Home › Arts, culture & humanities
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra reported $125.9 million in revenue and $88.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $76.52 went to program services, $18.34 to management and general costs and $5.14 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 58.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $990,985 (President). 135 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 71% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $89MFor 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 June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $126MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 76.5% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.3% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.1% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 58.1% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.1% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 24.9% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $990,985 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.11% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 135 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 66.4 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 129 of 130 | 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 expenseChicago Symphony Orchestra Concerts - During its 134th season, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra inspired audiences through more than 130 performances, including 32 weeks of subscription concerts. The 2024/25 Season was highlighted by landmark performances with Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Makela and Music Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo Muti. Makela, whose tenure as the CSO's 11th Music Director begins in the 2027/28 Season, returned for a two-week spring residency that featured Mahler's Third Symphony and a program with Dvorak's Seventh Symphony and Brahms' Second Piano Concerto…
Symphony Center Presents Concerts - Symphony Center Presents (SCP) programs throughout the 2024/25 Season welcomed a wide array of world-class artists and ensembles. The SCP Chamber Music series featured the return of viol player Jordi Savall with his early music ensembles; violinist Julia Fischer with pianist Jan Lisiecki, and a trio comprising violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, pianist Yefim Bronfman, and cellist Pablo Ferrandez. The SCP Piano series brought legendary artists like Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Daniil Trifonov, Emanuel Ax, Evgeny Kissin, and Vikingur Olafsson back to Orchestra Hall…
Education Concerts and Activities - Programs of the Negaunee Music Institute (NMI) engaged many communities, with 275 Chicago-area schools participating in programs that reached 25,000 students, teachers, and families. Two-thirds of student attendance came from Chicago Public Schools, who received free bus transportation. The Institute collaborated with 90 schools and community partners to deliver education and community engagement programs throughout the year. Training programs and performance opportunities for young musicians included the Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists…
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 Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $914,323 | $0 | $76,662 | $990,985 |
| Concertmaster Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $554,827 | $0 | $70,939 | $625,766 |
| Principal Clarinet Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $331,472 | $0 | $154,022 | $485,494 |
| Principal Oboe Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $339,617 | $0 | $53,919 | $393,536 |
| Principal Flute Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $326,320 | $0 | $64,491 | $390,811 |
| Principal Horn Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $343,234 | $0 | $16,854 | $360,088 |
| VP, CFO, & Assistant Treasurer Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $325,487 | $0 | $31,319 | $356,806 |
| VP for Development Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $329,404 | $0 | $24,723 | $354,127 |
135 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.2M (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–1b130 · 129 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 11aNo
- 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,141
- Volunteers Part I, line 6819
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Allied Advertising Limited Partnership Advertising Services | $1,164,241 |
| Capacity Interactive Consulting Marketing Digital and Management Fee | $758,820 |
| Opus 3 Artists Performance Fee and Expense | $739,800 |
| Levy Restaurant Restaurant, Concessions Stand Services | $721,527 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 38 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
139 private foundations reported grants to Chicago Symphony Orchestra totaling $9.1M 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 Chicago 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 Chicago Symphony Orchestra, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Chicago Symphony Orchestra spent in FY2025, $76.52 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Epoch Times AssociationNew York, NY · revenue $126M · programs 89.7% · 2024
- RferlWashington, DC · revenue $129M · programs 76.4% · FY2025
- California Institute of the ArtsValencia, CA · revenue $122M · programs 85.2% · FY2025
- Crystal Bridges-Museum of American ArtBentonville, AR · revenue $131M · programs 39.0% · 2024
- KQEDSan Francisco, CA · revenue $121M · programs 67.8% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Illinois
Questions people ask
How much of Chicago Symphony Orchestra's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Chicago Symphony Orchestra reported that 76.5% of its $88.9 million in expenses went to program services, 18.3% to management and general and 5.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Chicago Symphony Orchestra pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Chicago Symphony Orchestra reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $990,985, for the role of President (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Chicago Symphony Orchestra get its money?
Of $125.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 58.1% came from contributions and grants (including 0.1% from government grants) and 24.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Chicago Symphony Orchestra a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-2167823 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 June 30, 2025, object 202611349349302556 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531279349302808 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401319349302785 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321189349301107 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231259349302028 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111309349301571 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-2167823: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.