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Dallas Symphony Association
Dallas Symphony Association reported $49.3 million in revenue and $52.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $76.96 went to program services, $14.46 to management and general costs and $8.58 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 29.7% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $462,659 (MUSICIAN). 101 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 27% 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 $52MFor 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 $49MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.0% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.6% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.42 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 21.8% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.3% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 29.7% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $462,659 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.89% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 101 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 0.9 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 115 of 115 | 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 expenseThe Dallas Symphony Orchestra's mission statement is to inspire and change lives through musical excellence. It strives to be a key catalyst in making Dallas a world-class city and major cultural center with the DSO as a landmark. The DSO is ranked among the top American orchestras. The classical series, pops series and numerous events highlighting diversity in the city, along with youth concerts, number over 165 performances each year. As a community partner, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra sponsors the following programs: Community Connections (Free tickets distributed by social service…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSICIAN Highest compensated employee, 30.0 hrs/week | $453,814 | $0 | $8,845 | $462,659 |
| MUSICIAN/CONS. FOR COMM.DEV. Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $321,937 | $0 | $42,615 | $364,552 |
| fORMER PRESIDENT & CEO (6/24) Former, 40.0 hrs/week | $294,755 | $0 | $23,401 | $318,156 |
| Chief Advancement & Rev Office Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $255,484 | $0 | $22,616 | $278,100 |
| MUSICIAN Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $232,503 | $0 | $39,385 | $271,888 |
| CFO Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $252,746 | $0 | $7,387 | $260,133 |
| MUSICIAN Highest compensated employee, 30.0 hrs/week | $237,670 | $0 | $20,946 | $258,616 |
| CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $212,352 | $0 | $40,878 | $253,230 |
101 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Dallas Symphony Association (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.4M (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–1b115 · 115 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 5514
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,000
Private foundation grants it received
24 private foundations reported grants to Dallas Symphony Association totaling $13M 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 Dallas 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 Dallas Symphony Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Dallas Symphony Association spent in FY2025, $76.96 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Alvin Ailey Dance FoundationNew York, NY · revenue $49M · programs 79.7% · FY2025
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- Kaizen Education FoundationPhoenix, AZ · revenue $50M · programs 79.3% · FY2025
- St Louis Regional Public MediaSt Louis, MO · revenue $48M · programs 60.6% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Texas
Questions people ask
How much of Dallas Symphony Association's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, Dallas Symphony Association reported that 77.0% of its $52.3 million in expenses went to program services, 14.5% to management and general and 8.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Dallas Symphony Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Dallas Symphony Association reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $462,659, for the role of MUSICIAN (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Dallas Symphony Association get its money?
Of $49.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 21.8% came from contributions and grants (including 0.3% from government grants) and 29.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Dallas Symphony Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 75-0705442 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 202641049349301824 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202501049349301030 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202411069349302236 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202331079349301858 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202221089349301332 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202141669349301539 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 75-0705442: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.