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Elkhart County Symphony Association

EIN 51-0181701 · Elkhart, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA WHOSE MISSION IS TO ENGAGE, EDUCATE, AND INSPIRE THE DIVERSE ELKHART COUNTY COMMUNITY THROUGH MEANINGFUL AND ENRICHING MUSICAL EXPERIENCES.

Income
$239,488
Spending
$236,672
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$2,630, member

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

Good: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Fair: 59 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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. $206,420 spent. THE SYMPHONY PERFORMS FIVE FULL ORCHESTRA CONCERTS EACH SEASON, THREE OF WHICH ARE PERFORMED IN THE ORCHESTRAS' HOME, THE LERNER THEATRE, ONE IS PERFORMED OUTDOORS IN THE WELLFIELD BOTANIC GARDENS AND ONE MORE IS PERFORMED IN SAUDER HALL AT THE GOSHEN COLLEGE MUSIC CENTER IN GOSHEN. IN ADDITION, SYMPHONY SMALL ENSEMBLES PERFORM A FOUR-CONCERT SERIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ELKHART PUBLIC LIBRARY FEATURING MUSIC AND A SHARED BOOK READING BY LIBRARY STAFF FOR "YOUNG PEOPLE OF ALL AGES". THE SYMPHONY LIBRARY SERIES IS PROVIDED FREE OF ADMISSION CHARGE AS A PUBLIC SERVICE OF THE ELKHART PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE SYMPHONY. ALSO, OUR SMALL ENSEMBLES PERFORM AS REQUESTED ACROSS ELKHART COUNTY FOR CIVIC, CORPORATE AND PRIVATE OCCASIONS. DURING THE PAST SEASON, BETWEEN FIFTEEN AND TWENTY SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES WERE HELD WITHIN THE COUNTY. LAST SEASON THE SYMPHONY COLLABORATED WITH THE GOSHEN THEATER TO PERFORM A CONCERT VERSION OF THE "COLE PORTER CELEBRATIONS." THE SYMPHONY'S TOTAL ATTENDANCE FOR THE 2024-25 SEASON WAS JUST UNDER 6000. THE AUDIENCES IS REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL AGES, WITH SPECIAL ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES AS "GUESTS OF THE SYMPHONY." THE SYMPHONY PERFORMS FIVE FULL ORCHESTRA CONCERTS EACH SEASON, THREE OF WHICH ARE PERFORMED IN THE ORCHESTRAS' HOME, THE LERNER THEATRE, ONE IS PERFORMED OUTDOORS IN THE WELLFIELD BOTANIC GARDENS AND ONE MORE IS PERFORMED IN SAUDER HALL AT THE GOSHEN COLLEGE MUSIC CENTER IN GOSHEN. IN ADDITION, SYMPHONY SMALL ENSEMBLES PERFORM A FOUR-CONCERT SERIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ELKHART PUBLIC LIBRARY FEATURING MUSIC AND A SHARED BOOK READING BY LIBRARY STAFF FOR "YOUNG PEOPLE OF ALL AGES". THE SYMPHONY LIBRARY SERIES IS PROVIDED FREE OF ADMISSION CHARGE AS A PUBLIC SERVICE OF THE ELKHART PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE SYMPHONY. ALSO, OUR SMALL ENSEMBLES PERFORM AS REQUESTED ACROSS ELKHART COUNTY FOR CIVIC, CORPORATE AND PRIVATE OCCASIONS. DURING THE PAST SEASON, BETWEEN FIFTEEN AND TWENTY SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES WERE HELD WITHIN THE COUNTY. LAST SEASON THE SYMPHONY COLLABORATED WITH THE GOSHEN THEATER TO PERFORM A CONCERT VERSION OF THE "COLE PORTER CELEBRATIONS." THE SYMPHONY'S TOTAL ATTENDANCE FOR THE 2024-25 SEASON WAS JUST UNDER 6000. THE AUDIENCES IS REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL AGES, WITH SPECIAL ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES AS "GUESTS OF THE SYMPHONY."

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 November 6, 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 December 1971.

    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 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.