The Maryland Symphony Orchestra Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NONE
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 57%
- Reserves
- 18.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 204
- Volunteers
- 35
- Highest pay
- $96,510, 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
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1558% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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.
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $1.0 million spent. THE PURPOSE IS TO FOSTER, PROMOTE, AND INCREASE THE MUSIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE PUBLIC, EXCLUSIVELY BY EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, BY ORGANIZING AND PRESENTING PERFORMANCES OF MUSIC CHOSEN PRIMARILY FROM THE LITERATURE OF SYMPHONY AND CHAMBER MUSIC, OPERA, SOLO RECITAL, AND VOCAL CHORUS OR DANCE. SINCE THE MARYLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (MSO) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1982, THE ORCHESTRA'S ANNUAL SEASON HAS EXPANDED FROM FOUR CONCERTS TO MORE THAN 20 INCLUDING A CLASSICAL MASTERWORKS SERIES, MSO POPS CONCERTS, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS PERFORMANCES, THE SALUTE TO INDEPENDENCE, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL COACHING AND ENSEMBLES, YOUTH CONCERTS FOR 4TH GRADERS FROM THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON COUNTY AND THE REGION, AND SEVERAL PERFORMANCES IN NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES. AS THE ONLY FULLY PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA BASED IN WESTERN MARYLAND THE ORCHESTRA (SEE SECTION O) FEATURES INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED GUEST ARTISTS AND SOLOISTS EACH SEASON, ALONG WITH PRINCIPAL PLAYERS FROM THE RANKS OF THE MSO'S 70 MEMBER ENSEMBLE. ARTISTS AND SOLOISTS OFFER MASTER CLASSES. THE MSO PRESENTS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INVOLVING SMALL ENSEMBLES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WASHINGTON COUNTY FREE LIBRARY IMPACTING 10,000 YOUTH ANNUALLY. FREE STUDENT TICKETS ARE OFFERED TO STUDENTS IN GRADES 1 THROUGH 12 TO THE CLASSICAL CONCERTS HELD IN HAGERSTOWN'S HISTORIC MARYLAND THEATRE. THE MSO AWARDS BOTH NEED BASED AND MERIT BASED BENNETT RUBIN MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS FOR REGIONAL YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE IN SUMMER MUSIC ACADEMIES, PRIVATE LESSONS, WORKSHOPS, AND PROGRAMS OFFERED BY ACCOMPLISHED INSTRUCTORS, WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OTHER ACCREDITED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
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
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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 February 1983.
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 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.