Stockton Symphony Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE STOCKON SYMPHONY IS TO INSPIRE JOY AND TO BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH THE MAGIC OF MUSIC.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 224
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $128,101, 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 5% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 47% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1564% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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)
- $1.1 million spent. SINCE 1926, THE STOCKTON SYMPHONY HAS INSPIRED JOY AND BUILT COMMUNITY THROUGH THE MAGIC OF MUSIC. IN 2024-25, THE SYMPHONY CONTINUED THAT LEGACY WITH A SEASON FOCUSED ON ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AND PREPARATION FOR ITS 2026-27 CENTENNIAL. TARGETED MARKETING AND PATRON ENGAGEMENT INCREASED SUBSCRIPTION SALES BY 230 TICKETS, REFLECTING STRONGER AUDIENCE LOYALTY, WHILE PROGRAM SERVICE REVENUE REMAINED STABLE AT $296,808 COMPARED WITH $296,244 IN THE PRIOR YEAR. MOST IMPORTANTLY, COMMUNITY SUPPORT GREW SUBSTANTIALLY, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS AND GRANTS INCREASING FROM $570,955 TO $983,385. WHILE THE PRIOR YEAR BENEFITED FROM SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT-RELATED REVENUE FROM THE SYMPHONY'S STOCK PORTFOLIO, THE CURRENT YEAR DEMONSTRATED MEANINGFUL STRENGTHENING IN CORE OPERATIONS THROUGH INCREASED PHILANTHROPY, STEADY EARNED REVENUE, AND CAREFUL EXPENSE MANAGEMENT. THIS PROGRESS REFLECTS GROWING COMMUNITY CONFIDENCE IN THE SYMPHONY'S MISSION, STEWARDSHIP, AND LONG-TERM FUTURE.ON STAGE, MAIN-SERIES CONCERTS AT ATHERTON AUDITORIUM FEATURED CELEBRATED GUEST ARTISTS AND THE ARTISTRY OF OUR PROFESSIONAL UNION ORCHESTRA OF MORE THAN SEVENTY MUSICIANS. BELOVED MASTERWORKS WERE BALANCED WITH ACCESSIBLE, HIGH-APPEAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING TWO HIGH-ENERGY SPRING FINALES (MAHLER'S SYMPHONY NO. 2 AND STAR WARS: GALAXY BLOWOUT). THREE SELLOUTS WERE ACHIEVED (HOLIDAY POPS, STAR WARS, AND TUNES & FABLES) AND TWO FULL-HOUSE PERFORMANCES (QUEENS OF SOUL AND MAHLER'S SYMPHONY NO. 2).EDUCATION REMAINED A CENTRAL PRIORITY IN OUR MISSION TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR STEPPIN' OUT WITH THE STOCKTON SYMPHONY CONCERTS SERVED THOUSANDS OF ELEMENTARY STUDENTS FROM STOCKTON, LODI, LINCOLN, MANTECA, LINDEN, AND ELK GROVE. TEACHERS RECEIVED READY-TO-USE CLASSROOM MATERIALS, SELECT SCHOOLS HOSTED GUEST-ARTIST VISITS, AND FAMILIES EXPLORED INSTRUMENTS UP CLOSE AT COMMUNITY EVENTS-EXPERIENCES THAT SPARK CURIOSITY AND PLANT THE SEEDS OF LIFELONG ARTS ENGAGEMENT. THROUGH OUR MAGIC OF MUSIC PROGRAM, SMALL ENSEMBLES VISITED SCHOOLS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN MORE INTIMATE SETTINGS.COMMUNITY AND CAPACITY BUILDING ADVANCED AS WELL. FOLLOWING THE 2023 LEADERSHIP TRANSITION, CEO SCOTT WATKINS CONTINUED A MULTI-YEAR PLAN FOCUSED ON AUDIENCE GROWTH, DONOR DEVELOPMENT, AND BRAND CLARITY. THE ORGANIZATION REFINED PRICING, STREAMLINED PROGRAM COSTS, AND INVESTED IN PERSONA-BASED MARKETING FOR CULTURED RETIREES, ENTHUSIASTIC FAMILIES, AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. PARTNERSHIPS WITH EDUCATION, CIVIC, AND MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS AMPLIFIED OUR MESSAGE AND EXPANDED OUR REACH ACROSS THE COUNTY.FINANCIALLY, EARNED REVENUE CONTINUED TO RECOVER, SUPPORTED BY TARGETED CAMPAIGNS, COMPELLING REPERTOIRE, AND STRATEGIC COLLABORATIONS. UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTIONS NORMALIZED AS PANDEMIC-ERA RELIEF ENDED, WHILE SPONSORSHIPS AND MAJOR GIFTS STRENGTHENED IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR CENTENNIAL VISION. WHERE PRUDENT, THE ORGANIZATION USED MEASURED DRAWS ON A LINE OF CREDIT AND MAINTAINED COST DISCIPLINE TO BRIDGE CASH-FLOW TIMING GAPS WHILE PROTECTING ARTISTIC QUALITY AND EDUCATION OUTCOMES. TRENDS MOVED IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION, AND EXPENSE REDUCTIONS LOWERED COSTS; HOWEVER, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED ADJUSTING FOR A PRIOR-YEAR STRUCTURAL DEFICIT AND A SMALLER DEFICIT IN 2024-25.LOOKING AHEAD, WE ENTER THE PRE-CENTENNIAL YEAR WITH STRONG MOMENTUM. LEGACY-GIVING EFFORTS, MULTI-YEAR SPONSORSHIP DISCUSSIONS, AND COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS ARE UNDERWAY. WITH SUPPORT FROM OUR BOARD, MUSICIANS, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY, THE STOCKTON SYMPHONY IS POISED TO HONOR A CENTURY OF MUSIC AND WELCOME A NEW GENERATION TO THE JOY OF LIVE ORCHESTRAL SOUND.
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 1960.
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.
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