The mission of the st. Louis Symphony Orchestra (slso) is to enrich lives through the power of music. The slso provides Orchestra concerts, community programs, and educational resources for the st. Louis community and beyond.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
80¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 398 volunteers and 496 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $22.4M a year · 41% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
80%
of spending
Looks good: 80% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.0M
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $39.9M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 5.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
23
named funders · $16.0M
Looks good: 23 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$71.2M
31% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 31% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
46
of 49 voting members
Looks good: 46 of 49 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$54.7M
+21% vs prior year
Spent
$40.4M
To programs
80%
Net assets
$160.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$54.7M
FY2025▲ +21%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$42.3M
FY2021$61.3M
FY2022$74.6M
FY2023$52.2M
FY2024$45.2M
FY2025$54.7M
Expenses
$40.4M
FY2025▲ +25%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$28.0M
FY2021$32.0M
FY2022$31.4M
FY2023$32.3M
FY2024$32.2M
FY2025$40.4M
Net assets
$160.9M
FY2025▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$37.3M
FY2021$69.6M
FY2022$112.3M
FY2023$130.7M
FY2024$143.9M
FY2025$160.9M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending August 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Oct 1926.

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

Where the money goes

80 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 80% · $32.1M Management & general 14% · $5.7M Fundraising 6% · $2.6M

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

56 people listed on the 990; $2.0M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
President/Chief Executive
$523,461Pt VII · Sec A
Concertmaster
$275,329Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer (thru 11/24)
$228,044Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$207,902Pt VII · Sec A
$194,941Pt VII · Sec A
Musician
$189,659Pt VII · Sec A
Musician
$184,068Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee / Musician
$109,937Pt VII · Sec A

Marie-Helene Bernard’s $523K as President/Chief Executive is at the 80th percentile of top reported officer pay among 749 $10–100M 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Marie-Helene Bernard$523,461$518,860$464,839$588,917$380,181$398,875
David Halen$275,329$273,560$279,499$256,416$207,859$267,365
Steven Rosenzweig$228,044$230,445$225,330$230,542$192,627$187,500
Beth Chu$184,068$177,926—$215,626—$171,325
Paul Pietrowski$207,902—————
Scott D Andrews$194,941$185,023$191,461$173,133$140,916$177,274
Roger Kaza$189,659—$192,272—$142,635—
Erik Finley——$190,472$190,640——

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.

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Questions the 990 asks

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

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II3 listed

Programs and updates

Performs live orchestral concerts, hosts community events, and provides music education programs to enrich lives in the St. Louis region and beyond.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $32.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

See Schedule O.music Programs

The ST. Louis symphony orchestra (slso) is celebrated as a leading american orchestra, known for its warm and engaging sound, prolific and acclaimed recording history, national and international touring activities, and distinctive commitment to educational and community outreach efforts.

$32.1Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 23 funders →
Grants paid · 6 grants · $20.6M · 2019–2024

