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Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra reported $19.8 million in revenue and $23.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.82 went to program services, $17.10 to management and general costs and $5.08 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 71.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $398,522 (PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 43% 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 $23MFor 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)$70.70 $14M
- Government grants$0.32 $64,269
- Program service revenue$28.47 $5.7M
- Investment income$0.51 $100K
Other revenue was negative: −$105K. 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) | 77.8% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 17.1% | 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 | $0.08 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 71.4% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.3% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 28.6% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $398,522 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.70% | 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 | 69.9 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 33 of 35 | 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 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, led by music director ken-david masur, is among the finest orchestras in the nation and the largest cultural institution in wisconsin. Since its inception in 1959, the mso has found innovative ways to give music a home in the region, develop music appreciation and talent among area youth, and raise the national reputation of milwaukee.the mso's full-time professional musicians perform over 135 classics, pops, family, education, and community concerts each season in venues throughout the state. A pioneer among american orchestras, the mso has performed world…
The mso's standard of excellence extends beyond the concert hall and into the community, reaching more than 30,000 children and their families through its arts in community education (ace) program, youth and teen concerts, family series, and meet the music pre-concert talks. Celebrating its 35th year, the nationally recognized ace program integrates arts education across all subjects and disciplines, providing opportunities for students when budget cuts may eliminate arts programming. The program provides lesson plans and supporting materials, classroom visits from mso musician ensembles 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 & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $386,665 | $0 | $11,857 | $398,522 |
| MUSIC DIRECTOR Director/trustee, 40.00 hrs/week | $329,617 | $0 | $8,695 | $338,312 |
| VP AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $190,264 | $0 | $8,541 | $198,805 |
| MUSICIAN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $191,627 | $0 | $2,661 | $194,288 |
| VP OF ADVANCEMENT (THRU 4/5/25) Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $151,970 | $0 | $6,776 | $158,746 |
| VP OF ARTISTIC Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $143,495 | $0 | $5,902 | $149,397 |
| MUSICIAN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $109,402 | $0 | $24,548 | $133,950 |
| MUSICIAN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $118,546 | $0 | $1,727 | $120,273 |
19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $952K (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–1b35 · 33 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 5363
- Volunteers Part I, line 6350
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| LEVY RESTAURANT EVENTS Restaurant services | $362,327 |
| INTERSTATE PARKING OF WISC LLC Parking | $230,460 |
| STAGEHANDS Stage crew services | $228,452 |
| PSAB ENTERPRISES INC Cleaning services | $208,253 |
| CAPACITY INTERACTIVE CONSULTING Marketing consulting services | $175,848 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 15 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
43 private foundations reported grants to Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra totaling $1.8M 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 Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra spent in FY2025, $77.82 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Editorial Projects in EducationBethesda, MD · revenue $20M · programs 80.2% · FY2025
- Grand Rapids Public MuseumGrand Rapids, MI · revenue $20M · programs 75.5% · FY2025
- Vpm Media CorporationRichmond, VA · revenue $20M · programs 66.0% · FY2025
- Hillwood Estate Museum & GardensWashington, DC · revenue $20M · programs 72.7% · 2025
- Trustees of the American School of Classical Studies at AthensPrinceton, NJ · revenue $20M · programs 81.6% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Wisconsin
Questions people ask
How much of Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra reported that 77.8% of its $23.5 million in expenses went to program services, 17.1% to management and general and 5.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $398,522, for the role of PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra get its money?
Of $19.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 71.4% came from contributions and grants (including 0.3% from government grants) and 28.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 39-6023436 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 202611349349308096 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202531619349300928 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202421929349300542 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202321989349301692 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202211969349300506 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202131959349301583 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 39-6023436: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.