Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Omaha Symphony Association

EIN 47-6039304 · Omaha, NE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong97 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENRICH PEOPLE'S LIVES THROUGH THE EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE OF LIVE ORCHESTRAL MUSIC. WE DO THIS THROUGH PASSIONATE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE AND INTEGRITY IN ALL WE DO; DEEP COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION WITH THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE; AND COLLABORATION AMONG PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINING THE OMAHA SYMPHONY'S MISSION.

Income
$10.7 million
Spending
$10.5 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
15.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
264
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$307,003, ex officio, president and ceo

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

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 23 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. $8.6 million spent. THE OMAHA SYMPHONY SERVED OVER 310,000 PEOPLE THROUGH MORE THAN 250 LIVE CONCERTS AND DIGITAL OFFERINGS. THE OMAHA SYMPHONY IS A LEADER IN ARTS PROGRAMMING IN THE OMAHA METROPOLITAN AREA AND PROVIDES MAINSTAGE CONCERTS AT THE HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND THE JOSLYN ART MUSEUM, AS WELL AS FREE COMMUNITY CONCERTS AT THE GENE LEAHY MALL PERFORMANCE PAVILION. ADDITIONALLY, THE OMAHA SYMPHONY CONNECTED WITH VIEWERS THROUGH PRIMETIME TELEVISION BROADCASTS, A PUBLIC MEDIA SERIES, AND ITS ONLINE SYMPHONY ANYWHERE PLATFORM.
  2. $533,665 spent. OMAHA SYMPHONY EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS SERVED MORE THAN 70,000 INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE GREATER OMAHA METRO AREA, THE STATE OF NEBRASKA, WESTERN IOWA, AND BEYOND. DEEPLY COMMITTED TO ITS EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS, IN ANY GIVEN SEASON 30% OF THE ORCHESTRA'S SERVICES ARE DEDICATED TO EDUCATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND FAMILY CONCERT EXPERIENCES. THE OMAHA SYMPHONY PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ANNUALLY FOR STUDENTS AGED PRE-K THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE PRE-CONCERT LECTURES AND CONDUCTING SEMINARS FOR MUSIC EDUCATORS.

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 October 1943.

    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.