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Madison Symphony Orchestra Inc

EIN 39-0839707 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SPONSOR, DEVELOP, AND PROMOTE PROGRAMS OF MUSICAL EXCELLENCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF MADISON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA, AND TO PROVIDE MUSIC EDUCATION.

Income
$6.8 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
11.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
205
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$308,149, music 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    41 of 41 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 (2)
  1. $4.9 million spent. SUBSCRIPTION, ORGAN, AND AT THE MOVIE CONCERTS - 31 PERFORMANCES IN ORDER TO PROMOTE MUSICAL EXCELLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH 35,276 CONCERT ATTENDEES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 06/30/2025
  2. $590,882 spent. EDUCATIONAL CONCERTS PROVIDED FOR THE COMMUNITY. FOR THE YEAR ENDING 06/30/2025, THERE WERE 8 FULL ORCHESTRA CONCERTS AND 150 SMALL ENSEMBLE CONCERTS. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF AUDIENCES. SYMPHONY SOUP: SYMPHONY SOUP IS A SPECIAL WAY FOR STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE TO LEARN ABOUT CLASSICAL MUSIC THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIVE SYMPHONY CONCERT. SYMPHONY SOUP CONVEYS THE WAY INGREDIENTS, SPICES, AND FLAVORS COMBINE IN A DELICIOUS BOWL OF SOUP, JUST AS MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS COME TOGETHER TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC THAT CAN LIFT AND REFRESH THE SOUL. LINK UP: LINK UP IS A MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM CREATED BY CARNEGIE HALL'S WEILL MUSIC INSTITUTE THAT GIVES STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-5 THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE MUSIC THROUGH A YEARLONG CURRICULUM OF CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES DURING WHICH THEY LEARN TO PLAY THE SOPRANO RECORDER. A CULMINATING CONCERT BRINGS THE STUDENTS INTO OVERTURE'S CAPITOL THEATER TO PERFORM WITH THE MSO! FALL YOUTH CONCERTS: AN ALL-AMERICAN PROGRAM OF LIVE MUSIC FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH REAL-TIME ILLUSTRATIONS FEATURING LOCAL ARTIST AND PROFESSIONAL ILLUSTRATOR T.L. LUKE. YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERTS: THE MSO'S SPRING YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERT IS OPEN TO AND DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. CONCERT PREP MATERIALS APPROPRIATE FOR EACH AGE GROUP WILL BE DESIGNED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL TEACHERS ON THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA'S WEBSITE. UP CLOSE AND MUSICAL: UP CLOSE AND MUSICAL BRINGS THE POWER AND BEAUTY OF CLASSICAL MUSIC INTO THE CLASSROOMS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT DANE COUNTY. THE CURRICULUM IS GUIDED BY THE COMPREHENSIVE MUSICIANSHIP THROUGH PERFORMANCE MODEL AND ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR MUSIC, BRINGING THE HUNT QUARTET INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FOUR TIMES EACH YEAR. SCHOOL VISITS TAKE PLACE IN OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, MARCH, & APRIL. INDIVIDUAL QUARTET MEMBERS VISIT SEPARATE CLASSROOMS TO CONDUCT EXCITING AND INTERACTIVE LESSONS THAT SEND STUDENTS ON A HUNT FOR THE CONCEPTS OF MELODY, RHYTHM, EXPRESSION, AND FORM HEARTSTRINGS: THIS MUSIC THERAPY-INFORMED PROGRAM CONTINUES TO REACH BEYOND TRADITIONAL PERFORMANCE SETTINGS TO BRING LIVE, INTERACTIVE PRESENTATIONS BY SOME OF THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA'S BEST PLAYERS INTO HEALTHCARE AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES. OUR SESSIONS HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXTRAORDINARY PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, COGNITIVE, AND SOCIAL CHANGES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND LEVELS OF FUNCTIONING, REACHING NEARLY 3,200 INDIVIDUALS EACH SEASON.TUNE UP FOR THE CONCERTS PRE-CONCERT TALKS FOR ADULTS! PRELUDE DISCUSSIONS ENRICH THE CONCERT EXPERIENCE WITH INSIGHTS INTO THE MUSIC AND THE LIVES OF THE COMPOSERS. STEP INTO THE HUSHED AND INTIMATE ATMOSPHERE OF OVERTURE HALL WITH JUST A HANDFUL OF OTHER MUSIC LOVERS FOR A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAESTRO, GUEST CONDUCTOR, OR EVEN ON RARE OCCASIONS THE COMPOSER.

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 August 1953.

    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.