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Grand Rapids Symphony Society
Grand Rapids Symphony Society reported $26.8 million in revenue and $17.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.17 went to program services, $10.63 to management and general costs and $7.20 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 90.5% of the total. Government grants made up 5.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $238,312 (PRESIDENT). 1 person received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 169% 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 $17MFor context, the median across 874 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.92 programs, $13.89 management, $6.19 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 $27M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$84.57 $23M
- Government grants$5.43 $1.5M
- Program service revenue$10.00 $2.7M
- Investment income$0.00 $1,028
Other revenue was negative: −$151K. 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) | 82.2% | 78.3% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.6% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.2% | 6.1% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 90.5% | 57.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 5.5% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 10.1% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $238,312 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.40% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 6.8 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 46 of 49 | 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 Grand Rapids Symphony is an integral and indispensable part of the west michigan community. The institution has long been an important part of the community, with musical excellence, diverse programming, collaborative spirit, and a commitment to learning, all adding to the quality of life we enjoy in west michigan. Each year, the symphony offers a main season concert series and a summer concert series, reaching approximately 200,000 people through over 100 performances. Donated services related to this program for the year were 5,000. Parking passes valued at 225,836 were also donated
Gateway to music is the Grand Rapids Symphony's collection of education and community programs that serve more than 75,000 people each year. Gateway to music programs are organized by four disctinct categories: youth education, performance opportunities, community engagement, and economic access. Youth education: lollipops concert: designed for young children & families (prek-1st), these short performances feature a connection to childrens stories and involve other arts - visual, dance, theatre, etc. -percussion discussion: grs percussionists jack latta & david hall utilize over 50…
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, 38.00 hrs/week | $215,951 | $0 | $22,361 | $238,312 |
| DIRECTOR Director/trustee, 2.00 hrs/week | $37,000 | $0 | $41,477 | $78,477 |
| DIRECTOR Director/trustee, 2.00 hrs/week | $33,359 | $0 | $681 | $34,040 |
1 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Grand Rapids Symphony Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $299K (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–1b49 · 46 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 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5235
- Volunteers Part I, line 6125
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SPECTACOR MANAGEMENT GROUP Settlements | $381,984 |
| KING OF DA SOUTH INC Guest artists | $225,000 |
| HOLLAND LITHO SERVICE INC Marketing | $151,023 |
| COMMUNITY IMPACT CONSULTING GROUP LLC Consultant | $149,750 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 11 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
25 private foundations reported grants to Grand Rapids Symphony Society totaling $2.4M 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 Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids Symphony Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Grand Rapids Symphony Society spent in FY2025, $82.17 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
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- Miami City BalletMiami Beach, FL · revenue $27M · programs 82.8% · FY2025
- Theater & Arts Foundation of San Diego County Dba LA Jolla PlayhouseLA Jolla, CA · revenue $27M · programs 75.2% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Michigan
Questions people ask
How much of Grand Rapids Symphony Society's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Grand Rapids Symphony Society reported that 82.2% of its $17.0 million in expenses went to program services, 10.6% to management and general and 7.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Grand Rapids Symphony Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Grand Rapids Symphony Society reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $238,312, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Grand Rapids Symphony Society get its money?
Of $26.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 90.5% came from contributions and grants (including 5.5% from government grants) and 10.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Grand Rapids Symphony Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 38-6005447 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 202632439349300548 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202531969349302228 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202430649349301103 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202310679349300506 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202231469349300143 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202121959349301952 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 38-6005447: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.