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Bellingham Symphony Orchestra

EIN 91-1003176 · Bellingham, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BSO ENGAGES, CONNECTS, AND UPLIFTS OUR COMMUNITY BY PERFORMING POWERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, AND INSPIRING MUSIC.

Income
$686,620
Spending
$701,163
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
13
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$68,400, 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

Good: 74 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 86 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 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)
  1. $523,293 spent. CONCERT SERIES ENCOMPASSES 6-8 CONCERTS EACH YEAR AS PART OF OUR REGULAR SEASON. THIS INCLUDES FIVE CLASSICAL CONCERTS, A CHAMBER ORCHESTRA CONCERT, AND A HOLIDAY CONCERT. THE CONCERTS ARE HELD AT THE HISTORIC MOUNT BAKER THEATRE, WHICH SEATS OVER 1,500 AUDIENCE MEMBERS, HELPING THE BSO TO REACH OVER 8,500 PEOPLE ANNUALLY THROUGH OUR CONCERTS. CONCERTS INCLUDE A FREE PRE-CONCERT LECTURE FOR ATTENDEES. THE VOLUNTEER-BASED ORCHESTRA HAS BEEN A CULTURAL LANDMARK FOR WHATCOM COUNTY AND THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM FOR OVER 40 YEARS, BRINGING WORLD CLASS GUEST ARTISTS AND FINE ORCHESTRAL MUSIC TO OUR COMMUNITY.
  2. $34,056 spent. YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS HOLD OVER 40 IN-SCHOOL PERFORMANCES EACH SEASON REACHING OVER 7,500 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT WHATCOM COUNTY. THESE PERFORMANCES ARE PROVIDED FOR FREE TO AREA SCHOOLS AND TARGET STUDENTS KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL WITH AGE-APPROPRIATE PERFORMANCES. EXAMPLES OF THIS PROGRAMMING INCLUDES MUSIC IN THE SCHOOLS, BEETHOVEN IN THE SCHOOLS, AND SOLOISTS IN THE SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION, THE BSO PRESENTS AN EDUCATIONAL CONCERT AT MOUNT BAKER THEATRE AS PART OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL SERIES AND HAS AN INSTRUMENT LOAN PROGRAM.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1978.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.