gun violence to create original songs of tribute.
  4. $2.7 million spent. Civic Orchestra of Chicago - The Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the CSO's prestigious training program for young professional musicians, presented eight programs in Orchestra Hall and expanded its series of free community concerts to a total of six venues. In addition to gaining performance experience, Civic musicians participated in coaching sessions and workshops with Principal Conductor Ken-David Masur and Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Makela. The Civic Orchestra of Chicago benefited from the mentorship of 30 CSO musicians who served as coaches, and 22 Civic musicians made more than 250 visits to eight Chicago Public Schools high school instrumental music programs.
  5. $1.5 million spent. Rentals, Commissions, and Restaurant - A dining club and concessions are provided for audiences attending concerts and catering is provided for certain internal events.
  6. $1.2 million spent. Rentals, Commissions, and Restaurant - Hall Rentals - Performance space provided to Chicagoland arts organizations.
  7. $445,202 spent. Media and Royalty - Radio Broadcast series, in-house recording label, audio recordings in compact disc and digital download formats.
  8. $264,684 spent. Retail Sales - Music-related merchandise is available for purchase at The Symphony Store and online.
  9. $198,369 spent. Rentals, Commissions, and Restaurant - Parking lot provided for audiences' convenience to attend concerts.
  10. $68,965 spent. Other Program Services - Program Book Advertising

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 1927.

    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.