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Pittsburgh Symphony
Also known as Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Pittsburgh Symphony reported $51.4 million in revenue and $44.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $85.27 went to program services, $9.40 to management and general costs and $5.33 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 52.2% of the total. Government grants made up 9.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $532,151 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 74 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 14% 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 $45MFor 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 $51MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.3% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.4% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.3% | 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 | 52.2% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 9.3% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 22.4% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $532,151 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.19% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 74 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 47.0 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 57 of 58 | 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 Pittsburgh Symphony orchestra, which celebrated 125 years of music in 2021, possesses a rich history of the world's finest conductors and musicians and an unwavering commitment to the pittsburgh region and its citizens. Since 2008, the orchestra has been led by music director manfred honeck, one of the world's leading conductors, admired for his revelatory interpretations. Past music directors have included legendary conductors such as andre previn, lorin maazel and william steinberg. See continuation on schedule o.the Pittsburgh Symphony has a long, illustrious history of broadcasts and…
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 Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $493,214 | $0 | $38,937 | $532,151 |
| CONCERTMASTER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $337,096 | $0 | $32,294 | $369,390 |
| PRINCIPAL FRENCH HORN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $316,856 | $0 | $48,433 | $365,289 |
| PRINCIPAL OBOE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $293,855 | $0 | $21,370 | $315,225 |
| SVP & COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $264,645 | $0 | $36,304 | $300,949 |
| PRINCIPAL TRUMPET Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $222,679 | $0 | $32,834 | $255,513 |
| ASSISTANT CONCERTMASTER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $206,533 | $0 | $9,841 | $216,374 |
| SVP & CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $172,354 | $0 | $33,085 | $205,439 |
74 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Pittsburgh Symphony (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.0M (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–1b58 · 57 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 2Yes
- 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 5575
- Volunteers Part I, line 6110
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MASCARO CONSTRUCTION CO LP Construction | $1,593,595 |
| TRAVTOURS INC Travel services | $959,051 |
| MANFRED HONECK Music director | $943,677 |
| ABC INC DISNEY CONCERTS Guest artist | $305,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 17 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
43 private foundations reported grants to Pittsburgh Symphony totaling $3.7M 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 Pittsburgh Symphony's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Pittsburgh Symphony, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Pittsburgh Symphony spent in FY2025, $85.27 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Franklin InstitutePhiladelphia, PA · revenue $51M · programs 84.6% · 2024
- The Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art Science & HistoryDaytona Beach, FL · revenue $52M · programs 66.1% · 2025
- Twin Cities Public TelevisionSaint Paul, MN · revenue $51M · programs 73.4% · FY2025
- Thomas Jefferson FoundationCharlottesville, VA · revenue $52M · programs 73.9% · 2024
- The San Diego Symphony Orchestra AssociationSan Diego, CA · revenue $51M · programs 77.8% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Pennsylvania
Questions people ask
How much of Pittsburgh Symphony's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Pittsburgh Symphony reported that 85.3% of its $44.8 million in expenses went to program services, 9.4% to management and general and 5.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Pittsburgh Symphony pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Pittsburgh Symphony reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $532,151, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Pittsburgh Symphony get its money?
Of $51.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 52.2% came from contributions and grants (including 9.3% from government grants) and 22.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Pittsburgh Symphony a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 25-0986052 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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 202631909349300413 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202501969349301600 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202401949349300135 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202301959349300845 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202221879349300137 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202111279349302751 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 25-0986052: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.