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Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras

EIN 36-6109808 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CYSO'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND CULTIVATE PERSONAL EXCELLENCE THROUGH MUSIC.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
7.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
51
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$126,222, executive director

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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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

    27 of 27 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 (3)
  1. $1.5 million spent. ORCHESTRA PROGRAMSDURING THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR, CYSO SERVED NEARLY 650 STUDENTS AGES 6-18 IN ON-SITE ENSEMBLES INCLUDING FOUR FULL ORCHESTRAS, THREE STRING ORCHESTRAS, MULTIPLE STEEL ORCHESTRAS,TWO PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES, JAZZ ORCHESTRA, AND CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING CHAMBER MUSIC, MASTERCLASSES, AND MUSIC COMPOSITION. CYSO PROVIDES WORLD-CLASS ENSEMBLE-BASED MUSIC EDUCATION FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS FROM ACROSS THE CITY AND BEYOND TO COLLABORATE AND CONNECT IN A MUSICAL COMMUNITY, LEARNING PERFORMANCE SKILLS THAT INFORM LEADERSHIP SKILLS ON AND OFF THE STAGE. ADDITIONALLY, CYSO@CPS BRINGS CYSO'S SIGNATURE PEDAGOGY INTO THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE STEEL PAN ORCHESTRA PROGRAM IS OPEN TO STUDENTS WITHOUT ANY MUSICAL EXPERIENCE. FINANCIAL AID IS PROVIDED TO ANY STUDENT IN NEED ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS.
  2. $155,740 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTCYSO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS SUPPORTED INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC ACCESS AND TRAINING FOR APPROXIMATELY 4,500 YOUNG PEOPLE DURING THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR. CYSO@CPS INCLUDES FOUR DIRECT INSTRUCTION, TUITION FREE AND AUDITION FREE PROGRAMS IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SERVING 200 TOTAL STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, CYSO WORKS WITH STUDENTS ACROSS MANY LOWER INCOME CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH OUR FREE COMMUNITY CONCERTS, EDUCATION CONCERTS, AND ALSO OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE CHICAGO MUSICAL PATHWAYS INITIATIVE.
  3. $597,186 spent. INTERNATIONAL TOURSCYSO HAS UNDERTAKEN INTERNATIONAL TOURS SINCE 1985 WITH ITS FLAGSHIP SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. CYSO STUDENTS HAVE TRAVELED TO OVER 50 OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST CITIES ON FOUR CONTINENTS. TOURING PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH UNPARALLELED MUSICAL AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING OPPORTUNITIES TO PERFORM IN VENUES RICH IN HISTORY AND TRADITION. DURING THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR, CYSO'S SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WENT ON ITS 17TH INTERNATIONAL TOUR TO SPAIN AND PERFORMED IN FOUR CITIES, INCLUDING A PERORMANCE AT THE RENOWNED GRANADA FESTIVAL.

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 December 1948.

    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.

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