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Ravinia Festival Association

EIN 36-6002273 · Highland Park, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RAVINIA IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED, NOT-FOR-PROFIT MUSIC FESTIVAL THAT PRESENTS OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES BY THE WORLD'S GREATEST ARTISTS. RAVINIA'S PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES ARE: -TO PRESENT PERFORMANCES OF A FULL RANGE OF CLASSICAL MUSIC IN ITS OPEN-AIR PAVILION AND ENCLOSED RECITAL HALLS, BY THE WORLD'S GREATEST COMPOSERS AND MUSICIANS, ALONG WITH A VARIETY OF OTHER KINDS OF CLASSICAL, JAZZ, AND POPULAR MUSIC. -TO MAINTAIN A BEAUTIFUL PARK THAT IS WELCOMING TO ALL AND ATTRACTIVE TO FAMILIES IN WHICH THE MUSIC EXPERIENCE IS ENHANCED BY A BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT AND EXCELLENT DINING OPPORTUNITIES. -TO ENABLE GIFTED YOUNG PERFORMERS TO STUDY UNDER GREAT TEACHERS AND PERFORM IN CONCERT SETTINGS. -AND TO DEVELOP BROADER AND MORE DIVERSE AUDIENCES FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC THROUGH EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND BY MAINTAINING AFFORDABLE TICKET PRICES.

Income
$66.2 million
Spending
$51.2 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
16.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
879
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$697,335, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

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

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    78 of 79 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 September 30, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $32.9 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1904, RAVINIA IS BOTH THE LONGEST-RUNNING AND THE MOST ARTISTICALLY DIVERSE OUTDOOR MUSIC FESTIVAL IN NORTH AMERICA. APPROXIMATELY 400,000 PEOPLE VISIT RAVINIA BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER EACH YEAR ACROSS MORE THAN 100 SEPARATE EVENTS THAT HIGHLIGHT GENRES AS WIDE-RANGING AS THE AUDIENCES. CLASSICAL MUSIC IS A SPECIAL FOCUS AT RAVINIA DATING BACK TO ITS FIRST CONCERTS, INCLUDING A REGULAR SERIES OF PERFORMANCES BY THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, WHICH HAS FORMALLY BEEN IN SUMMER RESIDENCE AT THE FESTIVAL SINCE 1936.
  2. $2.2 million spent. THE RAVINIA STEANS MUSIC INSTITUTE (RSMI) IS HOME TO ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS SOUGHT OUT INTERNATIONALLY BY YOUNG PROFESSIONAL CLASSICAL PIANISTS AND STRING PLAYERS, CLASSICAL SINGERS, AND JAZZ MUSICIANS DEVOTED TO HONING AND ADVANCING THEIR TALENTS COLLABORATIVELY. EACH SUMMER 65 ARTISTS RECEIVE FULLY PAID FELLOWSHIPS TO ENGAGE IN COACHINGS AND MASTERCLASSES WITH A FACULTY OF LEADING ARTISTS AND SPECIALISTS, LEARN VALUABLE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFUL ARTISTIC CAREERS, AND PERFORM ON RAVINIA'S BENNETT GORDON HALL STAGE. RSMI PRESENTS ABOUT TWO DOZEN FREE OR LOW-PRICED PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER FOR RAVINIA AUDIENCES AND IN LOCAL VENUES. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1988, RSMI HAS SUPPORTED OVER 1,600 EXCEPTIONAL ARTISTS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE CULTIVATED HIGHLY VISIBLE CAREERS IN PERFORMANCE, ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP, AND MUSIC EDUCATION.
  3. $3.8 million spent. RAVINIA'S REACH TEACH PLAY (RTP) PROGRAMS SERVE TENS OF THOUSANDS IN CHICAGO-AREA COMMUNITIES, OPENING DOORS FOR EVERYONE TO ACCESS AND EXPERIENCE THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF LIVE MUSIC. SEVERAL PROGRAMS EXTEND RAVINIA'S REACH INTO CHICAGO AND LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT OTHERWISE HAVE LITTLE TO NO MUSIC CURRICULUM OF THEIR OWN, PROVIDING 20,000 STUDENTS WITH LIVE PERFORMANCES AND INTEGRATIVE ACTIVITIES THAT SPARK A LOVE OF MUSIC AND INVITE EXPLORATION OF VARIED GENRES AND STYLES, AS WELL AS PROGRAMS THAT TEACH THE FOUNDATIONS OF MUSIC AND ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO ENGAGE IN MUSIC-MAKING AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES CREATIVELY. RAVINIA GIVES STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, DEVELOP THEIR TALENTS, AND CREATE PATHWAYS FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, INCLUDING A COMMUNITY FAMILY MUSIC SCHOOL, EL SISTEMA - INSPIRED ORCHESTRAL PROGRAMS THAT FOSTER SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ MUSICIANS. CENTRAL TO RTP'S MISSION OF ACCESS, RAVINIA PROVIDES FREE SUMMER CONCERT PASSES TO THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OVER 150 SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, AS WELL AS PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOLS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 September 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 July 1943.

    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.

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