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Des Moines Symphony Association

EIN 42-6058830 · Des Moines, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE DES MOINES SYMPHONY IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA FORMED IN 1937 TO ENRICH, EDUCATE, AND INSPIRE THE COMMUNITY BY PERFORMING GREAT ORCHESTRAL MUSIC. THE SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION, GOVERNED BY A VOLUNTEER BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OPERATING ON AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF MORE THAN 4.2 MILLION, SUPPORTS THE SYMPHONY ACADEMY AND ITS NUMEROUS MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING FOUR YOUTH ORCHESTRAS AND A YOUTH WIND ENSEMBLE. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO SUPPORTS THE DES MOINES SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WHICH PERFORMS SEVEN PAIRS OF MASTERWORKS CONCERTS, A SUMMER SEASON OF FREE OUTDOOR CONCERTS AT THE LAURIDSEN AMPHITHEATER IN WATER WORKS PARK, A REGULAR SEASON POPS SERIES INCLUDING THE TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR'S EVE POPS, AND EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND FAMILY CONCERTS. THE DES MOINES SYMPHONY ALSO PRODUCES AND PERFORMS THE ANNUAL YANKEE DOODLE POPS CONCERT IN JULY ON THE GROUND OF THE IOWA STATE CAPITAL.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
299
Volunteers
92
Highest pay
$305,382, 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

    22 of 22 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. $2.8 million spent. CONCERT PERFORMANCESTHE DES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION PERFORMS SEVEN PAIRS OF MASTERWORKS CONCERTS, AS WELL AS EDUCATION AND FAMILY CONCERTS, AND BOTH A REGULAR SEASON AND SUMMER SEASON POPS SERIES WHICH DRAWS AUDIENCE MEMBERS FROM THROUGHOUT IOWA.
  2. $447,032 spent. MUSIC EDUCATIONTHE DES MOINES SYMPHONY ACADEMY PROVIDES AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP INSTRUCTION, PERFORMANCE, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES.

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 January 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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