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Symphony of the Hills Association

EIN 74-3024737 · Kerrville, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong91 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SYMPHONY OF THE HILLS BRINGS SUPERB CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL MUSIC TO AUDIENCES IN THE HILL COUNTRY OF TEXAS. PARTNERED WITH SCHREINER UNIVERSITY IN KERRVILLE, TEXAS, THE ORCHESTRA COMPRISES SKILLED AND PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS FROM THE HILL COUNTRY AND SURROUNDING AREAS, INCLUDING FACULTY AND ADVANCED MUSIC STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY. THE SYMPHONY OF THE HILLS ASSOCIATION IS A NON-PROFIT TEXAS CORPORATION WITH A TWO-FOLD MISSION: BRINGING SUPERB CLASSICAL MUSIC TO AUDIENCES IN THE HILL COUNTRY OF TEXAS AND DEVELOPING THE MUSICAL APPRECIATION AND SKILL OF YOUNG MUSICIANS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. IT IS THE CONVICTION OF THE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF THE ASSOCIATION, AND OF THE CONDUCTOR AND MUSICIANS OF THE ORCHESTRA, THAT THE ORCHESTRA PERFORMS A VALUABLE SERVICE THROUGH PROVIDING FINE MUSIC TO AREA RESIDENTS, THUS ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE TO ALL WHO EMBRACE CLASSICAL SYMPHONIC MUSIC.

Income
$343,668
Spending
$329,997
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
17 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
4
Volunteers
0

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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
  1. $317,271 spent. THE SYMPHONY IS A 75-MEMBER REGIONAL ORCHESTRA WHICH PERFORMS CONCERTS IN THE CAILLOUX THEATER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IN DOWNTOWN KERRVILLE. THE SYMPHONY PERFORMS FOUR CLASSICAL CONCERTS, TYPICALLY IN THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER, DECEMBER, FEBRUARY AND APRIL AND A POPS CONCERT IN JANUARY. IN ADDITION, IT PERFORMS TWO CHILDREN'S CONCERTS IN OCTOBER, DRAWING ON THE CONTENT OF THAT MONTH'S EVENING CONCERT. OVER THE YEARS, THE REPERTOIRE HAS INCLUDED SYMPHONIES, TONE POEMS, OVERTURES AND CONCERTOS FROM THE MUSICAL CANON OF THE WESTERN WORLD. PIECES WITH CHORAL CONTENT ARE ALSO COMMON, EMPLOYING A GRAND CHORUS. THE POPS CONCERT CHARACTERISTICALLY PRESENTS MUSIC FROM BROADWAY AND FILM AND THE REALM OF POPULAR CLASSICS, SOMETIMES IN TANDEM WITH SINGERS OR SMALL POP ENSEMBLES. THE ANNUAL CHILDREN'S CONCERTS BRING OVER 1600 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS FROM THE REGION FOR A MORNING AND AFTERNOON CONCERT. THE YOUTHS ARE PREPARED FOR BETTER APPRECIATION BY INDIVIDUALS FROM THE SYMPHONY WHO VISIT THEIR SCHOOLS TO PERFORM AND EXPLAIN AS WELL AS THROUGH A CURRICULUM DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE CONCERTS.
  2. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A NEED TO INTRODUCE YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE GRANDEUR OF TRADITIONAL CLASSICAL MUSIC AND TO ENCOURAGE THEIR OWN INCLINATIONS TO CREATE MUSIC. FOR THAT REASON, OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN PERFORMING TWO CHILDREN'S CONCERTS EACH SEASON FOR ALL 3RD AND 4TH GRADE STUDENTS IN THE KERRVILLE AREA, FOR A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 1600 STUDENTS ANNUALLY. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO FAMILIARIZE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH TRADITIONAL CLASSICAL MUSIC AND THE PRINCIPAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR SEVERAL WEEKS OF IN-SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS AND TEXAS ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS (TEKS) COMPLIANT LESSON PLANS FOR THE TEACHERS AT EACH OF 12 SCHOOLS DESIGNED TO PREPARE THE STUDENTS FOR THEIR ATTENDANCE AT ONE OF THE TWO CHILDREN'S CONCERTS. IN THE CLASSROOM, THE CHILDREN ARE INTRODUCED TO THE PRINCIPAL SYMPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND TO THE MUSIC THEY CAN PRODUCE. THE CHILDREN'S OUTREACH TOUCHES NEARLY 2000 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE KERRVILLE AREA WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NEVER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL MUSIC. THE ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ALIKE DEMONSTRATES TO US THE CLEAR SUCCESS AND CONTINUING NEED OF THIS OUTREACH.IN ADDITION, MEMBERS OF THE SYMPHONY ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE HILL COUNTRY YOUTH ORCHESTRA, WHICH PROVIDES LESSONS FOR YOUTH FROM ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. HCYO PARTICIPANTS HAVE PERFORMED OCCASIONALLY BEFORE OR DURING SOH PERFORMANCES, AND SEVERAL GRADUATES OF THE HCYO HAVE BECOME MEMBERS OF THE SYMPHONY.

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 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 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 March 2002.

    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.