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The Louisville Orchestra
The Louisville Orchestra reported $16.3 million in revenue and $13.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.79 went to program services, $10.25 to management and general costs and $5.96 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 75.0% of the total. Government grants made up 27.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $287,099 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 109% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $13MFor 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 May 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $16M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$47.50 $7.8M
- Government grants$27.39 $4.5M
- Program service revenue$20.16 $3.3M
- Investment income$4.95 $809K
Other revenue was negative: −$27,800. 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) | 83.8% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.2% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.0% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 75.0% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 27.4% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 20.2% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $287,099 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.14% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 8.0 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 31 of 33 | 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 expenseHighest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $277,806 | $0 | $9,293 | $287,099 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $133,476 | $0 | $11,678 | $145,154 |
| ORCHESTRA CONCERTMASTER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $121,596 | $0 | $11,069 | $132,665 |
| DIRECTOR OF LEADERSHIP GIV Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $117,220 | $0 | $3,675 | $120,895 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $107,426 | $0 | $9,798 | $117,224 |
| MUSICIAN - BOARD OF DIRECTORS Director/trustee, 40.00 hrs/week | $54,167 | $0 | $11,069 | $65,236 |
| MUSICIAN - BOARD OF DIRECTORS Director/trustee, 40.00 hrs/week | $51,679 | $0 | $11,069 | $62,748 |
5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Louisville Orchestra (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–1b33 · 31 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 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 5243
- Volunteers Part I, line 6100
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| OPUS 3 Teddy abrams' services | $289,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
29 private foundations reported grants to The Louisville Orchestra totaling $2.6M 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 The Louisville 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 The Louisville Orchestra, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Louisville Orchestra spent in FY2025, $83.79 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Sarasota Opera AssociationSarasota, FL · revenue $16M · programs 74.2% · FY2025
- Ford's Theatre SocietyWashington, DC · revenue $16M · programs 77.4% · FY2025
- Apollo Theater FoundationNew York, NY · revenue $16M · programs 72.1% · FY2025
- San Diego Society of Natural HistorySan Diego, CA · revenue $16M · programs 87.0% · FY2025
- Museum of New Mexico FoundationSanta Fe, NM · revenue $16M · programs 90.4% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Kentucky
Questions people ask
How much of The Louisville Orchestra's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, The Louisville Orchestra reported that 83.8% of its $13.4 million in expenses went to program services, 10.2% to management and general and 6.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Louisville Orchestra pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Louisville Orchestra reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $287,099, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Louisville Orchestra get its money?
Of $16.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 75.0% came from contributions and grants (including 27.4% from government grants) and 20.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Louisville Orchestra a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 61-6000384 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 May 31, 2025, object 202630969349301273 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202521059349300932 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202421069349301412 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202331089349300933 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202231039349301223 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202110979349301586 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 61-6000384: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.