Great Falls Symphony Asso Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE GREAT FALLS SYMPHONY IS TO INFUSE CULTURAL VIBRANCY INTO THE GREAT FALLS COMMUNITY THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE MUSIC EVENTS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 54%
- Reserves
- -1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 46%
- Employees
- 141
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $75,000, executive director
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
Fair: 58 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1554% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 85 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $571,082 spent. THE GREAT FALLS SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION IS AN ESTABLISHED CULTURAL ORGANIZATION INCORPORATED IN 1959. WE STRIVE TO OFFER A VARIETY OF LIVE SYMPHONIC AND CHAMBER MUSIC WITHIN OUR MISSION TO MAKE GREAT FALLS A BETTER PLACE THROUGH MUSIC.THE GREAT FALLS SYMPHONY INCLUDES A 65-MEMBER PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA, AN 80-MEMBER SYMPHONIC CHOIR AND TWO PROFESSIONAL RESIDENT CHAMBER ENSEMBLES, THE CASCADE (STRING) QUARTET MADE UP OF 4 "CORE ORCHESTRAL MUSICIANS.A YOUTH ORCHESTRA PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1996 UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE GREAT FALLS SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION THAT SUPPORTS TWO YOUTH ORCHESTRAS AND A YOUTH CHAMBER MUSIC PROGRAM. OVER 100 TALENTED YOUNG MUSICIANS GRADES 6-12 FROM GREAT FALLS AND SURROUNDING AREAS PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM EVERY YEAR. THESE COMPONENTS OFFER A RICH AND DIVERSE MIX OF ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDE ORCHESTRA, CHORAL, CHAMBER AND EDUCATIONAL CONCERTS WHICH REACH UP TO 40,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY.THE GREAT FALLS SYMPHONY PRESENTS A 7-CONCERT CLASSICAL SERIES EVERY YEAR AND PLAYS HOST TO A VARIETY OF GUEST ARTISTS AND RESIDENT COMPOSERS. THE CASCADE QUARTET PRESENT A TOTAL OF 8 CHAMBER CONCERTS IN GREAT FALLS. THEY ALSO TOUR MONTANA AND THE UNITED STATES. TO FULFILL A STATE AND REGIONAL MISSION, THE GREAT FALLS SYMPHONY PLACES THE HIGHEST PRIORITY ON PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE STATEWIDE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. TWO YOUTH MATINEES AND A FREE FAMILY MATINEE ARE PRESENTED EACH SEASON AND HAVE SERVED WELL OVER 115,000 STUDENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND HOME SCHOOLS IN A 100-MILE REGION AROUND GREAT FALLS.THE GREAT FALLS SYMPHONY PARTNERS WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY ARTISTIC AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR ALL.
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 March 1965.
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.