Home › Arts, culture & humanities
Indiana Symphony Society
Indiana Symphony Society reported $31.9 million in revenue and $27.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.47 went to program services, $9.53 to management and general costs and $6.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 70.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $303,907 (Pops Conductor). 19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 67% 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 $28MFor 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 $32M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$69.87 $22M
- Government grants$0.21 $67,638
- Program service revenue$29.76 $9.5M
- Investment income$0.16 $51,884
Other revenue was negative: −$2,157. 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) | 84.5% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.0% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 70.1% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.2% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 29.8% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $303,907 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.10% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 19 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 2.2 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 31 of 31 | 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 indianapolis symphony orchestra is the largest performing arts organization in the state of indiana, performing a year-round schedule of concerts and education programs. Each season, the indianapolis symphony orchestra presents a wide repertoire of orchestral music, including commissions of new music, both classical and pops. Concerts include programs of classical music, symphonic pops performances, family oriented programs, holiday programs, uncharted, the outdoor summer series and many more. The indianapolis symphony orchestra is dedicated to leading the field in music education.…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pops Conductor Key employee, 37.5 hrs/week | $291,225 | $0 | $12,682 | $303,907 |
| CEO Officer, 37.5 hrs/week | $258,116 | $0 | $36,300 | $294,416 |
| Concertmaster Highest compensated employee, 37.5 hrs/week | $269,325 | $0 | $23,207 | $292,532 |
| Stage Manager Highest compensated employee, 37.5 hrs/week | $139,102 | $0 | $33,776 | $172,878 |
| VP of Artistic Highest compensated employee, 37.5 hrs/week | $151,652 | $0 | $16,917 | $168,569 |
| CFO Officer, 37.5 hrs/week | $151,932 | $0 | $15,881 | $167,813 |
| VP of Development Highest compensated employee, 37.5 hrs/week | $157,343 | $0 | $6,037 | $163,380 |
| Orchestra Personnel Manager and Musician Highest compensated employee, 37.5 hrs/week | $134,941 | $0 | $17,602 | $152,543 |
19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Indiana Symphony Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.2M (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–1b31 · 31 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5527
- Volunteers Part I, line 6127
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Printing Partners Inc Printing Services | $315,511 |
| Sim2k IT Services | $140,445 |
| Mid-America Sound Corporation Audio and Lighting Services | $139,562 |
| Indianapolis Ballet Inc Artist Fee | $123,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to Indiana Symphony Society totaling $2.2M 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 Indiana Symphony Society's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Indiana Symphony Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Indiana Symphony Society spent in FY2025, $84.47 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- International Spy MuseumWashington, DC · revenue $32M · programs 82.0% · 2024
- Chicago Theatre GroupChicago, IL · revenue $32M · programs 77.9% · FY2025
- Baltimore Museum of ArtBaltimore, MD · revenue $32M · programs 78.6% · FY2025
- The American Theatre GuildKansas City, MO · revenue $32M · programs 83.0% · FY2025
- The Denver Art Museum FoundationDenver, CO · revenue $32M · programs 95.2% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Indiana
Questions people ask
How much of Indiana Symphony Society's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Indiana Symphony Society reported that 84.5% of its $27.7 million in expenses went to program services, 9.5% to management and general and 6.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Indiana Symphony Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Indiana Symphony Society reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $303,907, for the role of Pops Conductor (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Indiana Symphony Society get its money?
Of $31.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 70.1% came from contributions and grants (including 0.2% from government grants) and 29.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Indiana Symphony Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 35-0998627 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 202611949349300726 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202521619349300517 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202421979349301212 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202301989349302660 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202211809349301751 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202131479349300603 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 35-0998627: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.