Home › Arts, culture & humanities
Houston Symphony Society
Houston Symphony Society reported $45.2 million in revenue and $40.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.54 went to program services, $6.29 to management and general costs and $11.17 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 68.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $668,679 (Music Director). 87 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 47% 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 $41MFor 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 $45M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$67.41 $31M
- Government grants$0.52 $237K
- Program service revenue$32.04 $15M
- Investment income$0.03 $10,882
Other revenue was negative: −$142K. 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) | 82.5% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.3% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.2% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.15 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 68.1% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.5% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 32.1% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $668,679 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.65% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 87 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | -1.6 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 109 of 109 | 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 Endeavors: Under Music Director Juraj Valcuha, the Houston Symphony continues its second century inspiring and engaging a large and diverse audience in Houston and beyond through exceptional musical performances and creating enduring impact in the Houston community. Today, with an operating budget of $42 million, the full-time ensemble of professional musicians presents more than 150 concerts annually, making it the largest performing arts organization in Houston. Continued on Schedule O Artistic Endeavors (continued): After the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Symphony…
Education and Community Engagement: The Houston Symphony is committed to increasing the quality of life in Houston by addressing priority community issues including education, healthcare, building community between disparate populations, and improving the welfare of underserved populations. The Symphony accomplishes this by presenting an extraordinary range of music education and community engagement programs both inside Jones Hall and in community venues throughout the Greater Houston area. Continued on Schedule OEducation and Community Engagement (continued): Through nearly 1,000 events…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music Director Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $658,856 | $0 | $9,823 | $668,679 |
| Executive Director/CEO (thru 09/24) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $432,679 | $0 | $39,824 | $472,503 |
| Musician Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $362,011 | $0 | $8,377 | $370,388 |
| CFO, Interim CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $281,712 | $0 | $30,989 | $312,701 |
| Chief Operating Officer Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $233,301 | $0 | $20,275 | $253,576 |
| Musician Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $232,752 | $0 | $19,928 | $252,680 |
| Musician Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $207,605 | $0 | $27,479 | $235,084 |
| Musician Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $209,004 | $0 | $23,081 | $232,085 |
87 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Houston Symphony Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (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–1b109 · 109 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 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 5678
- Volunteers Part I, line 6675
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Capacity Interactive Consulting LLC Marketing | $716,247 |
| Opus 3 Artists LLC Artists Agent | $553,726 |
| Strike Marketing Marketing | $352,550 |
| Levy Food Services Catering services | $349,932 |
| Truist Merchant Services Banking services | $347,621 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 19 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
40 private foundations reported grants to Houston Symphony Society totaling $3.1M 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 Houston 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 Houston Symphony Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Houston Symphony Society spent in FY2025, $82.54 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Vizcaya Museum and Gardens TrustMiami, FL · revenue $45M · programs 81.1% · FY2025
- Fractured AtlasNew York, NY · revenue $46M · programs 96.6% · FY2025
- Society for the Preservation of New EnglHaverhill, MA · revenue $45M · programs 79.1% · FY2025
- National Cable Satellite CorporationWashington, DC · revenue $46M · programs 80.5% · FY2025
- Shen Yun Performing ArtsIncCuddebackville, NY · revenue $45M · programs 97.6% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Texas
Questions people ask
How much of Houston Symphony Society's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, Houston Symphony Society reported that 82.5% of its $40.6 million in expenses went to program services, 6.3% to management and general and 11.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Houston Symphony Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Houston Symphony Society reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $668,679, for the role of Music Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Houston Symphony Society get its money?
Of $45.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 68.1% came from contributions and grants (including 0.5% from government grants) and 32.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Houston Symphony Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 74-1157373 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 202611049349301971 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202541009349301034 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202411019349301346 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202331019349301333 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202102879349301380 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202120969349301207 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 74-1157373: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.