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Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra

EIN 43-0666769 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (SLSO) IS TO ENRICH LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF MUSIC. THE SLSO PROVIDES ORCHESTRA CONCERTS, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.

Income
$54.7 million
Spending
$40.4 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-28.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
496
Volunteers
398
Highest pay
$585,474, president/chief executive

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    46 of 49 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
  1. $32.1 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O.MUSIC PROGRAMS: THE ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (SLSO) IS CELEBRATED AS A LEADING AMERICAN ORCHESTRA, KNOWN FOR ITS WARM AND ENGAGING SOUND, PROLIFIC AND ACCLAIMED RECORDING HISTORY, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURING ACTIVITIES, AND DISTINCTIVE COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS. THE SLSO REACHES CLOSE TO 266,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR THROUGH LIVE CONCERTS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, PLUS 218,000 THROUGH PUBLIC MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS AND MILLIONS MORE ONLINE. THE SLSO MUSICAL FAMILY ALSO INCLUDES TWO RESIDENT CHORUSES: THE ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY CHORUS PERFORMS CHORAL-ORCHESTRAL MUSIC AND THE ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY IN UNISON CHORUS FOCUSES ON MUSIC OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND AFRICAN TRADITIONS. COMPOSERS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW ARE A VALUED PART OF THE SLSO'S ARTISTIC MISSION, WITH THE ORCHESTRA INTRODUCING DOZENS OF NEW WORKS INTO THE REPERTOIRE THROUGH COMMISSIONS AND CO-COMMISSIONS. THE SLSO IS COMMITTED TO ITS HOMETOWN, PERFORMING DOZENS OF CONCERTS THROUGHOUT THE ST. LOUIS REGION EACH SEASON AND FORMING MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER AREA ARTS AND NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS. FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, THE SLSO HAS SUPPORTED STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS IN ST. LOUIS AND BEYOND THROUGH MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. THE ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA HAS BEEN THE REGION'S PREMIERE TRAINING ORCHESTRA FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. THE ORCHESTRA ALSO PROVIDES PERFORMANCES AND RESOURCES FOR MORE THAN 1,000 SCHOOLS EACH YEAR, WITH 237,000 STUDENTS AND 825 TEACHERS PARTICIPATING IN MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS WITH THE SLSO.

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 October 1926.

    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.