Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

San Francisco Symphony

EIN 94-1156284 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY EXISTS TO INSPIRE AND SERVE AUDIENCES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA AND THE WORLD THROUGH THE POWER OF MUSICAL PERFORMANCE.

Income
$79.8 million
Spending
$82.3 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 40%
Employees
1,004
Volunteers
1,150
Highest pay
$747,609, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    44 of 44 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 August 31, 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. $58.5 million spent. THROUGH ITS ARTISTIC, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY SERVES MORE THAN 650,000 BAY AREA RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF EVERY ECONOMIC AND CUTURAL BACKGROUND IN OVER 175 CONCERTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. CONCERTS INCLUDE THE CLASSICAL SUBSCRIPTION SERIES, CHAMBER CONCERTS, GREAT PERFORMER SERIES, AND NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT SERIES. ADDITIONAL CONCERTS INCLUDE LIVE FILMS AND THE INNOVATIVE SOUNDBOX SERIES. THE SYMPHONY ADDITIONALLY REACHES MILLIONS OF LISTENERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD THROUGH RECORDING, DIGITAL PERFORMANCE, AND RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTS.
  2. $2.5 million spent. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE MUSIC EDUCATION TO EVERY STUDENT IN GRADES 1-5 IN SAN FRANCISCO'S PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THROUGH ADVENTURES IN MUSIC, AND SUPPORTS EVERY PUBLIC MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL BAND AND ORCHESTRA PROGRAM THROUGH MUSIC AND MENTORS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1955.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.