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Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society reported $27.1 million in revenue and $14.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $80.70 went to program services, $12.55 to management and general costs and $6.75 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 84.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $290,891 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 202% 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 $15MFor 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 $27MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 80.7% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.8% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 84.5% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.2% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 14.5% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $290,891 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.96% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 38.6 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 25 of 28 | 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 expenseSymphony performances - last year 170,000+ people experienced live music with the Charlotte Symphony with 175 concerts presented in 34 venues across the region. Events included virtual and in-person performances of classical masterworks, pops favorites, informal concerts in local breweries, and virtual educational concerts for thousands of children
Youth orchestras - with the belief that making music is a right, not a privilege, we actively nurture the next generation of musicians and music lovers by supporting two youth orchestras focused on dual goals of extraordinary music education and diversity, equity and inclusion. We provide a nurturing environment for our young musicians to create lasting bonds through music and friendship, and instill the values of community service through music
Community education - an intensive afterschool youth program focused on charlotte's children with the greatest needs and fewest resources, project harmony is a music and leadership program aimed at expanding the vision of what is possible for our area youth. Children are given free instruments, orchestra ensemble training, and academic support
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, 40.00 hrs/week | $279,790 | $0 | $11,101 | $290,891 |
| VP OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,556 | $0 | $11,569 | $197,125 |
| VP OF ARTISTIC OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $157,308 | $0 | $11,569 | $168,877 |
| VP OF FINANCE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $146,869 | $0 | $11,569 | $158,438 |
| CONCERTMASTER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $132,713 | $0 | $22,937 | $155,650 |
| VP LEARNING & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $138,967 | $0 | $10,811 | $149,778 |
| MUSIC DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 1.00 hrs/week | $116,539 | $0 | $0 | $116,539 |
| DIRECTOR Director/trustee, 1.00 hrs/week | $75,435 | $0 | $17,141 | $92,576 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $600K (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–1b28 · 25 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 5315
- Volunteers Part I, line 632
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CHAZIN & COMPANY Accounting services | $174,111 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
10 private foundations reported grants to Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society totaling $2.8M 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 Charlotte Symphony Orchestra 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 Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society spent in FY2025, $80.70 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in North Carolina
Questions people ask
How much of Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society reported that 80.7% of its $14.8 million in expenses went to program services, 12.5% to management and general and 6.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $290,891, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society get its money?
Of $27.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 84.5% came from contributions and grants (including 0.2% from government grants) and 14.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 56-6011568 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 June 30, 2025, object 202641079349301309 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541049349300429 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202440939349301254 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202310809349301501 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221339349302297 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202100969349300725 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 56-6011568: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.