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Hawaii Youth Symphony Association

EIN 99-0119771 · Honolulu, HI

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

OUR MISSION IS TO FOSTER FUN AND CREATIVE EXPERIENCES FOR YOUTH THAT INSPIRE A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR MUSIC AND LIFELONG RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE CULTURE OF OUR ISLANDS.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
85
Volunteers
140
Highest pay
$143,282, president

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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 (1)
  1. $1.3 million spent. THE HAWAII YOUTH SYMPHONY (HYS), HAWAII'S ONLY STATEWIDE YOUTH ORCHESTRA ORGANIZATION, EDUCATES YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 7-18 THROUGH INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAMS. HYS OPERATES ACTIVITIES OF YOUTH OF ALL GEOGRAPHIC AND FINANCIAL BACKGROUNDS WITH A GOAL OF PROVIDING ANY INTERESTED YOUNG PERSON WITH THE CHANCE TO LEARN A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, PLAY IN AN ENSEMBLE, AND CULTIVATE THEIR PERSONAL EXCELLENCE. MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS FOR STUDENTS OF ANY LEVEL EXIST: FROM GENERAL MUSIC CLASSES IN UKULELE, BUCKET DRUMMING, VIOLIN, AND STRINGS, TO INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED STRING ORCHESTRAS, JAZZ ENSEMBLES, THREE FULL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS, CHAMBER MUSIC, AND MORE. A SUMMER MUSIC INTENSIVE CALLED THE PACIFIC MUSIC INSTITUTE PROVIDES FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND AIMS TO CLOSE THE OPPORTUNITY GAPS PRESENT IN SUMMER LEARNING. HYS OFFERS AN OVERNIGHT DORMING OPTION, WHICH ALLOWS STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER O'AHU AND HAWAII THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND PMI. A ROBUST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HELPS TO ENSURE THAT ANY INTERESTED STUDENT CAN TAKE PART, INCLUDING THOSE LIVING ON NEIGHBOR ISLANDS. THIS SEASON HYS SERVED OVER 800 STUDENTS FROM OVER 100 PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND HOME SCHOOLS ACROSS KAUAI, OAHU, MAUI, AND HAWAII COUNTIES. STUDENTS ATTENDED OVER 400 IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING CLASSES, REHEARSALS, AUDITION WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, MASTERCLASSES, AND RECORDING SESSIONS. HYS HELD "LISTEN & LEARN" SCHOOL CONCERTS THAT WERE ENDORSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. HYS PRODUCED OVER 50 IN-PERSON CONCERTS FEATURING ITS STUDENTS FROM CLUBHOUSE, ACADEMY, SUPER STRINGS, BUCKET DRUMMING, SYMPHONY, JAZZ, AND OTHER PROGRAMS. THE HAWAII YOUTH SYMPHONY (HYS), HAWAII'S ONLY STATEWIDE YOUTH ORCHESTRA ORGANIZATION, EDUCATES YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 7-18 THROUGH INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAMS. HYS OPERATES ACTIVITIES OF YOUTH OF ALL GEOGRAPHIC AND FINANCIAL BACKGROUNDS WITH A GOAL OF PROVIDING ANY INTERESTED YOUNG PERSON WITH THE CHANCE TO LEARN A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, PLAY IN AN ENSEMBLE, AND CULTIVATE THEIR PERSONAL EXCELLENCE. MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS FOR STUDENTS OF ANY LEVEL EXIST: FROM GENERAL MUSIC CLASSES IN UKULELE, BUCKET DRUMMING, VIOLIN, AND STRINGS, TO INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED STRING ORCHESTRAS, JAZZ ENSEMBLES, THREE FULL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS, CHAMBER MUSIC, AND MORE. A SUMMER MUSIC INTENSIVE CALLED THE PACIFIC MUSIC INSTITUTE PROVIDES FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND AIMS TO CLOSE THE OPPORTUNITY GAPS PRESENT IN SUMMER LEARNING. HYS OFFERS AN OVERNIGHT DORMING OPTION, WHICH ALLOWS STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER O'AHU AND HAWAII THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND PMI. A ROBUST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HELPS TO ENSURE THAT ANY INTERESTED STUDENT CAN TAKE PART, INCLUDING THOSE LIVING ON NEIGHBOR ISLANDS. THIS SEASON HYS SERVED OVER 800 STUDENTS FROM OVER 100 PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND HOME SCHOOLS ACROSS KAUAI, OAHU, MAUI, AND HAWAII COUNTIES. STUDENTS ATTENDED OVER 400 IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING CLASSES, REHEARSALS, AUDITION WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, MASTERCLASSES, AND RECORDING SESSIONS. HYS HELD "LISTEN & LEARN" SCHOOL CONCERTS THAT WERE ENDORSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. HYS PRODUCED OVER 50 IN-PERSON CONCERTS FEATURING ITS STUDENTS FROM CLUBHOUSE, ACADEMY, SUPER STRINGS, BUCKET DRUMMING, SYMPHONY, JAZZ, AND OTHER PROGRAMS.

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 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 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 May 1968.

    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.