Home › Arts, culture & humanities
Utah Symphony & Opera
Also known as Utah Symphony l Utah Opera
Utah Symphony & Opera reported $28.6 million in revenue and $30.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.30 went to program services, $7.86 to management and general costs and $4.84 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 60.1% of the total. Government grants made up 18.7%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $429,449 (President & CEO). 38 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 52% 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 $30MFor 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 $29MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.3% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.9% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.8% | 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 | 60.1% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 18.7% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 31.7% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $429,449 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.43% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 38 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 29.2 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 51 of 55 | 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 expenseCode 711130 SYMPHONIC CONCERTS - The Utah Symphony was founded during the Great Depression as a Works Progress Administration orchestra under Roosevelt's New Deal. Today, the Utah Symphony is the premiere orchestra in the Intermountain West and one of only sixteen year-round orchestras in the nation. This ranking compares favorably to Utah's rank of 30th among states in population size. The Utah Symphony presented 80 in-person concerts at Abravanel Hall and in communities throughout Utah, reaching approximately 157,300 audience members during the season. A variety of programs are offered…
Code 711110 OPERA PERFORMANCES - Utah Opera performs in Salt Lake City's Capitol Theatre, reaching an audience just under 27,000. Utah Opera offered 24 performances of four mainstage productions this year. Utah Opera has a nationally renowned costume shop, and features some of the top singers, directors, conductors, and designers from around the country. A Resident Artists program provides aspiring young singers an opportunity to refine their craft while performing secondary roles and singing in education and community outreach programs. Please see utahopera.org for more information. A prime…
Code 711130 DEER VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL - Currently in its twenty first season, the Deer Valley Music Festival is the summer home of the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, reaching an audience of nearly 37,000 during the summer season. The festival provides chamber music, classical, family, and pops offerings in many venues: Deer Valley Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater, St. Mary's Church, and salons in private Park City homes. Please see deervalleymusicfestival.org for more information
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, 60 hrs/week | $384,282 | $0 | $45,167 | $429,449 |
| Concertmaster Key employee, 40 hrs/week | $264,109 | $0 | $34,170 | $298,279 |
| Senior VP & COO Officer, 40 hrs/week | $162,098 | $0 | $30,551 | $192,649 |
| VP of Finance & CFO Officer, 40 hrs/week | $161,619 | $0 | $30,842 | $192,461 |
| VP of Development Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $148,297 | $0 | $26,636 | $174,933 |
| Musician Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $148,701 | $0 | $14,880 | $163,581 |
| Musician & Orchestra Personnel Manager Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $145,576 | $0 | $14,408 | $159,984 |
| Musician Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $125,851 | $0 | $24,538 | $150,389 |
38 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Utah Symphony & Opera (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.7M (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–1b55 · 51 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 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5536
- Volunteers Part I, line 6562
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Love Communications Marketing | $1,696,000 |
| Salt Lake County Center - Arts Venue | $459,918 |
| Disney Concerts Guest Artist - Film Presentation | $304,500 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 14 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
24 private foundations reported grants to Utah Symphony & Opera totaling $1.2M 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 Utah Symphony & Opera's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Utah Symphony & Opera, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Utah Symphony & Opera spent in FY2025, $87.30 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Fred Rogers CompanyPittsburgh, PA · revenue $29M · programs 90.1% · FY2025
- Sealaska Heritage InstituteJuneau, AK · revenue $29M · programs 88.2% · 2024
- Independent Television ServicesSan Francisco, CA · revenue $29M · programs 85.2% · FY2025
- Seventh Regiment Armory ConservancyNew York, NY · revenue $29M · programs 84.5% · 2024
- Laurel Lake Retirement CommunityHudson, OH · revenue $28M · programs 88.8% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Utah
Questions people ask
How much of Utah Symphony & Opera's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Utah Symphony & Opera reported that 87.3% of its $30.0 million in expenses went to program services, 7.9% to management and general and 4.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Utah Symphony & Opera pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Utah Symphony & Opera reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $429,449, for the role of President & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Utah Symphony & Opera get its money?
Of $28.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 60.1% came from contributions and grants (including 18.7% from government grants) and 31.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Utah Symphony & Opera a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 51-0145980 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 202641899349301529 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202511969349302916 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202441979349302464 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202301639349301585 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202221459349300847 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202141749349300344 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 51-0145980: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.