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The Palm Beach Symphony Society Inc

EIN 59-1542539 · West Palm Bch, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EDUCATE AND TO NURTURE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN CLASSICAL SYMPHONIC MUSIC THROUGH THE UTILIZATION OF ITS SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
7.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
12
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$381,399, ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 May 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 (1)
  1. $3.1 million spent. UNDER THE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP OF CEO DAVID MCCLYMONT AND THE ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE OF MUSIC DIRECTOR GERARD SCHWARZ, PALM BEACH SYMPHONY EXPERIENCED UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH AND IMPACT IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON. THE SYMPHONY PRESENTED SEVEN SOLD-OUT MASTERWORKS CONCERTS FEATURING AN ORCHESTRA OF MORE THAN 90 WORLD-CLASS MUSICIANS, CEMENTING ITS STATURE AS ONE OF AMERICA'S PREMIER REGIONAL ORCHESTRAS.THIS SEASON, THE SYMPHONY ACHIEVED: 10% INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIPS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS. 12% INCREASE IN INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS. RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE AT ALL FUNDRAISING AND CONCERT EVENTS.(CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O) EXPANDED DONOR BASE BY OVER 500 NEW PATRONS. 30% INCREASE IN INSTRUMENT DONATIONS TO SUPPORT MUSIC EDUCATION.PALM BEACH SYMPHONY'S 2024-2025 EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS, LED THROUGH THE PAUL AND SANDRA GOLDNER CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, REACHED THOUSANDS ACROSS PALM BEACH COUNTY WITH A BLEND OF PERFORMANCES, RESIDENCIES, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. THE TODD BARRON INSTRUMENT DONATION PROGRAM PROVIDED 218 INSTRUMENTS AND 1,231 ACCESSORIES THIS SEASON, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 898 INSTRUMENTS AND 2,629 ACCESSORIES SINCE 2016. SEVEN TITLE I SCHOOLS HOSTED ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE FOR 363 CONTACT HOURS, 183 COACHINGS, AND 64 CLASSES, REACHING 541 STUDENTS ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS. THE SYMPHONY DELIVERED FIVE IN-SCHOOL CONCERTS, THREE STEAM SESSIONS, AND NUMEROUS PRE-CONCERT LOBBY PERFORMANCES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOLS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. THE DALE A. MCNULTY CHILDREN'S CONCERT SERIES PREMIERED CINDERELLA AND THE ORCHESTRA, ENGAGING 3,369 ATTENDEES AND DISTRIBUTING CURRICULUM GUIDES TO 500 SCHOOLS, IMPACTING OVER 200,000 STUDENTS. COMPLIMENTARY AND DISCOUNTED TICKETS PROVIDED ACCESS FOR 2,289 STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND FAMILIES, WHILE MASTERCLASSES, SPECIAL CLINICS, AND OPEN REHEARSALS OFFERED DIRECT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WITH RENOWNED ARTISTS. OUTREACH PROGRAMS ALSO INCLUDED 88 COMMUNITY EVENTS, 217 SPECIALIZED COACHING SESSIONS, 477 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS, AND INITIATIVES LIKE NURTURING NOTES, WHICH BROUGHT LIVE MUSIC INTO HOSPITALS.PALM BEACH SYMPHONY'S EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS REACHED MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE. INITIATIVES INCLUDED YEARLONG RESIDENCIES IN TITLE I SCHOOLS, OVER 100 IN-SCHOOL PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS, STUDENT COACHING SESSIONS WITH PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS, INSTRUMENT DISTRIBUTION TO UNDERSERVED STUDENTS, AND PUBLIC MASTERCLASSES WITH NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTISTS.THE SYMPHONY'S COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY WAS UNDERSCORED BY FREE PUBLIC CONCERTS IN PARKS, CULTURAL CENTERS, AND COMMUNITY SPACES IMPACTING OVER 20,000 RESIDENTS WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE EXPERIENCE LIVE SYMPHONIC MUSIC.THROUGH THIS BLEND OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, MEASURABLE GROWTH, AND DEEP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PALM BEACH SYMPHONY CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A CULTURAL ANCHOR FOR THE REGION WHILE INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSICIANS AND MUSIC LOVERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 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 May 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 September 1974.

    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.