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Fairfax Symphony Orchestra

Tax-deductible

Merrifield, VA501(c)(3)Since 1966Arts & CultureEIN 54-6052893Revenue $1.5M in FY2025

On file with the IRSfairfaxsymphony.orgPo Box 2019, 22116-2019 · Merrifield, VATax-exempt since Dec 1959Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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The mission of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra is to explore and present the symphonic repertoire, both traditional and modern, for the diverse audiences of the Northern Virginia region while building the musicians and audiences of the future through education and outreach programs.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
77¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 7 volunteers and 183 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
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $75K a year · 8% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
77%
of spending
Looks good: 77% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$204K
to officers and key staff · 15% of spending
Top officer’s pay lower than 53% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 15% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.5 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $27K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$132K
21% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 21% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
7
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 7 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.5M
+25% vs prior year
Spent
$1.4M
To programs
77%
Net assets
$490K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.5M
FY2025▲ +25%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$721K
FY2021$434K
FY2022$1.0M
FY2023$710K
FY2024$1.2M
FY2025$1.5M
Expenses
$1.4M
FY2025▲ +25%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$623K
FY2021$399K
FY2022$745K
FY2023$847K
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$1.4M
Net assets
$490K
FY2025▲ +27%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$194K
FY2021$224K
FY2022$467K
FY2023$314K
FY2024$385K
FY2025$490K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 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 Dec 1959.

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

Where the money goes

77 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 77% · $1.1M Management & general 21% · $294K Fundraising 1% · $16K

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

9 people listed on the 990; $204K 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
Jonathan Kerr
Ex-Officio & Exec Director
$118,995Pt VII · Sec A
Christopher Zimmerman
Ex-Officio & Music Director
$84,860Pt VII · Sec A
Thomas Brownell
Board Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Eric Moore
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Valarie Ney
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Thomas Murphy
General Counsel
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jonathan Kerr’s $119K as Ex-Officio & Exec Director is at the 47th 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jonathan Kerr$118,995$116,162$110,351$100,320$97,759$97,970
Christopher Zimmerman$84,860$86,860$65,640$54,174$51,169$68,656

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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Educates and engages communities to cultivate future musicians and audiences.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $1.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The Orchestra presents a series of public symphonic concerts during its season to approximately 13,000 patrons. These concerts range from Masterworks to pops and family concerts. Each concert is preceded by a pre-concert discussion educational opportunity.

$897Kprogram expense
02

The Orchestra presents educational programs, assemblies, workshops, and concerts in many locations and for all ages throughout the season. It performs in public and private schools, Fairfax County parks, and other corporate and public locations throughout Northern Virginia, serving approximately 35,000 residents and students each season.

$170Kprogram expense

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 · FY2024
Arts Council of Fairfax County INCFY2024$27K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$27K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.5M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$861K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$585K
Investment incomeLn 3$34K
Money outPt IX
$1.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.1M
Managementcol C$294K
Fundraisingcol D$16K
Owns and owesPt X
$490K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$167K
Total assetsLn 16$622K
LiabilitiesLn 26$132K
PeoplePt VI, VII
9
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b7
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$585K
Government grantsLn 1e$415K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$861K
Investment incomeLn 3$34K
Gains on assetsLn 7$2K
Total revenueLn 12$1.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$166K
SavingsLn 2$264
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$167K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$204K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K
Total assetsLn 16$622K
LiabilitiesLn 26$132K
Net assetsLn 32$490K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5183
VolunteersI 67
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$296K$167K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$90K$204K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K$3K
Total assetsLn 16$416K$622K
LiabilitiesLn 26$31K$132K
Net assetsLn 32$385K$490K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$223K$119K$104K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$415K$310K$90K$15K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$6K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$45K$21K$25K
Payroll taxesLn 10$19K$8K$12K
Accounting feesLn 11c$11K$11K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$291K$284K$8K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$33K$32K$1K
Office expensesLn 13$33K$33K
TravelLn 17$41K$41K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$845$845
InsuranceLn 23$7K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$252K$252K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.4M$1.1M$294K$16K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.5M$1.4M$103K$490K 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.2M$1.1M$81K$385K 990 PDF
FY2023 $710K$847K−$137K$314K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.0M$745K$271K$467K 990 PDF
FY2021 $434K$399K$35K$224K 990 PDF
FY2020 $721K$623K$98K$194K 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 O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,480,090 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $510,127$585,265
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $670,051$860,820
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,238$34,005
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $4,386$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,186,802$1,480,090
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 $654,230$707,962
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $451,636$669,382
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,105,866$1,377,344
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $80,936$102,746
Part VI · Governance 7 of 9 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members7
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 $1,480,090 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$1,853
VIII-1e Government grants$414,862
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$168,550
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$585,265
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $855,670 · Excluded from tax $5,150$860,820
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $31,871$31,871
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $2,134$2,134
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $855,670 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $39,155$1,480,090
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,377,344 across 13 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $119,401 · Management $103,544$222,945
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $309,852 · Management $89,800 · Fundraising $15,000$414,652
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsManagement $5,672$5,672
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $20,637 · Management $24,601$45,238
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $7,794 · Management $11,661$19,455
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $10,744$10,744
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $283,796 · Management $7,677$291,473
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $32,316 · Fundraising $1,160$33,476
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $32,886$32,886
IX-17 TravelPrograms $41,368$41,368
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $845$845
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $6,501$6,501
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $252,089$252,089
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,067,253 · Management $293,931 · Fundraising $16,160$1,377,344
Part X · Balance sheet $622,237 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $235,848$166,336
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $60,260$264
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $13,350$6,598
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $8,707$234,866
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $6,138$7,415
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,549$2,844
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $90,048$203,914
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $415,900$622,237
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $25,062$46,543
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $6,163$85,897
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $31,225$132,440
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $268,703$437,047
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $115,972$52,750
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $384,675$489,797
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $415,900$622,237
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $489,797 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,480,090
XI-2 Total expenses$1,377,344
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$102,746
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$384,675
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$7,348
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities−$4,972
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$489,797

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

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