Phoenix Symphony Guild
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PYS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUNG PEOPLE TO PURSUE EXCELLENCE THROUGH EDUCATIONAL, EXPERIENTIAL AND CREATIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCE WHILE TOUCHING THE LIVES OF OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY
- Income
- $743,391
- Spending
- $679,438
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 8.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 35
- Highest pay
- $127,110, ex officio/d
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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% 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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (1)
- $520,609 spent. ORCHESTRAL TRAINING AND MUSIC APPRECIATION - FOR OVER 50 YEARS, PYS PROGRAMS HAVE PROVIDED MUSIC EDUCATION, INSTRUMENTAL AND PERFORMANCE TRAINING OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY TO YOUTH IN THE GREATER PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA. PYS ENCOURAGES THE APPRECIATION OF AND PARTICIPATION IN SYMPHONIC MUSIC BY NOT ONLY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY TRAINING THROUGH SIX ENSEMBLES BUT ALSO SPONSORING AN ANNUAL MUSIC COMPETITION FOR ALL NON- PROFESSIONAL MUSIC STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH 12 AND PROVIDING A CULTURAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM THAT GIVES TEACHERS IN GRADES 3 THROUGH 6 A LISTENING GUIDE TO REVIEW WITH THEIR STUDENTS PRIOR TO ATTENDING PYS CONCERTS TO ENABLE THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS THAT WILL BE PLAYED IN THE PYS CONCERTS THEY ARE GOING TO ATTEND. ORCHESTRAL TRAINING AND MUSIC APPRECIATION - FOR OVER 50 YEARS, PYS PROGRAMS HAVE PROVIDED MUSIC EDUCATION, INSTRUMENTAL AND PERFORMANCE TRAINING OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY TO YOUTH IN THE GREATER PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA. PYS ENCOURAGES THE APPRECIATION OF AND PARTICIPATION IN SYMPHONIC MUSIC BY NOT ONLY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY TRAINING THROUGH SIX ENSEMBLES BUT ALSO SPONSORING AN ANNUAL MUSIC COMPETITION FOR ALL NON- PROFESSIONAL MUSIC STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH 12 AND PROVIDING A CULTURAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM THAT GIVES TEACHERS IN GRADES 3 THROUGH 6 A LISTENING GUIDE TO REVIEW WITH THEIR STUDENTS PRIOR TO ATTENDING PYS CONCERTS TO ENABLE THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS THAT WILL BE PLAYED IN THE PYS CONCERTS THEY ARE GOING TO ATTEND.
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 November 6, 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 July 1949.
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 November 4, 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.