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Waco Symphony Association Inc

EIN 74-6062658 · Waco, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WACO SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION'S MISSION IS TO PRESENT LIVE CLASSICAL MUSIC THAT WILL ENRICH THE CULTURAL LIFE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 47%
Employees
3
Volunteers
125
Highest pay
$132,527, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    46 of 46 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

    0 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 April 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 (3)
  1. $952,594 spent. CONCERTS - THE 62ND SEASON THEMED "NEW FRONTIERS" FOR THE WACO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MARKED THE FIRST FULL SEASON UNDER THE ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP OF MUSIC DIRECTOR / CONDUCTOR LAWRENCE LOH. IT FEATURED FOUR CLASSICAL CONCERTS WITH SOLOISTS INCLUDING PIANIST ORLI SHAHAM ON RHAPSODY IN BLUE, CLIBURN GOLD MEDAL-WINNING PIANIST JON NAKAMATSU PLAYING RACHMANINOFF'S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2, VIOLIN SUPERSTAR RAY CHEN PLAYING TCHAIKOVSKY'S VIOLIN CONCERTO, AND CLARINETIST ANTHONY MCGILL AND ORGANIST BRADLEY HUNTER WELCH FEATURED ON SAINT-SAENS' SYMPHONY NO. 3. BALLET FRONTIER OF TEXAS COLLABORATED WITH WSO AND LOCAL STUDENT DANCERS ON THE NUTCRACKER. WE PRESENTED OUR FIRST FULL FEATURE FILM IN CONCERT, JURASSIC PARK IN CONCERT. WACO SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA PRESENTED TWO FREE CONCERTS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MAESTRO BEAU BENSON, WHO RESIGNED AFTER 11 SUCCESSFUL SEASONS TO TAKE A NEW ROLE AT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY.THE WSA PROVIDES AN INTERNSHIP FOR UNDERGRAD OR GRADUATE STUDENTS MAJORING IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE, WHICH AFFORDS THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM WITH THE WACO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. IN ADDITION TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM WITH A PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA THROUGH THE INTERNSHIP, STUDENTS ARE AWARDED A SCHOLARSHIP FOR THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION. THERE WERE 19 WACO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INTERNS PERFORMING AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING THE SEASON.
  2. $50,135 spent. CHILDREN'S EDUCATION: BELLES AND BRASS - THE WACO SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION'S LONG-STANDING BELLE AND BRASS PROGRAM ACCEPTS HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE AND JUNIOR GIRLS AND JUNIOR BOYS IN AN ETIQUETTE TRAINING AND CLASSICAL MUSIC APPRECIATION PROGRAM WHICH NOT ONLY INTRODUCES YOUNG STUDENTS TO THE WORLD OF CLASSICAL MUSIC BUT ALSO ENCOURAGES THEIR PARENTS TO ATTEND ALL SYMPHONY CONCERT PERFORMANCES. PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM SERVE AS VOLUNTEER GREETERS AT THE CONCERTS. THE BELLES & BRASS PROGRAM FOR THE 2022-23 YEAR INCLUDED 23 JUNIOR SYMPHONY BELLES, 42 SOPHOMORE SYMPHONY BELLES AND 13 SYMPHONY BRASS. ADOPT-A-SCHOOL- THE WACO SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION DONATES FUNDS TO SCHOOL ORCHESTRAS FOR NEW INSTRUMENTS, REFURBISHMENT OF CURRENT INSTRUMENTS, AND OTHER ITEMS NEEDED TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STUDENTS TO PLAY IN THE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA. CHILDREN'S CONCERT- EVERY SCHOOL YEAR, THE BAYLOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS A CONCERT FOR WACO AREA SCHOOL CHILDREN TO EXPOSE STUDENTS TO CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL MUSIC. THE CONCERTS ARE ORGANIZED BY THE WACO SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION THROUGH THE WACO SYMPHONY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
  3. $23,130 spent. WACO SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA- THE ASSOCIATION SPONSORS THE WACO SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA AND ALSO PAYS TUITION FOR SELECT STUDENTS AS NEEDED AND REQUESTED. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE YOUTH ORCHESTRA HAD 52 MEMBERS AND 6 MEMBERS RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE TUITION FROM THE WACO SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 April 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 1964.

    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.