Phoenix Symphony Association
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.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE EXTRAORDINARY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE AND ADVANCE OUR COMMUNITY, ENRICHING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS
- Income
- $12.3 million
- Spending
- $14.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- -3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 57%
- Employees
- 245
- Volunteers
- 144
- Highest pay
- $325,100, 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
Weak: 32 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 95% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2527 of 30 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
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)
- $10.1 million spent. THE SYMPHONY ASPIRES TO PERFORM LIVE SYMPHONIC MUSIC OF EXCELLENCE, BEAUTY, AND VITALITY AT A CONSISTENTLY HIGH LEVEL AND TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY, MEETING THEIR NEEDS THROUGH MUSIC-BASED PROGRAMS. CONCERTS FOLLOW A SELECTION OF SEASONAL PROGRAMS CLASSICS, POPS, AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS; DESIGNED TO ATTRACT A DIVERSE AUDIENCE.IN ADDITION TO OUR MAINSTAGE CONCERTS, THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY LEARNING INSTITUTE OPERATES A VARIED GROUP OF PROGRAMS THAT REACH OVER 125,000 STUDENTS, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES EVERY YEAR. PROGRAMS COVER MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SCHOOL-BASED CONCERTS, AND A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL TO (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) TEACHERS AND SYMPHONY MUSICIANS IN HOW TO TEACH AND ASSESS STEM CONCEPTS THROUGH MUSIC. OUR HEALTH & WELLNESS INITIATIVE PROVIDES LIVE, INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCES PRESENTED BY SYMPHONY MUSICIANS IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS AND HOMELESS OUTREACH CENTERS.THE ORCHESTRA PARTICIPATES IN COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS BALLET ARIZONA, AZ SCIENCE CENTER, ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY, HEARD MUSEUM, PHOENIX ART MUSEUM, PHOENIX BACH CHOIR AND BOYS CHOIR, AND ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.
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 October 1947.
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.