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North Carolina Symphony Society
Also known as North Carolina Symphony
North Carolina Symphony Society reported $18.6 million in revenue and $19.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $81.06 went to program services, $10.70 to management and general costs and $8.24 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 63.1% of the total. Government grants made up 38.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $435,502 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 25% 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 $19MFor 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 $19M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$24.62 $4.6M
- Government grants$38.49 $7.2M
- Program service revenue$27.81 $5.2M
- Investment income$9.08 $1.7M
Other revenue was negative: −$11,065. 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) | 81.1% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.7% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.2% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.14 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 63.1% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 38.5% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 27.8% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $435,502 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.25% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 16 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 21.0 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 49 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 expenseFounded in 1932, the North Carolina Symphony (ncs) was the first state-supported orchestra in the country. Its dual mission of statewide service and music education continues today. It is the largest performing arts organization in North Carolina and has the most extensive education program of any U.S. Orchestra. Annually, the symphony travels more than 18,000 miles, reaches 100 counties and performs for 250,000 people including serving more than 150,000 students
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 Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $400,332 | $0 | $35,170 | $435,502 |
| MUSIC DIRECTOR Key employee, 25.00 hrs/week | $343,385 | $0 | $27,868 | $371,253 |
| SR. VP, FINANCE & CFO Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $238,928 | $0 | $4,882 | $243,810 |
| VP, MARKETING & AUDIENCE DEV. Highest compensated employee, 55.00 hrs/week | $181,620 | $0 | $31,484 | $213,104 |
| VP, PHILANTHROPY Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $178,716 | $0 | $14,976 | $193,692 |
| VP, ORCHESTRA OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $153,838 | $0 | $17,525 | $171,363 |
| MUSICIAN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $114,683 | $0 | $18,174 | $132,857 |
| MUSICIAN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $111,686 | $0 | $18,174 | $129,860 |
16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from North Carolina Symphony Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.1M (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 · 49 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5303
- Volunteers Part I, line 6109
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| DCM INC Telemarketing and telefunding | $215,631 |
| SQUARE PRODUCTIONS INC Marketing services | $176,677 |
| CAPACITY INTERACTIVE CONSULTING LLC Marketing consulting | $162,674 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
30 private foundations reported grants to North Carolina Symphony Society totaling $447K 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina Symphony Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 North Carolina Symphony Society spent in FY2025, $81.06 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- National Cowboy and Western Heritage MuseumOklahoma City, OK · revenue $19M · programs 66.4% · 2025
- The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln CenterNew York, NY · revenue $19M · programs 76.0% · FY2025
- Settlement Music School of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $18M · programs 88.8% · FY2025
- FernbankAtlanta, GA · revenue $19M · programs 69.4% · 2024
- Friends of the High LineNew York, NY · revenue $18M · programs 69.9% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in North Carolina
Questions people ask
How much of North Carolina Symphony Society's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, North Carolina Symphony Society reported that 81.1% of its $19.4 million in expenses went to program services, 10.7% to management and general and 8.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does North Carolina Symphony Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation North Carolina Symphony Society reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $435,502, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does North Carolina Symphony Society get its money?
Of $18.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 63.1% came from contributions and grants (including 38.5% from government grants) and 27.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is North Carolina Symphony Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 56-0556755 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 202600639349301600 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202511279349303091 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421019349300222 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202310479349301951 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202200579349300900 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202110369349301426 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 56-0556755: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.