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Pacific Symphony

EIN 95-3635496 · Irvine, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PACIFIC SYMPHONY, A CORNERSTONE CULTURAL ORGANIZATION SERVING ORANGE COUNTY, REACHES OVER 225,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY WITH DIVERSE ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES, CHAMBER MUSIC, OPERA, CHORAL MUSIC, AND PREMIERES OF NEW WORKS. BROADCASTING 12 CLASSICAL SERIES PERFORMANCES ON KUSC RADIO EXPANDS THE SYMPHONY'S REACH. THROUGH EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS LIKE HEARTSTRINGS, SYMPHONY IN THE CITIES, THE LANTERN FESTIVAL, AND SYMPHONY ON THE GO, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS GAIN FREE ACCESS TO THE SYMPHONY'S OFFERINGS. PACIFIC SYMPHONY'S COMMITMENT EXTENDS TO MUSIC EDUCATION, PROVIDING ASSEMBLIES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND TRAINING OVER 300 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS YEARLY THROUGH PACIFIC SYMPHONY YOUTH ENSEMBLES.

Income
$35.7 million
Spending
$26.6 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
426
Volunteers
1,400
Highest pay
$463,247, music 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    71 of 72 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 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. $12.8 million spent. CLASSICAL, POPS, FAMILY, SUMMER, AND CONTRACT CONCERTS (INCLUDING AMERICAN BALLET THEATER, PACIFIC CHORALE, SOKA UNIVERSITY, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS). APPROXIMATELY 125,000 EXPERIENCES PROVIDED.
  2. $4.6 million spent. EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS INCLUDING APPRECIATION OF MUSIC IN SCHOOLS PROGRAMS, SYMPHONY IN THE CITIES, SYMPHONY ON THE GO, YOUTH ORCHESTRA AND OTHERS. APPROXIMATELY 100,000 EXPERIENCES PROVIDED.

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 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 October 13, 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 June 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 1982.

    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 October 21, 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.