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Seattle Symphony Orchestra
Seattle Symphony Orchestra reported $38.1 million in revenue and $40.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $78.74 went to program services, $14.42 to management and general costs and $6.84 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 53.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $544,333 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 97 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 26% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $40MFor 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 August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $38M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$51.89 $20M
- Government grants$1.89 $720K
- Program service revenue$45.68 $17M
- Investment income$0.54 $206K
Other revenue was negative: −$84,631. 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) | 78.7% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.4% | 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 | $0.13 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 53.9% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.9% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 45.8% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $544,333 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.35% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 97 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 0.7 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 36 of 36 | 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 Seattle Symphony is one of america's leading orchestras and is internationally acclaimed for its innovative programming and extensive recording history. The 2024-2025 season saw increased audiences with 227,623 attending in person. That included 50,948 free or discounted tickets and over 164 community events and programs to underserved populations throughout the puget sound region. Selected services were also streamed for viewing online. The symphony also provided venue rentals and streaming services to other artistic organizations and community group events taking place at benaroya hall
For educational and community engagement programming in addition to digital content delivered through the streaming platform, attendance in the 24/25 season saw 35,609 students and families over 180 events including offsite events throughout the puget sound region. Program highlights include pre-concert talks, family and tiny tots concerts, link up (an interactive concert experience for elementary schools), musicians classrooms visits, open rehearsals, career in the arts panels, free side-by-side performances with local youth orchestras and community concerts, community stages fund awardees…
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 Officer, 33.00 hrs/week | $492,915 | $0 | $51,418 | $544,333 |
| CONCERTMASTER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $319,838 | $0 | $30,884 | $350,722 |
| CFO & BENAROYA HALL COO Officer, 29.00 hrs/week | $275,624 | $0 | $48,182 | $323,806 |
| ACTING CEO & VP OF DEVELOPMENT Officer, 32.00 hrs/week | $278,156 | $0 | $40,412 | $318,568 |
| MUSICIAN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,551 | $0 | $39,131 | $224,682 |
| COO Key employee, 25.00 hrs/week | $186,398 | $0 | $32,428 | $218,826 |
| VP ARTISTIC PLANNING Key employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $170,839 | $0 | $29,370 | $200,209 |
| MUSICIAN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,073 | $0 | $12,415 | $197,488 |
97 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Seattle Symphony Orchestra (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.0M (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–1b36 · 36 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 11aNo
- 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 5622
- Volunteers Part I, line 6445
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| DIRECT CONNECT GROUP LLC Sales & marketing | $393,681 |
| DISNEY CONCERTS Arts promoter | $383,000 |
| AWR MUSIC PRODUCTIONS LLC Arts promoter | $371,024 |
| NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TELEVISION Arts promoter | $333,093 |
| SITUATION MARKETING LLC Advertising | $292,750 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 20 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
26 private foundations reported grants to Seattle Symphony Orchestra totaling $800K 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 Seattle Symphony 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 Seattle Symphony Orchestra, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Seattle Symphony Orchestra spent in FY2025, $78.74 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Toledo Museum of ArtToledo, OH · revenue $38M · programs 79.7% · FY2025
- American Journalism ProjectWashington, DC · revenue $38M · programs 91.1% · 2024
- Common Sense MediaSan Francisco, CA · revenue $38M · programs 72.2% · 2024
- Seattle Art MuseumSeattle, WA · revenue $38M · programs 74.6% · FY2025
- Simon Wiesenthal CenterLos Angeles, CA · revenue $38M · programs 72.1% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Washington
Questions people ask
How much of Seattle Symphony Orchestra's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Seattle Symphony Orchestra reported that 78.7% of its $40.2 million in expenses went to program services, 14.4% to management and general and 6.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Seattle Symphony Orchestra pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Seattle Symphony Orchestra reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $544,333, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Seattle Symphony Orchestra get its money?
Of $38.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 53.9% came from contributions and grants (including 1.9% from government grants) and 45.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Seattle Symphony Orchestra a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 91-0667412 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 August 31, 2025, object 202601919349301320 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202541889349300914 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202441839349300139 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202341879349300729 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202221879349300247 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202131969349302133 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 91-0667412: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.