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Jacksonville Symphony Association

EIN 59-6002520 · Jacksonville, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESENT ARTISTICALLY EXCELLENT CLASSICAL AND OTHER ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES FOR THE ENJOYMENT, EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT OF AN EVER-INCREASING DIVERSE AUDIENCE, WHILE MAINTAINING FISCAL INTEGRITY.

Income
$26.0 million
Spending
$14.4 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
24.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
392
Volunteers
260
Highest pay
$329,784, president & 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: 100 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 24.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 45% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 115% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

    32 of 35 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. $9.9 million spent. THE JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY BRINGS ITS MISSION TO LIFE BY OFFERING EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT IS RELEVANT, INCLUSIVE, AND VITAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1949, THE SYMPHONY HAS BECOME THE CULTURAL HEART OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA, WITH 60 FULL-TIME MUSICIANS AND A 40-WEEK SEASON OF PERFORMANCES IN THE ACOUSTICALLY ACCLAIMED JACOBY SYMPHONY HALL IN DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE. OVER THE PAST 75 YEARS, THE JSA HAS FEATURED COLLABORATIONS WITH SUCH RENOWNED ARTISTS AS DUKE ELLINGTON, MARILYN HORNE, ITZHAK PERLMAN, JOSHUA BELL, LANG LANG, AND RENE FLEMING. TODAY, WITH THE SUPPORT OF COMMITTED CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS, AND STRONG ADMINISTRATIVE AND ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP, THE JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY IS REACHING NEW HEIGHTS, ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA RESIDENTS THROUGH INNOVATIVE PERFORMANCES, MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS. FROM JACOBY SYMPHONY HALL TO COMMUNITY VENUES, CLASSROOMS AND VIRTUAL PLATFORMS, OUR MUSIC HAS EXTENDED FAR BEYOND THE STAGE, REACHING MORE THAN 155,000 RESIDENTS IN 2024/25. TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SYMPHONIC MUSIC FOR ALL, WE OFFER MANY REDUCED-PRICE TICKET PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS, SENIORS AND VETERANS, FREE ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES AT LOCAL VENUES AND FREE TICKETS TO ALMOST 100 COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $526,079 spent. THE JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA, REACHING 60,000 STUDENTS IN 2024/25 INCLUDING MORE THAN 36,000 STUDENTS AT TITLE I SCHOOLS. OUR VP OF MUSIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY IMPACT WORKS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS TO DEVELOP AND PROVIDE MUSIC EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO CURRENTLY LACK ACCESS. THE SYMPHONY'S MUSIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES INCLUDE A VARIETY OF STUDENT PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO ENGAGE DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS OF STUDENTS SUCH AS: - ENSEMBLE SCHOOL VISITS - NUTCRACKER SCHOOL MATINEES - YOUTH CONCERTS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN JACOBY SYMPHONY HALL - STUDENTS AT THE SYMPHONY FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS - JUMP START STRINGS - FREE WEEKLY STRINGED INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTION BY SYMPHONY MUSICIANS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN TITLE I AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. - THE JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRAS PROGRAM - PROVIDES 200 YOUNG MUSICIANS AGES 6-21 WITH WEEKLY, ABILITY-SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND FIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PERFORM ON THE JACOBY SYMPHONY HALL STAGE.

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 April 1951.

    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.