South Florida Symphony Orchestra Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE ORCHESTRA IS DEDICATED TO BRINGING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER TO SOUTH FLORIDA. ITS MISSION IS TO DELIGHT, INSPIRE AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE THROUGH MUSIC.
- Income
- $2.7 million
- Spending
- $4.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- -8.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 8
- Highest pay
- $88,603, artistic dir
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
Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 2518% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 51% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 253 of 5 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $3.0 million spent. DURING FY25, THE SOUTH FLORIDA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTED A SERIES OF FIVE MASTERWORKS CONCERTS THROUGH 13 PERFORMANCES, PLUS A LARGE-SCALE HOLIDAY CONCERT PERFORMED TWICE; ALL CONCERTS FEATURED WORLD-CLASS SOLOISTS AND MUSICIANS AND WERE ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 24,500 PATRONS AND STUDENTS IN BROWARD, MIAMI-DADE, AND MONROE COUNTIES. ARTISTIC HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SEASON INCLUDED A STAGED CONCERT VERSION OF BERNSTEIN'S CANDIDE, PERFORMED ACROSS THREE VENUES WITH FULL CHORUS AND CAST, AND MOZART'S REQUIEM, PERFORMED WITH THE SOUTH FLORIDA SYMPHONY CHORUS. THE SEASON FEATURED ACCLAIMED SOLOISTS INCLUDING BENJAMIN HOCHMAN, PIANO; AMY SHOREMOUNT-OBRA, SOPRANO; AND CATHERINE LAN, PIANO, AMONG OTHERS. THE SYMPHONY IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM ENGAGED MORE THAN 5,000 STUDENTS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGH LIVE ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING PRODUCTIONS OF "PRESERVING OUR CORAL REEF- AND "PETER AND THE WOLF" PRESENTED AT VENUES ACROSS BROWARD, MIAMI-DADE, AND MONROE COUNTIES. THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S PARTNERSHIP WITH JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT, AN ADDITIONAL 19,000 BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL 5TH GRADERS ENGAGED WITH THE PERFORMING ARTS THROUGH THE JA BIZTOWN PROGRAM. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING INCLUDED "COMMUNITY BEATS," BRINGING FREE POPS CONCERTS TO UNEXPECTED COMMUNITY SPACES, INCLUDING THE CITY OF WESTON TOWN CENTER AMPHITHEATER. IN ADDITION, THE SFSO CONTINUED ITS ROLE AS A CULTURAL LEADER AND ECONOMIC DRIVER IN THE REGION. AS THE LARGEST ORCHESTRAL EMPLOYER IN SOUTH FLORIDA, THE ORGANIZATION GENERATES EMPLOYMENT FOR NEARLY 300 MUSICIANS, PRODUCTION STAFF, AND ARTS ADMINISTRATORS ANNUALLY. THE SFSO CONTINUES TO HAVE AN IMMEASURABLE EFFECT ON THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES. DURING FY25, THE SOUTH FLORIDA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTED A SERIES OF FIVE MASTERWORKS CONCERTS THROUGH 13 PERFORMANCES, PLUS A LARGE-SCALE HOLIDAY CONCERT PERFORMED TWICE; ALL CONCERTS FEATURED WORLD-CLASS SOLOISTS AND MUSICIANS AND WERE ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 24,500 PATRONS AND STUDENTS IN BROWARD, MIAMI-DADE, AND MONROE COUNTIES. ARTISTIC HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SEASON INCLUDED A STAGED CONCERT VERSION OF BERNSTEIN'S CANDIDE, PERFORMED ACROSS THREE VENUES WITH FULL CHORUS AND CAST, AND MOZART'S REQUIEM, PERFORMED WITH THE SOUTH FLORIDA SYMPHONY CHORUS. THE SEASON FEATURED ACCLAIMED SOLOISTS INCLUDING BENJAMIN HOCHMAN, PIANO; AMY SHOREMOUNT-OBRA, SOPRANO; AND CATHERINE LAN, PIANO, AMONG OTHERS. THE SYMPHONY IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM ENGAGED MORE THAN 5,000 STUDENTS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGH LIVE ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING PRODUCTIONS OF "PRESERVING OUR CORAL REEF- AND "PETER AND THE WOLF" PRESENTED AT VENUES ACROSS BROWARD, MIAMI-DADE, AND MONROE COUNTIES. THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S PARTNERSHIP WITH JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT, AN ADDITIONAL 19,000 BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL 5TH GRADERS ENGAGED WITH THE PERFORMING ARTS THROUGH THE JA BIZTOWN PROGRAM. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING INCLUDED "COMMUNITY BEATS," BRINGING FREE POPS CONCERTS TO UNEXPECTED COMMUNITY SPACES, INCLUDING THE CITY OF WESTON TOWN CENTER AMPHITHEATER. IN ADDITION, THE SFSO CONTINUED ITS ROLE AS A CULTURAL LEADER AND ECONOMIC DRIVER IN THE REGION. AS THE LARGEST ORCHESTRAL EMPLOYER IN SOUTH FLORIDA, THE ORGANIZATION GENERATES EMPLOYMENT FOR NEARLY 300 MUSICIANS, PRODUCTION STAFF, AND ARTS ADMINISTRATORS ANNUALLY. THE SFSO CONTINUES TO HAVE AN IMMEASURABLE EFFECT ON THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES.
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 May 1999.
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.