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Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Inc

EIN 39-6023436 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, INC. ("MSO") REACHES OUT TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES THROUGH CONCERT PERFORMANCES AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. ALL PROGRAMS ARE GUIDED BY THE MSO FAMILY SHARED VISION WHICH STATES THAT THE MSO EXISTS FOR THREE PURPOSES: TO COMFORT, EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN AND EXHILARATE THE HUMAN SOUL THROUGH EVENTS OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, RELEVANCE AND ARTISTIC CHALLENGE; TO EMBRACE, PRESERVE AND FOSTER OUR MUSICAL HERITAGE; AND TO ENHANCE THE VIBRANCY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$19.8 million
Spending
$23.5 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
41.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
363
Volunteers
350
Highest pay
$398,522, president & executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 41.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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

    33 of 35 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 August 31, 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. $17.8 million spent. THE MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, LED BY MUSIC DIRECTOR KEN-DAVID MASUR, IS AMONG THE FINEST ORCHESTRAS IN THE NATION AND THE LARGEST CULTURAL INSTITUTION IN WISCONSIN. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1959, THE MSO HAS FOUND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO GIVE MUSIC A HOME IN THE REGION, DEVELOP MUSIC APPRECIATION AND TALENT AMONG AREA YOUTH, AND RAISE THE NATIONAL REPUTATION OF MILWAUKEE.THE MSO'S FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS PERFORM OVER 135 CLASSICS, POPS, FAMILY, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY CONCERTS EACH SEASON IN VENUES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. A PIONEER AMONG AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS, THE MSO HAS PERFORMED WORLD AND AMERICAN PREMIERES OF WORKS BY JOHN ADAMS, ROBERTO SIERRA, PHILIP GLASS, GEOFFREY GORDON, MARC NEIKRUG, CAMILLE PPIN, MATTHIAS PINTSCHER, AND DOBRINKA TABAKOVA, AS WELL AS GARNERED NATIONAL RECOGNITION AS THE FIRST AMERICAN ORCHESTRA TO OFFER LIVE RECORDINGS ON ITUNES.IN JANUARY OF 2021, THE MSO COMPLETED A YEARS-LONG PROJECT TO RESTORE AND RENOVATE A FORMER MOVIE PALACE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE. THE BRADLEY SYMPHONY CENTER OFFICIALLY OPENED TO AUDIENCES IN OCTOBER 2021. THIS PROJECT HAS SPARKED A RENEWAL ON WEST WISCONSIN AVENUE AND CONTINUES TO BE A CATALYST IN THE COMMUNITY.THE MSO'S STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE EXTENDS BEYOND THE CONCERT HALL AND INTO THE COMMUNITY, REACHING MORE THAN 30,000 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH ITS ARTS IN COMMUNITY EDUCATION (ACE) PROGRAM, YOUTH AND TEEN CONCERTS, FAMILY SERIES, AND MEET THE MUSIC PRE-CONCERT TALKS. CELEBRATING ITS 35TH YEAR, THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACE PROGRAM INTEGRATES ARTS EDUCATION ACROSS ALL SUBJECTS AND DISCIPLINES, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WHEN BUDGET CUTS MAY ELIMINATE ARTS PROGRAMMING. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES LESSON PLANS AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS, CLASSROOM VISITS FROM MSO MUSICIAN ENSEMBLES AND ARTISTS FROM LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND AN MSO CONCERT TAILORED TO EACH GRADE LEVEL. THIS SEASON, MORE THAN 5,900 STUDENTS AND 500 TEACHERS AND FACULTY ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN ACE BOTH IN PERSON AND IN A VIRTUAL FORMAT.
  2. $516,556 spent. THE MSO'S STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE EXTENDS BEYOND THE CONCERT HALL AND INTO THE COMMUNITY, REACHING MORE THAN 30,000 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH ITS ARTS IN COMMUNITY EDUCATION (ACE) PROGRAM, YOUTH AND TEEN CONCERTS, FAMILY SERIES, AND MEET THE MUSIC PRE-CONCERT TALKS. CELEBRATING ITS 35TH YEAR, THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACE PROGRAM INTEGRATES ARTS EDUCATION ACROSS ALL SUBJECTS AND DISCIPLINES, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WHEN BUDGET CUTS MAY ELIMINATE ARTS PROGRAMMING. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES LESSON PLANS AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS, CLASSROOM VISITS FROM MSO MUSICIAN ENSEMBLES AND ARTISTS FROM LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND AN MSO CONCERT TAILORED TO EACH GRADE LEVEL. THIS SEASON, MORE THAN 5,900 STUDENTS AND 500 TEACHERS AND FACULTY ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN ACE BOTH IN PERSON AND IN A VIRTUAL FORMAT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 August 1959.

    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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