Fargo-Moorhead Area Youth Symphonies
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDE MIDDLE-SCHOOL AND HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN ORCHESTRAS OUTSIDE THEIR SCHOOL ENSEMBLES.
- Income
- $134,976
- Spending
- $114,471
- Reserves
- 36.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 49%
- Highest pay
- $29,175, executive director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 36.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (1)
- $114,471 spent. FMAYS PROVIDES A RIGOROUS ORCHESTRAL EXPERIENCE THROUGH AUDITIONS, REHEARSALS, SECTIONALS WITH PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS, CONCERTS, AND A CONCERTO COMPETITION. IN THE SPRING AND FALL WE HOLD AUDITIONS FOR EACH ENSEMBLE. OUR MUSIC DIRECTORS AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS JUDGE THE AUDITIONS AND PROVIDE WRITTEN COMMENTS TO HELP STUDENTS IMPROVE THEIR MUSICAL SKILLS IN THE FUTURE. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN WEEKLY REHEARSALS FROM MID-SEPTEMBER TO MID-APRIL. IN ADDITION TO FULL ENSEMBLE REHEARSALS, LOCAL PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS COME IN TO LEAD SECTIONALS. SECTIONALS BREAK DOWN THE ENSEMBLE INTO SMALLER GROUPS BY INSTRUMENT AND ALLOW A SPECIALIST TO HELP WITH INSTRUMENT-SPECIFIC CHALLENGES. DEPENDING ON THE ENSEMBLE, STUDENTS PERFORM IN THREE TO FIVE CONCERTS DURING THE SEASON. FMAYS CONSISTS OF THREE ORCHESTRAS: THE CONCERT STRINGS, THE ATTACCA STRINGS, AND THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. THE CONCERT STRINGS ARE A STRING ORCHESTRA FOR SIXTH THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS. THE ATTACCA STRINGS IS AN ALL-STRING ORCHESTRA FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES NINE THROUGH TWELVE. ATTACCA STRINGS BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN STRING PLAYERS WHO ARE NOT QUITE READY FOR THE REPERTOIRE OF THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, YET STILL DESIRE A CHALLENGING STRINGS-ONLY OPTION. IN THIS CAPACITY, STUDENTS ARE GIVEN A MORE EXPOSED ROLE WHERE EVERY PERFORMER'S MUSICAL VOICE CAN BE HEARD. THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONSISTS OF WINDS, BRASS, PERCUSSION, AND STRINGS. THE STRING PLAYERS ARE IN GRADES NINE THROUGH TWELVE, AND THE WIND, BRASS, AND PERCUSSION STUDENTS ARE IN GRADES EIGHT THROUGH TWELVE. THIS IS OUR TOP ENSEMBLE THAT MOST CLOSELY RESEMBLES THE PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRAL EXPERIENCE. WE ALSO HAVE A CHAMBER MUSIC PROGRAM CALLED ENCORE CHAMBER, WHICH CONSISTS OF STUDENTS FROM THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. GROUPS OF TWO TO FIVE STUDENTS PERFORM IN THESE CHAMBER ENSEMBLES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND ARE COACHED BY LOCAL PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS. FMAYS PERFORMS OUTREACH CONCERTS IN VALLEY CITY, WHERE THERE IS NO YOUTH ORCHESTRA, AND AT LOCAL NURSING HOMES. THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PARTICIPATES IN AN ANNUAL SIDE-BY-SIDE REHEARSAL WITH THE FARGO-MOORHEAD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, CULMINATING IN A PERFORMANCE AS A PART OF FMSO'S MASTERWORKS SERIES. OFTEN CITED AS STUDENTS' MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE IN FMAYS, THE SIDE-BY-SIDE GIVES STUDENTS A CLOSER LOOK INTO THE PROFESSIONAL MUSIC WORLD, AS THEY GET TO LEARN FROM AND PLAY ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS. FMAYS HAS AN ANNUAL FOUNDERS' CONCERTO COMPETITION. A CONCERTO IS AN INSTRUMENTAL SOLO THAT HAS ORCHESTRAL ACCOMPANIMENT AND IS GENERALLY VERY DIFFICULT TO PERFORM. THE WINNER OF THE COMPETITION GETS TO PERFORM AS A SOLOIST WITH THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. THIS ALLOWS THE WINNER TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENT AND SKILLS ON CHALLENGING MUSIC WRITTEN AS A SOLO FOR THEIR INSTRUMENT.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on November 15, 2022 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on November 15, 2022.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2023.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.