Home › Arts, culture & humanities
Nashville Symphony Association
Also known as The Nashville Symphony
Nashville Symphony Association reported $28.1 million in revenue and $30.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.07 went to program services, $11.92 to management and general costs and $5.01 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 49.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $616,191 (Conductor & Music Director). 19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 76% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending July 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 July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $28MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.1% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.9% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.0% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.11 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 49.4% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.8% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 34.1% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $616,191 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.03% | 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 | 23.1 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 50 of 53 | 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 expenseArtistic Programming : The Nashville Symphony is where music comes alive for Middle Tennessee and beyond. Founded in 1946, the orchestra performs at the world-class Schermerhorn Symphony Center, presenting a dynamic range of programming that spans classical masterworks, groundbreaking new commissions, jazz, pop, film with live orchestra, and family concerts. A national leader in championing contemporary American orchestral music, the Symphony has premiered and recorded works by many of today's most celebrated composers, earning 14 GRAMMY Awards and 27 nominations. The Nashville Symphony…
Education & Community Engagement Programs: During the 2024-2025 season, the Nashville Symphony strengthened its commitment to accessibility and community connection through 278 free and low-cost education and community engagement programs, reaching nearly 36,000 students and adults. We expanded our presence beyond Schermerhorn Symphony Center through programs such as Music in My Neighborhood, Lunar New Year, and MLK: A Celebration in Song, bringing orchestral music directly into communities across the region. Music in My Neighborhood focused on the Antioch community, offering free ensemble…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conductor & Music Director Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $581,417 | $0 | $34,774 | $616,191 |
| President & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $400,709 | $0 | $17,585 | $418,294 |
| Concertmaster Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $308,966 | $0 | $19,469 | $328,435 |
| VP of Marketing Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $190,705 | $0 | $40,979 | $231,684 |
| CFO (Resigned 01/10/2025) Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $209,378 | $0 | $10,584 | $219,962 |
| CDO Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $196,944 | $0 | $9,936 | $206,880 |
| Musician Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $129,568 | $0 | $14,451 | $144,019 |
| VP of Artistic Admin & General Mgr Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $128,700 | $0 | $12,108 | $140,808 |
19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Nashville Symphony Association (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.8M (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–1b53 · 50 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 15aNo
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- 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 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 5533
- Volunteers Part I, line 6180
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Elite Security Professionals Security Service | $477,365 |
| Opus 3 Artists LLC Artist Management | $425,250 |
| Prolmage Facility Services LLC Janitorial Service | $329,286 |
| Levy Restaurants Restaurant/Concessions Management | $307,164 |
| Capacity Interactive Consulting Social Media/Advertising Consulting | $302,800 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 21 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
55 private foundations reported grants to Nashville Symphony Association 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 Nashville Symphony Association's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Nashville Symphony Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Nashville Symphony Association spent in FY2025, $83.07 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Asian Art Museum Foundation of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · revenue $28M · programs 68.2% · FY2025
- Bishop MuseumHonolulu, HI · revenue $28M · programs 56.9% · FY2025
- Steppenwolf Theatre CompanyChicago, IL · revenue $28M · programs 69.1% · FY2025
- The Robert & Jane Meyerhoff Modern Art FoundationCockeysville, MD · revenue $28M · programs 0.0% · 2024
- Overture Center FoundationMadison, WI · revenue $28M · programs 86.4% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Tennessee
Questions people ask
How much of Nashville Symphony Association's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, Nashville Symphony Association reported that 83.1% of its $30.4 million in expenses went to program services, 11.9% to management and general and 5.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Nashville Symphony Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Nashville Symphony Association reported for one person in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 was $616,191, for the role of Conductor & Music Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Nashville Symphony Association get its money?
Of $28.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, 49.4% came from contributions and grants (including 0.8% from government grants) and 34.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Nashville Symphony Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 62-0550979 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 July 31, 2025, object 202601629349301775 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2024, object 202531649349301123 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2023, object 202441509349301854 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2022, object 202301669349300040 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2021, object 202231649349300423 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2020, object 202111379349304041 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 62-0550979: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.