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Pasadena Symphony Association

EIN 95-6002375 · Pasadena, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE PASADENA SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION (PSA) IS TO PROVIDE MUSICAL CONCERTS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY RANING FROM ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES TO WORLD-RENOWNED ARTISTS IN RECITAL, AND TO PROVIDE THE BROADEST ACCESS TO YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND THE PERFORMING ARTS THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DIGITAL INNOVATION. IN THE BELIEF THAT MUSIC ENRICHES AND TRANSFORMS THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE COMMUNITY, THE PASADENA SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION SERVCES AS A CURATOR OF CLASSICAL, POPULAR AND NEW MUSIC WITH AN UNWAVERING PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE AND INCLUSION.

Income
$5.3 million
Spending
$7.1 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 52%
Employees
347
Volunteers
178
Highest pay
$210,000, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 41 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $2.0 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1928, THE PASADENA SYMPHONY HAS BEEN PRESENTING MAJOR ORCHESTRAL WORKS FOR GREATER PASADEANA AREA AUDIENCES FOR NEARLY A CENTURY. THE PASADENA SYMPHONY CURRENTLY PRESENTS A SIX-CONCERT SERIES FREQUENTLY PAIRING CLASSICAL FAVORITES WITH NEW WORKS AT THE HISTORIC AMBASSADOR AUDITORIUM IN PASADENA.
  2. $2.9 million spent. PASADENA POPS - IN THE LUSH OUTDOOR SETTING OF THE LOS ANGELES ARBORETUM, THE PASADENA POPS ORCHESTRA PRESENTS SIX SUMMER CONCERTS FEATURING A RANGE OF POPULAR ORCHESTRAL PROGRAMMING CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK, BROADWAY, AND FILM, LED BY MULTI-PLATINUM SELLING, TWO-TIME EMMY AND FIVE-TIME GRAMMY AWARD-NOMINATED CONDUCTOR MICHAEL FEINSTEIN.
  3. $681,332 spent. SINCE 1972, THE PASADENA YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (PYSO) HAS CONTINUALLY OFFERED ROBUST MUSICAL TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS THROUGHOUT THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. PYSO FOSTERS DEDICATION, EXCELLENCE, FELLOWSHIP, AND PASSION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT ONLY OUTSTANDING YOUNG MUSICIANS, BUT OUTSTANDING YOUNG INDIVIDUALS. MORE THAN 700 STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN PYSO FROM MORE THAN 80 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY. PYSO MANAGES 7 CHALLENGING AND RIGOROUS ENSEMBLES THAT SERVE STUDENTS IN GRADES 4-12 ACROSS THE REGION, AND 4 AFTER-SCHOOL ORCHESTRAS SERVING 4 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
  4. Student Access Program - Launched in 2015, the PSA's Student Access program provides thousands of young people and their parents/caregivers no-cost access to our concerts. This family-friendly program not only offers first time exposure to live symphonic music, it makes participation available to families of all walks of life.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 December 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 October 21, 2026.

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