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West Michigan Symphony

EIN 38-6092131 · Muskegon, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY CONNECTS AND ENRICHES OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF MUSIC, INCLUDING LIVE SYMPHONIC PERFORMANCES IN A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT; SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES IN AN IMMERSIVE LISTENING ROOM; AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
23
Volunteers
78
Highest pay
$114,737, music direct

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 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% 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 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

    14 of 14 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 (2)
  1. $1.1 million spent. AN ANCHOR CULTURAL ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERED IN MUSKEGON, WMS IS A RESIDENT PERFORMING GROUP AT THE FRAUENTHAL CENTER, WHERE ITS EIGHT-CONCERT SEASON IS THE MOST VISIBLE PART OF A LARGER ARTISTIC ENTERPRISE OF FAR- REACHING COMMUNITY BENEFIT. AT ITS LIVE LISTENING ROOM THE BLOCK, JUST DOWN THE STREET, IT MOUNTS 15 PERFORMANCE EVENTS ANNUALLY FEATURING JAZZ, CLASSICAL, FOLK, AMBIENT AND OTHER OFFERINGS. WMS CONCERTS AND EDUCATION EVENTS BRING 16,500 PEOPLE-MORE THAN 30% OF WHOM ARE CHILDREN AND STUDENTS-DOWNTOWN ANNUALLY, MAKING IT THE LARGEST PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATION ON THE WEST SHORE.
  2. $172,495 spent. COMMUNITY MUSIC ENCOUNTERS: WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY REACHES DEEPLY INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSIC LOVERS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE CLICK CLACK MOOSIC, A LIVE MUSICAL STORY TIME PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-8; LINK UP BEGINNER MUSIC PROGRAM, IMPACTING 4,000 3RD-5TH GRADERS IN 50 AREA SCHOOLS; WMS CHILDREN'S CHOIR, AN AUDITION-BASED GROUP FOR AGES 8-13 PERFORMING ITS OWN CONCERTS AND APPEARING WITH THE ORCHESTRA ANNUALLY; TUNE UP, A FREE BEGINNING STRING PROGRAM FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS IN MUSKEGON PUBLIC SCHOOLS; DEBUT STRINGS, AN AUDITION AND PERFORMANCE-BASED GROUP FOR INTERMEDIATE LEVEL STRING STUDENTS; AND PREMIER STRINGS, WMS'S SHOWCASE YOUTH ENSEMBLE FOR ADVANCED STRING STUDENTS, ACTING AS MENTORS FOR YOUNGER PLAYERS AND PERFORMING THROUGHOUT THE AREA AS A FULL STRING ORCHESTRA AND IN SMALLER CHAMBER GROUPS. COMMUNITY MUSIC ENCOUNTERS: WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY REACHES DEEPLY INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSIC LOVERS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE CLICK CLACK MOOSIC, A LIVE MUSICAL STORY TIME PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-8; LINK UP BEGINNER MUSIC PROGRAM, IMPACTING 4,000 3RD-5TH GRADERS IN 50 AREA SCHOOLS; WMS CHILDREN'S CHOIR, AN AUDITION-BASED GROUP FOR AGES 8-13 PERFORMING ITS OWN CONCERTS AND APPEARING WITH THE ORCHESTRA ANNUALLY; TUNE UP, A FREE BEGINNING STRING PROGRAM FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS IN MUSKEGON PUBLIC SCHOOLS; DEBUT STRINGS, AN AUDITION AND PERFORMANCE-BASED GROUP FOR INTERMEDIATE LEVEL STRING STUDENTS; AND PREMIER STRINGS, WMS'S SHOWCASE YOUTH ENSEMBLE FOR ADVANCED STRING STUDENTS, ACTING AS MENTORS FOR YOUNGER PLAYERS AND PERFORMING THROUGHOUT THE AREA AS A FULL STRING ORCHESTRA AND IN SMALLER CHAMBER GROUPS.

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 November 1944.

    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.