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Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra reported $155.4 million in revenue and $127.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $81.82 went to program services, $11.80 to management and general costs and $6.38 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 38.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,371,354 (President & Chief Executive Officer). 192 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 68% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $128MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $155MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 81.8% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.8% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.4% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.14 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 38.1% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.1% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 32.8% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,371,354 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.07% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 192 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 65.8 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 42 of 42 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseOrchestral Music Programs: Internationally recognized as one of the finest orchestras, its scope of activities makes it one of the world's busiest orchestral organizations. Within the U.S., it is the fourth-largest performing arts institution. Between September 5, 2024, and May 3, 2025, the Boston Symphony Orchestra reached over 140,000 attendees accross more than 80 concerts in Symphony Hall, which included BSO commissions, overlooked works from the past, and core works of the classical canon. The orchestra was joined by remarkable soloists who included Yo-Yo Ma, Yefim Bronfman, Yuja Wang…
Education and community programs are integral to the BSO's mission. In Boston:Over 3,700 high school students attended one of the BSO's High School Open Rehearsals, where students from grades 9 - 12 got a singular look at professional music-making as they observed the orchestra, conductor, and guest artists prepare for the evening's performance. Conductor-cams allow students to study the subtle communications that occur between the conductor and musicians, providing additional insight into the art-making process. Classes traveled to Symphony Hall from across Boston, the metropolitan area…
The BSO's two main properties, Symphony Hall and Tanglewood, have long and significant histories and attract visitors from near and far. Symphony Hall's acoustic qualities have earned it a place among the top concert auditoriums in the world, a fact underscored by the Hall's 1999 designation as a National Historic Landmark. Symphony Hall resonates with more than a century of performances by key artists. It is also a key performance venue for a number of other ensembles and presenters, including the Handel and Haydn Society, the Celebrity Series of Boston, Boston Speakers Series, and the…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President & Chief Executive Officer Officer, 50 hrs/week | $1,318,099 | $0 | $53,255 | $1,371,354 |
| First Violin Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $594,215 | $0 | $13,099 | $607,314 |
| Chief Development Officer Former, 0 hrs/week | $518,514 | $0 | $20,144 | $538,658 |
| Associate Concertmaster Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $467,278 | $0 | $50,954 | $518,232 |
| Timpani Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $419,187 | $0 | $0 | $419,187 |
| Principal Oboe Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $377,859 | $0 | $34,444 | $412,303 |
| Principal Trumpet Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $372,495 | $0 | $32,314 | $404,809 |
| Chief Financial Officer, thru July 2025 Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $314,556 | $0 | $48,252 | $362,808 |
192 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Boston Symphony Orchestra (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.0M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b42 · 42 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,051
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,179
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Allen & Gerritsen Inc Media strategy | $2,977,145 |
| Boston Gourmet Management Food services | $1,960,011 |
| Tisbury Tours Inc Concert performances | $1,412,554 |
| Allied Universal Security services | $829,502 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 74 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
162 private foundations reported grants to Boston Symphony Orchestra totaling $5.3M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Boston Symphony Orchestra's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Boston Symphony Orchestra, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Boston Symphony Orchestra spent in FY2025, $81.82 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Colonial Williamsburg FoundationWilliamsburg, VA · revenue $149M · programs 71.9% · 2024
- Henry E Huntington Library and Art GallerySan Marino, CA · revenue $161M · programs 80.0% · FY2025
- Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications AssociationArlington, VA · revenue $148M · programs 72.8% · FY2025
- National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAtlanta, GA · revenue $166M · programs 87.7% · FY2025
- Dallas Museum of ArtDallas, TX · revenue $147M · programs 66.4% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts
Questions people ask
How much of Boston Symphony Orchestra's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Boston Symphony Orchestra reported that 81.8% of its $127.9 million in expenses went to program services, 11.8% to management and general and 6.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Boston Symphony Orchestra pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Boston Symphony Orchestra reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $1,371,354, for the role of President & Chief Executive Officer (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Boston Symphony Orchestra get its money?
Of $155.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 38.1% came from contributions and grants (including 0.1% from government grants) and 32.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Boston Symphony Orchestra a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 04-2103550 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, object 202611959349301711 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202541959349301854 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202401929349301020 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202341889349300734 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202241949349300529 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202111939349301416 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 04-2103550: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.