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Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra

EIN 45-4898098 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO UNITE COMMUNITIES THROUGH PERFORMANCE, OUTREACH, AND EDUCATION.

Income
$104,059
Spending
$338,972
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
12 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 44%
Employees
149
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$72,675, executive 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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 226% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $245,927 spent. LAKE WASHINGTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (LWSO) DELIVERED 21 PROGRAMS, INCLUDING REHEARSALS, CONCERTS, AND COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES THAT ADVANCED OUR MISSION, TO ENRICH AND INSPIRE OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH PERFORMANCE, OUTREACH AND EDUCATION. THESE PROGRAMS REACHED THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS ACROSS THE EASTSIDE AND STRENGTHENED CULTURAL VITALITY THROUGH FREE AND LOW COST EVENTS.REDMOND SATURDAY MARKET PERFORMANCES:LWSO PRESENTED EIGHT FREE SMALL ENSEMBLE CONCERTS AT THE REDMOND SATURDAY MARKET, BRINGING LIVE ORCHESTRAL MUSIC DIRECTLY INTO A BUSTLING COMMUNITY SPACE. THESE INFORMAL PERFORMANCES REACHED DIVERSE AUDIENCES, INCLUDING FAMILIES, SENIORS, AND PASSERSBY EXPERIENCING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE SERIES CONTINUES TO BUILD COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND VISIBILITY FOR THE ARTS.ANNUAL CHILDREN'S HALLOWEEN CONCERT:NOW IN ITS 9TH YEAR, THIS BELOVED FAMILY TRADITION WELCOMED HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS FOR AN ENGAGING, SENSORY-FRIENDLY INTRODUCTION TO ORCHESTRAL MUSIC. FAMILIES RETURN YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND MANY DESCRIBE IT AS A "CAN'T MISS" ANNUAL EVENT. THE PROGRAM INCLUDED COSTUMES, INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS, AND ACCESSIBLE MUSICAL STORYTELLING DESIGNED TO SPARK CURIOSITY AND JOY.ANNUAL HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT:LWSO'S HOLIDAY POPS BROUGHT TOGETHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES FOR A FESTIVE CELEBRATION FEATURING SEASONAL FAVORITES AND A GUEST VOCALIST. THE CONCERT SUPPORTS INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTION AND PROVIDES AN AFFORDABLE, HIGH QUALITY ARTS EXPERIENCE DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.ANNUAL EDUCATION CONCERT:LWSO PRESENTED ITS THIRD EDUCATION CONCERT, SERVING STUDENTS FROM LAKE WASHINGTON AND BELLEVUE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. NEARLY 2,000 STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND CHAPERONES ATTENDED AT NO COST. TEACHERS CONSISTENTLY REPORT THAT THIS IS A HIGHLIGHT OF THEIR SCHOOL YEAR, AND MANY SEND FOLLOW UP EMAILS PRAISING THE PROGRAM'S CULTURAL REPRESENTATION, STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, AND ALIGNMENT WITH CLASSROOM LEARNING.CELEBRATING WOMEN CONCERT:THE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTED THE WORK OF WOMEN COMPOSERS-VOICES HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN CLASSICAL MUSIC. THE CONCERT ADVANCED LWSO'S COMMITMENT TO CULTURAL EQUITY AND ARTISTIC REPRESENTATION WHILE OFFERING AUDIENCES A POWERFUL, INSPIRING MUSICAL EXPERIENCE.ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS, LWSO DELIVERED 21 REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING FREE COMMUNITY CONCERTS, YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CULTURALLY REPRESENTATIVE PERFORMANCES, AND FAMILY CENTERED EVENTS. AUDIENCE ENTHUSIASM, REPEAT ATTENDANCE, AND POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES DEMONSTRATE THE ORCHESTRA'S GROWING IMPACT AND THE COMMUNITY'S STRONG SUPPORT FOR ACCESSIBLE ARTS PROGRAMMING.

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 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 June 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 April 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.