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Salem Philharmonia Orchestra

EIN 45-4414062 · Salem, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Salem Philharmonia Orchestra provides an opportunity for musicians and audiences in our community to participate in affordable performances of high quality symphonic literature. SPO makes live symphonic music easily accessible to the community at a low cost and gives community members an opportunity to play in a symphony orchestra. Concerts are made affordable to families by providing tickets at no cost to students 17 and under.

Income
$106,115
Spending
$104,704
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Highest pay
$1,200, artistic director

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

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 (5)
  1. $5,391 spent. Presented two concerts in April 2025 to honor 150 years of composer Maurice Ravel. Our soloist performed vocal music from Don Quixote and the Piano Concerto for Left hand (alone) in Dm. The concert were attended by 336 people.
  2. $4,677 spent. Presented two concerts in February 2025 entitled "Rediscovering Marie Jaell. Music included a mostly forgotten cello concerto by French femaie composer Marie Jaell. Tour soloist was Diane Chaplin, who discovered the work and reconstructed the orchestration. Other pieces performed were by composed by Bizet, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Mozart. The concerts were attended by 375 people.
  3. $5,750 spent. Presented two concerts in May/June 2025 entitled "Fate and the Apocalypse" with the music of Verdi, Menotti, and Tchaikovsky. The pieces were the overture from "La Forza del Destino", Apocalisse, and Symphony No. 4. The concerts were attended by 360 people.
  4. $4,629 spent. Presented two concerts in October featuring Beethoven Symphony #3. Additional music was from Dvorak and Mozart. Our soloist presented the Mozart Bassoon Concerto. The concerts were attended by by 404 people.
  5. $4,295 spent. Presented two concerts specifically tailored for families with younger children. The orchestra presented nine shorter pieces featuring different sections of the orchestra. Children were invited to sit in the orchestra during the performance and were given gift bags. An instrument petting zoo was made available before the concert so children could try the different instruments. The concerts were attended by 543 children and adults.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 March 2013.

    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.