Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association

EIN 54-1471491 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION'S (WMPA)PURPOSE IS TO UNITE AND UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF CLASSICAL MUSIC. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS TO: EDUCATE AND ENGAGE STUDENTS THROUGH OUR YOUTH ORCHESTRAS PERFORM AND PROMOTE ORCHESTRAL MUSIC THROUGH THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN PHILHARMONIC CONNECT AND COMMUNICATE CHAMBER MUSIC THROUGH OUR SUMMER LYCEUM SERIES EXPAND AND ENLIGHTEN NEWCOMERS TO CLASSICAL MUSIC THROUGH OUR BILINGUAL FAMILY CONCERTS OUR VISION IS TO CREATE AND SERVE THE FUTURE AUDIENCE OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.

Income
$209,237
Spending
$231,530
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
0
Volunteers
65
Highest pay
$42,501, executive di

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

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 54% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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

    10 of 10 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 August 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 (3)
  1. $131,681 spent. WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN PHILHARMONIC SERVED THE GREATER WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING A SERIES OF CONCERTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING A WIDE SPECTRUM OF ORCHESTRAL MUSIC.
  2. $20,814 spent. THE YOUTH AND CONCERT ORCHESTRAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING A RANGE OF ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCES FOR ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS AND INSTILLING LIFELONG APPRECIATION OF ORCHESTRAL MUSIC TO THESE YOUNG MUSICIANS.
  3. $10,822 spent. WMPA PRESENTS A SUMMER CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES ANNUALLY IN ALEXANDRIA, VA, AND OCCASIONALLY PRESENTS OTHER COMMUNITY CONCERTS IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 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 July 1990.

    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.