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New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra reported $19.7 million in revenue and $17.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.06 went to program services, $13.41 to management and general costs and $7.53 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 76.0% of the total. Government grants made up 15.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $278,629 (PRESIDENT & CEO, TERM 9/3/24). 13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 80% 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 $18MFor 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 $20M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$60.25 $12M
- Government grants$15.11 $3.0M
- Program service revenue$24.38 $4.9M
- Investment income$0.26 $51,672
Other revenue was negative: −$172K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.1% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.4% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.5% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.09 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 76.0% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 15.2% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 24.6% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $278,629 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.56% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 13 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 4.6 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 40 of 46 | 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 expenseThe New Jersey Symphony is the largest performing arts organization in the state and is dedicated to providing world-class orchestral performances throughout New Jersey, and now also well beyond its borders, through an exciting and expanding catalog of digital and multimedia content. The symphony is deeply connected to its surrounding communities through numerous and diverse educational and community engagement activities. These activities span nearly all counties of New Jersey. In a typical season, the symphony engages more than 150,000 people in person, including 40,000 children, and in…
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 & CEO, TERM 9/3/24 Director/trustee, officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $255,347 | $0 | $23,282 | $278,629 |
| MUSIC DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $258,069 | $0 | $9,956 | $268,025 |
| CONCERT MASTER Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $179,388 | $0 | $31,721 | $211,109 |
| VP OF DEVELOPMENT Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $175,676 | $0 | $32,922 | $208,598 |
| CFO Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $161,928 | $0 | $16,355 | $178,283 |
| VP EDUCATION & COMM ENGAGE Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $118,951 | $0 | $37,767 | $156,718 |
| AVP OF DEVELOPMENT Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $107,504 | $0 | $29,561 | $137,065 |
| VP OF OPERATIONS Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $121,472 | $0 | $14,884 | $136,356 |
13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (Part IX, line 5).
7 filings since FY2020
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–1b46 · 40 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5444
- Volunteers Part I, line 640
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| COMMUNITY COUNSELLING SERVICE COLLC Consulting services | $288,500 |
| OPUS 3 ARTISTS LLC Agent for guest artists & conductors | $130,965 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
27 private foundations reported grants to New Jersey Symphony Orchestra totaling $1.2M 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 New Jersey Symphony Orchestra spent in FY2025, $79.06 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Amon Carter Museum of Western ArtFort Worth, TX · revenue $20M · programs 70.6% · FY2025
- Trustees of the American School of Classical Studies at AthensPrinceton, NJ · revenue $20M · programs 81.6% · FY2025
- Friends of PBS WisconsinMadison, WI · revenue $20M · programs 74.1% · FY2025
- Vpm Media CorporationRichmond, VA · revenue $20M · programs 66.0% · FY2025
- Uss Missouri Memorial AssociationAiea, HI · revenue $20M · programs 92.4% · 2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in New Jersey
Questions people ask
How much of New Jersey Symphony Orchestra's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra reported that 79.1% of its $17.8 million in expenses went to program services, 13.4% to management and general and 7.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does New Jersey Symphony Orchestra pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation New Jersey Symphony Orchestra reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $278,629, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO, TERM 9/3/24 (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does New Jersey Symphony Orchestra get its money?
Of $19.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 76.0% came from contributions and grants (including 15.2% from government grants) and 24.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is New Jersey Symphony Orchestra a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 22-1559422 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 202631969349302683 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202541619349300939 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202431939349300928 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202320939349301627 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202210559349301606 · read the filing
- FY2020 (2 mo.): Form 990 for the 2-month short period ending August 31, 2020, object 202200739349301040 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202100919349300810 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 22-1559422: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.