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$54.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$45.8M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.0M
Money outPt IX
$40.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$32.1M
Managementcol C$5.7M
Fundraisingcol D$2.6M
Owns and owesPt X
$160.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$18.8M
Total assetsLn 16$232.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$71.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
56
listed · VII A
PaidVII A9
Voting boardVI 1a49
IndependentVI 1b46
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$45.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.9M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$779K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$47K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$496K
Total revenueLn 12$54.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$18.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$18.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$39.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$134.3M
Other assetsLn 15$7.2M
Total assetsLn 16$232.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$71.2M
Net assetsLn 32$160.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5496
VolunteersI 6398
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$14.2M$18.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$74.4M$39.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$75.6M$134.3M
Total assetsLn 16$212.4M$232.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$68.5M$71.2M
Net assetsLn 32$143.9M$160.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$6.9M$6.9M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.1M$308K$827K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$17.0M$13.7M$2.0M$1.3M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$1.1M$934K$118K$69K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2.8M$2.4M$293K$175K
Payroll taxesLn 10$1.3M$1.1M$160K$77K
Legal feesLn 11b$31K$24K$7K
Accounting feesLn 11c$84K$84K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$45K$45K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$163K$163K
Investment management feesLn 11f$6K$6K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$591K$88K$215K$288K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$967K$57K$907K$4K
Office expensesLn 13$1.2M$342K$538K$280K
OccupancyLn 16$1.2M$931K$204K$39K
TravelLn 17$579K$364K$92K$123K
InterestLn 20$74K$74K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$329K$293K$33K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$359K$329K$26K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$4.5M$4.5M$11K$37K
Total functional expensesLn 25$40.4M$32.1M$5.7M$2.6M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $54.7M$40.4M$14.3M$160.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $45.2M$32.2M$13.0M$143.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $52.2M$32.3M$20.0M$130.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $74.6M$31.4M$43.2M$112.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 $61.3M$32.0M$29.3M$69.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $42.3M$28.0M$14.4M$37.3M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $54,686,743 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $32,774,896$45,808,922
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $6,446,460$7,343,835
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $5,543,330$1,038,187
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $458,082$495,799
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $45,222,768$54,686,743
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $688,973$6,852,526
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $22,200,798$23,427,913
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $261,602$162,538
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $9,029,656$9,940,347
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $32,181,029$40,383,324
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $13,041,739$14,303,419
Part VI · Governance 46 of 49 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body49
VI-1b Independent voting members46
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
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 $54,686,743 across 13 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $115,864 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$80,050
VIII-1c Fundraising events$46,619
VIII-1d Related organizations$11,984,852
VIII-1e Government grants$2,940,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$30,757,401
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$779,140
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$45,808,922
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $7,343,835$7,343,835
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,038,187$1,038,187
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $5,567$5,567
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $7,583$7,583
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $366,785$366,785
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $7,343,835 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,533,986$54,686,743
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $40,383,324 across 20 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $6,852,526$6,852,526
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $308,116 · Management $826,695$1,134,811
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $13,697,017 · Management $2,011,517 · Fundraising $1,322,930$17,031,464
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $934,399 · Management $117,824 · Fundraising $68,677$1,120,900
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $2,369,187 · Management $292,684 · Fundraising $175,285$2,837,156
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,066,894 · Management $159,962 · Fundraising $76,726$1,303,582
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $24,225 · Management $7,194$31,419
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $84,400$84,400
IX-11d Lobbying feesManagement $45,000$45,000
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $162,538$162,538
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $6,022$6,022
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $88,003 · Management $215,366 · Fundraising $287,529$590,898
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $56,939 · Management $906,546 · Fundraising $3,816$967,301
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $342,200 · Management $538,013 · Fundraising $280,495$1,160,708
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $930,809 · Management $203,794 · Fundraising $39,003$1,173,606
IX-17 TravelPrograms $363,966 · Management $92,066 · Fundraising $123,261$579,293
IX-20 InterestManagement $73,533$73,533
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $292,742 · Management $32,892 · Fundraising $3,289$328,923
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $329,445 · Management $26,456 · Fundraising $2,646$358,547
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $4,493,279 · Management $10,867 · Fundraising $36,551$4,540,697
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $32,149,747 · Management $5,650,831 · Fundraising $2,582,746$40,383,324
Part X · Balance sheet $232,153,108 assets, 16 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $2,066,243; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $14,237,017$18,761,371
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $34,284,918$29,313,924
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $22,258$27,794
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $495,071$598,575
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $75,608,700$134,284,684
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $74,373,134$39,909,902
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $11,342,820$7,190,615
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $212,351,537$232,153,108
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $5,384,175$6,831,247
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $2,148,605$3,490,480
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $4,904,382$4,807,724
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $68,479,488$71,242,310
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $31,463,292$37,763,131
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $112,408,757$123,147,667
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $143,872,049$160,910,798
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $212,351,537$232,153,108
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $160,910,798 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$54,686,743
XI-2 Total expenses$40,383,324
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$14,303,419
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$143,872,049
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$2,735,330
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$160,910,798

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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