The Des Moines Symphony is a not-for-profit, professional orchestra formed in 1937 to enrich, educate, and inspire the community by performing great orchestral music. The Symphony Association, governed by a volunteer board of trustees and operating on an annual budget of more than 4.2 million, supports the Symphony academy and its numerous music education programs including four youth orchestras and a youth wind ensemble. The Association also supports the Des Moines Symphony orchestra which performs seven pairs of masterworks concerts, a summer season of free outdoor concerts at the lauridsen amphitheater in water works park, a regular season pops series including the traditional new year's eve pops, and education, outreach, and family concerts. The Des Moines Symphony also produces and performs the annual yankee doodle pops concert in july on the ground of the iowa state capital.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
69¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$332K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $246K a year · 6% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
69%
of spending
Fine: 69% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$332K
to officers and key staff · 14% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 14% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $28K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$648K
5% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 5% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
21
of 21 voting members
Looks good: 21 of 21 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.7M
-16% vs prior year
Spent
$2.4M
To programs
69%
Net assets
$11.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.7M
FY2021▼ -16%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.2M
FY2021$2.7M
FY2022$5.3M
FY2023$3.2M
FY2024$3.6M
FY2025$5.1M
Expenses
$2.4M
FY2021▼ -31%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$3.6M
FY2021$2.4M
FY2022$3.5M
FY2023$3.9M
FY2024$4.1M
FY2025$4.0M
Net assets
$11.6M
FY2021▲ +23%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$9.4M
FY2021$11.6M
FY2022$18.9M
FY2023$19.1M
FY2024$19.9M
FY2025$22.0M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 1959.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

69 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 69% · $1.7M Management & general 21% · $521K Fundraising 10% · $238K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

23 people listed on the 990; $332K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Music Director
$197,161Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$134,824Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President/President Elect
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Joseph Giunta’s $278K as Music Director is at the 95th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Joseph Giunta$277,500$255,500—$235,876$197,161$237,632
Joepsh Giunta——$244,504———
Richard L Early$156,444$150,448$143,583——$134,888
Richard Early———$139,110$134,824—
Scott Wyckoff$109,266$105,881————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Des Moines Symphony Association executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Performs orchestral music to enrich, educate, and inspire the community.

Questions for Des Moines Symphony Association

Tap to ask. Des Moines Symphony Association sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Des Moines Symphony Association answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

2 programs · $1.7M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Concert performancesthe des moines symphony association performs seven pairs of mastwerworks concerts, as well as education and family concerts, and both a regular season and summer season pops series which draws audience members from throughout iowa.

$1.7Mprogram expense
02

Music educationthe des moines smphony academy provides an array of programs and opportunities for individual and group instruction, performance, and community involvement for students of all ages.

Pt IX · col B

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$28K

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$526K
Other incomeLn 4–11$36K
Money outPt IX
$2.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.7M
Managementcol C$521K
Fundraisingcol D$238K
Owns and owesPt X
$11.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$975K
Total assetsLn 16$12.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$648K
PeoplePt VI, VII
23
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a21
IndependentVI 1b21
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$814K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$526K
Other incomeLn 4–11$36K
Total revenueLn 12$2.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$975K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$975K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$131K
Other assetsLn 15$10.9M
Total assetsLn 16$12.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$648K
Net assetsLn 32$11.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5299
VolunteersI 692
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$588K$975K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$140K$131K
Total assetsLn 16$10.1M$12.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$700K$648K
Net assetsLn 32$9.4M$11.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.7M$1.2M$333K$166K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$167K$117K$33K$17K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$12K$12K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$133K$133K
Office expensesLn 13$15K$15K
OccupancyLn 16$71K$47K$13K$11K
TravelLn 17$7K$7K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$47K$26K$21K
InsuranceLn 23$29K$7K$22K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$267K$183K$39K$44K
All other expensesLn 24e$31K$5K$25K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.4M$1.7M$521K$238K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $5.1M$4.0M$1.1M$22.0M 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.6M$4.1M−$480K$19.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $3.2M$3.9M−$782K$19.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.3M$3.5M$1.8M$18.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $2.7M$2.4M$212K$11.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $3.2M$3.6M−$390K$9.4M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,653,432 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,000,968$2,091,521
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,024,995$525,788
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $145,179$36,123
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,171,142$2,653,432
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,067,372$1,830,097
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,493,797$611,679
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,561,169$2,441,776
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$390,027$211,656
Part VI · Governance 21 of 21 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body21
VI-1b Independent voting members21
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,653,432 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1d Related organizations$556,220
VIII-1e Government grants$814,100
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$721,201
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,091,521
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $525,788$525,788
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $34,747$34,747
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $1,376$1,376
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $527,164 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $34,747$2,653,432
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,441,776 across 11 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,164,400 · Management $332,685 · Fundraising $166,343$1,663,428
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $116,669 · Management $33,333 · Fundraising $16,667$166,669
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $11,650$11,650
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $132,926$132,926
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $14,734$14,734
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $47,138 · Management $12,856 · Fundraising $11,427$71,421
IX-17 TravelManagement $7,225$7,225
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $25,915 · Management $21,427$47,342
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $7,326 · Management $21,979$29,305
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $183,216 · Management $39,491 · Fundraising $43,852$266,559
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $5,316 · Management $25,201$30,517
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,682,906 · Management $520,581 · Fundraising $238,289$2,441,776
Part X · Balance sheet $12,208,795 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $588,197$975,056
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $329,947$167,152
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $84,801$34,977
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $17,163$28,936
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $139,934$131,145
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $8,925,747$10,871,529
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $10,095,559$12,208,795
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $62,495$191,072
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $188,239$2,607
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $449,000$454,429
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $699,734$648,108
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $9,395,825$11,560,687
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $10,095,559$12,208,795
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $11,560,687 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,653,432
XI-2 Total expenses$2,441,776
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$211,656
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$9,395,825
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$1,953,206
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$11,560,687

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.