Nashville Symphony Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Nashville Symphony inspires and engages a diverse and growing community with extraordinary live orchestral music experiences. As Middle Tennessee continues to grow and transform, the Nashville Symphony will be a financially robust, leading orchestra fully supported and embraced by the community it serves and recognized by its peers for its innovation and excellence. Key to achieving this vision, the Nashville Symphony will: - Entertain and educate audiences with varied opportunities to engage with orchestral music. - Be recognized as a leading arts organization defined by performing an innovative and excellent portfolio distinguished by a commitment to American music, including underrepresented voices. - Strengthen diversified revenue streams in order to routinely deliver a balanced operating budget and meet goals for endowment contributions. - Build a diverse, welcoming, and effective organization that is a great place to work and is reflective of the Middle Tennessee community.
- Income
- $28.1 million
- Spending
- $30.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -6.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 533
- Volunteers
- 180
- Highest pay
- $616,191, conductor & music director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 33% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2550 of 53 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 July 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 (2)
- $23.2 million spent. Artistic Programming : The Nashville Symphony is where music comes alive for Middle Tennessee and beyond. Founded in 1946, the orchestra performs at the world-class Schermerhorn Symphony Center, presenting a dynamic range of programming that spans classical masterworks, groundbreaking new commissions, jazz, pop, film with live orchestra, and family concerts. A national leader in championing contemporary American orchestral music, the Symphony has premiered and recorded works by many of today's most celebrated composers, earning 14 GRAMMY Awards and 27 nominations. The Nashville Symphony performs nearly 200 concerts annually, including free and low-cost education and community programs that collectively reach nearly 550,000 people of all ages across Middle Tennessee each year. Through broadcasts, recordings, and streaming, the Symphony extends its impact to an additional 13 million listeners worldwide. As a nonprofit organization, the Nashville Symphony is dedicated to enriching its community, inspiring the next generation of music lovers, and demonstrating the transformative power of live orchestral music to unite and inspire. The 2024/25 season marked the final season of Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero's distinguished tenure, celebrating his artistic leadership with performances that underscored the enduring vitality of orchestral music. From Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and Vivaldi's Four Seasons to the world premiere of Dolly Parton's Threads: My Songs in Symphony, the season balanced beloved masterworks with bold new artistic milestones. Continuing our commitment to preserving and advancing American orchestral music, three performances were recorded during the season for future commercial release. The season included 31 sold-out concerts, among them Mahler's Symphony No. 8, Gregory Alan Isakov, Gladiator Live, The Voice of Whitney, The Music of Final Fantasy, and Home Alone. We welcomed legendary artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax, Gil Shaham, Leslie Odom Jr., Lyle Lovett, the Indigo Girls, and Branford Marsalis, alongside rising stars and treasured local collaborators. In partnership with our musicians, during the 2024/25 season, we introduced innovative programming including Bluebird at the Symphony, blending Nashville's iconic songwriting tradition with the artistry of the orchestra. The season also highlighted our commitment to cultivating the next generation of artists. Three exceptional finalists from the Curb Concerto Competition performed with Symphony musicians, followed by a side-by-side concert with the orchestra. Joshua Kova was named the Curb Concerto Competition winner for the second time, a testament to the program's long-term impact and artistic excellence. The season concluded on a grand scale with Mahler's Symphony No. 8, a majestic finale to Maestro Guerrero's tenure and a powerful celebration of the Symphony's artistic legacy.
- $2.0 million spent. Education & Community Engagement Programs: During the 2024-2025 season, the Nashville Symphony strengthened its commitment to accessibility and community connection through 278 free and low-cost education and community engagement programs, reaching nearly 36,000 students and adults. We expanded our presence beyond Schermerhorn Symphony Center through programs such as Music in My Neighborhood, Lunar New Year, and MLK: A Celebration in Song, bringing orchestral music directly into communities across the region. Music in My Neighborhood focused on the Antioch community, offering free ensemble performances, workshops, and family concerts in local schools and community centers. The third year of this community residency fostered cultural connection, neighborhood pride, and direct engagement with Symphony musicians. In partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools, Symphony musicians reached thousands of students through in-school performances, classroom visits, and interactive concerts at Schermerhorn Symphony Center. These programs provide students with direct access to live orchestral music and meaningful artistic mentorship. We also hosted the We Are Nashville Festival 2025, where more than 400 students from across the city gathered to celebrate creativity, collaboration, and young artistry. The festival reflected the unifying power of music and the diversity of Nashville's student voices. Our beloved Summer Parks Concerts once again invited families to experience live orchestral music outdoors, creating accessible cultural moments that united audiences across the region. Collectively, the Symphony's education and community initiatives reach more than 550,000 people annually, reflecting our enduring commitment to the transformative power of music. Signature Education & Engagement Programs: * Accelerando: A nationally recognized initiative supporting young musicians from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. * Ensembles in Schools: Symphony musicians bring live chamber performances into classrooms across Middle Tennessee to introduce students to live orchestral music. * Free Community Concerts: Brings orchestral music directly to local neighborhoods across Middle Tennessee. * MNPS String Residencies: Providing string sectional and side-by-side rehearsal experiences for Metro Nashville Public School students. * Masterclasses, Sectionals & Private Lessons: Providing invaluable resources, instruction, and performance coaching for aspiring musicians and small ensembles throughout Middle Tennessee. * Music in My Neighborhood: A week-long residency that brings free cultural events to a different neighborhood each year. During the 2023/24 season, the Symphony collaborated with North Nashville schools, libraries, and community spaces. * Open Dress Rehearsals: A behind-the-scenes look at Classical Series rehearsals to demystify the orchestral world. * Sensory-Friendly Events: Inclusive programming designed for audiences with autism and sensory sensitivities, featuring flexible accommodations, closed captioning, quiet spaces, trained staff, and additional resources. * STEAM Expeditions: Interactive programs blending music, science, and the physics of sound. * Storytime with the Nashville Symphony: Early learning interactive music programs to help children develop a love for reading and an early interest in music. * Young People's Concerts: Orchestral performances tailored for K-12 students, with curriculum-aligned lesson plans that meet statewide leadership objectives. Other free and low-cost Symphony programs, include: * Lifelong Listeners for seniors * Is it a Fiddle or Violin? - a collaboration with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum * $20 Student Tickets through our Soundcheck program Every concert, workshop, and outreach initiative advances the Nashville Symphony's mission to enrich lives through music, strengthen cultural connections, and ensure that extraordinary artistic experiences remain accessible to all.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 July 1948.
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.