Tucson Symphony Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the Tucson Symphony is to build and enrich community through the experience of live music of the highest quality.
- Income
- $8.0 million
- Spending
- $6.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 5.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 246
- Volunteers
- 157
- Highest pay
- $175,951, president & ceo
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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
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 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 (2)
- $4.5 million spent. Orchestral Programming: Formed in 1928-29 as the first professional symphony orchestra in the Southwest, the TSO is the longest continuously performing professional arts organization in Arizona. Over 37,000 patrons enjoyed orchestral works ranging from classicalBeethovens 5th and Carmina Burana to popularwith An Evening at the Movies with Itzhak Perlman and Star Wars movie in concert. TSO continued its Celebracin Latina series to feature historically underrepresented Hispanic and Latino composers and artists, including a free Mexican Independence Day concert to a sold-out audience. TSO is dedicated to building an increasingly diverse audience and providing all with the chance to engage with orchestral music in new and exciting ways.
- $484,144 spent. Education and Community Engagement Programming: TSO provided a wide range of Music Education Programs to 83 schools in Southern Arizona. Throughout the year, TSO Ensembles performed for over 18,000 students within schools with interactive presentations, preparing them for full orchestra KinderKonzerts and Young Peoples concerts performed for another 10,500 attendees. TSO musicians also gave 3 workshops to middle school bands and orchestras with a focus on instrumental and ensemble playing. TSO celebrated the 32nd year of its Young Composers Project (YCP), in which 33 students ages 8-18 received instruction at weekly classes from October through May, each composing a new work that was performed by TSO ensembles and full orchestra. Additionally, TSO put storytelling to music with 8 Just for Kids productions for young families free to the public, with one performance presented in Spanish. Additionally, TSO put storytelling to music with 8 Just for Kids productions for young families free to the public, with one performance presented in Spanish.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1965.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.