Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $5.9 million
- Spending
- $4.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 198
- Volunteers
- 160
- Highest pay
- $220,194, 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
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 81% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
- $2.4 million spent. NOW IN ITS 73RD YEAR, THE SANTA BARBARA SYMPHONY DELIVERS ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, FUELS ARTISTIC COLLABORATION, PROVIDES OUTSTANDING MUSIC EDUCATION, AND SERVES AS A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP ALL THROUGH SYMPHONIC MUSIC. UNDER THE CHARISMATIC LEADERSHIP OF MAESTRO NIR KABARETTI, MUSIC & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SINCE 2006, THE SYMPHONY IS ONE OF THE REGION'S PREMIER CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS. THIS GLOBALLY ADMIRED CONDUCTOR AND SANTA BARBARA RESIDENT INVIGORATES AUDIENCES AND MUSICIANS ALIKE THROUGH HIS PASSION, CREATIVITY, AND VAST EXPERIENCE. THE SYMPHONY FOSTERS COMMUNITY, CONNECTION, AND BELONGING THROUGH EXPANSIVE SYMPHONIC PROGRAMS: A SEVEN-CONCERT SUBSCRIPTION SERIES (TWO PERFORMANCES EACH MONTH, OCTOBER THROUGH MAY), A NEW YEAR'S EVE POPS CONCERT, AND BOOKINGS THAT INCLUDE A FOURTH OF JULY CONCERT, ALONGSIDE ANCILLARY EVENTS DESIGNED TO BUILD CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY, THE MUSICIANS, AND THE MUSIC. THESE INCLUDE INTIMATE HOUSE CONCERTS, OPEN REHEARSALS, FREE MASTERCLASSES, PRE-CONCERT CONVERSATIONS AND LECTURES, MEET-AND-GREETS, ARTIST BACKSTAGE HOSPITALITY BY THE GREEN ROOM GANG VOLUNTEERS, AND MUSICIAN HOUSING HOSTS DRAWN FROM THE COMMUNITY. THE SYMPHONY ALSO CREATES UNIQUE MUSIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES THAT REACH UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS ACROSS THE GREATER SANTA BARBARA REGION. SINCE 2020, THE SYMPHONY HAS BEEN GUIDED BY THE TRIUMVIRATE NIR KABARETTI, MUSIC & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR; KATHRYN R MARTIN, PRESIDENT & CEO; AND JANET GARUFIS, BOARD CHAIR EMPOWERED BY THE BOARD TO TAKE BOLD ACTION. TOGETHER THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED OPERATIONAL RESERVES, ELIMINATED DEBT, BUILT ATTENDANCE, GROWN EARNED AND PHILANTHROPIC REVENUE, AND STRENGTHENED RELATIONSHIPS WITH MUSICIANS, STAFF, BOARD, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. THE SYMPHONY NOW STANDS IN A POSITION OF STABILITY AND STRENGTH, EXPLORING NEW WAYS TO BE AN INDISPENSABLE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.THESYMPHONY.ORG.
- $408,535 spent. THE SANTA BARBARA SYMPHONY'S MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE THE ONLY PROGRAMS IN THE REGION TIED TO A PROFESSIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. CONNECTING MUSICIANS TO KIDS, KIDS TO MUSIC, AND MUSIC TO THE COMMUNITY, THE SYMPHONY PROVIDES CONSISTENT, HIGH-CALIBER IMPACT THROUGH TWO KEY PROGRAMS: THE MUSIC VAN PROGRAM AND THE YOUTH ENSEMBLES PROGRAM. WITH THE SUPPORT OF SYMPHONY DONORS, BOTH ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL STUDENTS, OFFERING NEEDS-BASED TUITION AND PRIVATE LESSON SCHOLARSHIPS, FREE INSTRUMENT LOANS, AND SUBSIDIZED CONCERT TICKETS. MUSIC VAN PROGRAM. DURING THE 2024/25 ACADEMIC YEAR, THE MUSIC VAN A POLKA-DOTTED MOBILE CLASSROOM FILLED WITH EVERY INSTRUMENT FOUND IN A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PROVIDED INTERACTIVE, HANDS-ON INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCES TO MORE THAN 1,940 THIRD-GRADE STUDENTS AT 45 SCHOOLS ACROSS SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, DELIVERED IN 97 SESSIONS. THE AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM INTRODUCES CHILDREN TO THE LOVE OF LEARNING AND JOY OF PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT. THE PROGRAM IS OFFERED FREE TO SCHOOLS AND HELPS MEET A CALIFORNIA MANDATE ESTABLISHED IN 2021, WHICH ENCOURAGES SCHOOLS TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE NINE HOURS PER DAY OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. IN 2024/25, SCHOOLS SERVED INCLUDED 12 IN SANTA BARBARA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, 11 IN GOLETA UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT, 4 IN CARPINTERIA SCHOOL DISTRICT, 3 IN HOPE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND 15 IN OTHER NORTH AND SOUTH COUNTY DISTRICTS. 25 OF THE SCHOOLS SERVED WERE TITLE I. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OJAI MUSIC FESTIVAL, THE MUSIC VAN ADDITIONALLY SERVED 4 SCHOOLS IN OJAI, REACHING AN ESTIMATED 250 STUDENTS. YOUTH ENSEMBLES PROGRAM. IN THE 2024/25 ACADEMIC YEAR, THE SYMPHONY'S THREE YOUTH ENSEMBLES THE CAMERATA ENSEMBLE, PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA, AND SANTA BARBARA YOUTH SYMPHONY PROVIDED DEDICATED MUSIC EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION TO 108 STUDENTS IN GRADES 3 THROUGH 12, AN INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. OF THE 108 PARTICIPATING STUDENTS, 27 WERE LOW-INCOME AND SUPPORTED BY NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS COVERING TUITION, FREE INSTRUMENT LOANS AND REPAIRS, AND PRIVATE LESSONS; OF THOSE, 13 IDENTIFIED AS HISPANIC/LATINX, 5 AS CAUCASIAN, 4 AS MULTIETHNIC/OTHER, AND 3 AS ASIAN/ASIAN-AMERICAN. THE YOUTH ENSEMBLES PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH IMPORTANT LIVE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES BOTH AS ACTIVE MUSIC-MAKERS AND THROUGH INSPIRATION AND CONNECTION TO THE PROFESSIONAL SYMPHONY.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1959.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.