The Nashville Symphony inspires and engages a diverse and growing community with extraordinary live orchestral music experiences. As Middle Tennessee continues to grow and transform, the Nashville Symphony will be a financially robust, leading orchestra fully supported and embraced by the community it serves and recognized by its peers for its innovation and excellence. Key to achieving this vision, the Nashville Symphony will: - Entertain and educate audiences with varied opportunities to engage with orchestral music. - Be recognized as a leading arts organization defined by performing an innovative and excellent portfolio distinguished by a commitment to American music, including underrepresented voices. - Strengthen diversified revenue streams in order to routinely deliver a balanced operating budget and meet goals for endowment contributions. - Build a diverse, welcoming, and effective organization that is a great place to work and is reflective of the Middle Tennessee community.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 180 volunteers and 533 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
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $1.9M a year · 8% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.5M
to officers and key staff · 8% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 8% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $17.6M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 0.9 months of spending in cash, plus $17.6M in investments.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $4K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$28.7M
33% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 33% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
50
of 53 voting members
Looks good: 50 of 53 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$28.1M
-12% vs prior year
Spent
$30.4M
To programs
83%
Net assets
$58.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$28.1M
FY2025▼ -12%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$15.9M
FY2021$12.4M
FY2022$29.9M
FY2023$22.0M
FY2024$32.0M
FY2025$28.1M
Expenses
$30.4M
FY2025▼ -7%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$23.6M
FY2021$10.3M
FY2022$25.7M
FY2023$29.1M
FY2024$32.7M
FY2025$30.4M
Net assets
$58.3M
FY2025▼ -4%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$63.2M
FY2021$67.1M
FY2022$69.0M
FY2023$62.3M
FY2024$60.8M
FY2025$58.3M

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

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 1948.

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

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $25.2M Management & general 12% · $3.6M Fundraising 5% · $1.5M

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

63 people listed on the 990; $2.5M 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
Conductor & Music Director
$581,417Pt VII · Sec A
President & CEO
$400,709Pt VII · Sec A
Concertmaster
$308,966Pt VII · Sec A
CFO (resigned 01/10/2025)
$209,378Pt VII · Sec A
$196,944Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Marketing
$190,705Pt VII · Sec A
Musician
$129,568Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Artistic Admin & General Mgr
$128,700Pt VII · Sec A

Giancarlo Guerrero’s $581K as Conductor & Music Director is at the 85th 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
Giancarlo Guerrero$581,417$568,706$552,949———
Giancarlo Guererro———$362,042$272,917$520,677
Alan D Valentine$400,709$381,636$346,038$298,937$307,240$392,973
Peter Otto$308,966—————
Tonya Robles—$232,358$87,412———
Daniel B Grossman————$157,487$221,057
Jun Iwasaki——$120,453$123,686$109,666$219,238
Steven Brosvik————$100,970$210,477

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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Performs classical and contemporary music while providing free community concerts and music education programs to inspire and engage residents across Middle Tennessee.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $25.2M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Artistic Programming

The Nashville Symphony is where music comes alive for Middle Tennessee and beyond. Founded in 1946, the orchestra performs at the world-class Schermerhorn Symphony Center, presenting a dynamic range of programming that spans classical masterworks, groundbreaking new commissions, jazz, pop, film with live orchestra, and family concerts.

$23.2Mprogram expense
02

Education & Community Engagement Programs

During the 2024-2025 season, the Nashville Symphony strengthened its commitment to accessibility and community connection through 278 free and low-cost education and community engagement programs, reaching nearly 36,000 students and adults.

$2.0Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$4K
Grants paid · 7 grants · $145K · 2021–2024
Vanderbilt UniversityTN · FY2024$30,205
Unitemized GrantFY2024$7,500
Vanderbilt UniversityTN · FY2023$30,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$7,500
Vanderbilt UniversityTN · FY2022$30,000
Vanderbilt UniversityTN · FY2021$30,000

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$28.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$13.9M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$9.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$3.0M
Money outPt IX
$30.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$25.2M
Managementcol C$3.6M
Fundraisingcol D$1.5M
Owns and owesPt X
$58.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.2M
Total assetsLn 16$87.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$28.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
63
listed · VII A
PaidVII A13
Voting boardVI 1a53
IndependentVI 1b50
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$13.9M
Government grantsLn 1e$222K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1.9M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$9.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$3.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$1.6M
Gains on assetsLn 7$2.5M
Total revenueLn 12$28.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$784K
SavingsLn 2$1.5M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$17.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$59.9M
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$87.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$28.7M
Net assetsLn 32$58.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5533
VolunteersI 6180
Fiscal year endsHeaderJuly
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$3.3M$2.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$16.4M$17.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$63.6M$59.9M
Total assetsLn 16$89.6M$87.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$28.8M$28.7M
Net assetsLn 32$60.8M$58.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$33K$33K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$8K$8K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.8M$789K$962K$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$12.7M$11.5M$305K$840K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$686K$675K$6K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$836K$730K$54K$53K
Payroll taxesLn 10$1.0M$889K$81K$62K
Legal feesLn 11b$94K$0$94K$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$102K$0$102K$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$204K$204K
Investment management feesLn 11f$119K$0$119K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$6.0M$5.6M$233K$130K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$957K$957K$0$0
Office expensesLn 13$165K$17K$84K$64K
Information technologyLn 14$305K$0$305K$0
OccupancyLn 16$457K$457K$0$0
TravelLn 17$24K$10K$0$14K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$14K$4K$10K$525
InterestLn 20$650K$650K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1.6M$1.2M$478K
InsuranceLn 23$402K$133K$269K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.3M$1.1M$286K$0
All other expensesLn 24e$886K$506K$232K$148K
Total functional expensesLn 25$30.4M$25.2M$3.6M$1.5M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $28.1M$30.4M−$2.3M$58.3M 990 PDF
FY2024 $32.0M$32.7M−$626K$60.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $22.0M$29.1M−$7.1M$62.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $29.9M$25.7M$4.3M$69.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $12.4M$10.3M$2.0M$67.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $15.9M$23.6M−$7.7M$63.2M 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 J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $28,093,409 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $16,769,735$13,877,487
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $10,359,822$9,570,277
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,745,540$2,996,944
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $2,170,180$1,648,701
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $32,045,277$28,093,409
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $40,809$40,055
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $16,731,535$16,998,636
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $202,729$204,432
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $15,696,275$13,108,198
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $32,671,348$30,351,321
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$626,071−$2,257,912
Part VI · Governance 50 of 53 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body53
VI-1b Independent voting members50
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $28,093,409 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $759,683 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$9,350
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,942,542
VIII-1e Government grants$221,619
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$11,703,976
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$13,877,487
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $9,570,277$9,570,277
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $485,986$485,986
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax −$1,051,278−$1,051,278
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $2,510,958$2,510,958
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$503,775−$503,775
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $2,444,071$2,444,071
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $12,774,031 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,441,891$28,093,409
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $30,351,321 across 23 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $32,555$32,555
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $7,500$7,500
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $789,346 · Management $961,810 · Fundraising $0$1,751,156
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $11,548,339 · Management $304,959 · Fundraising $839,676$12,692,974
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $675,045 · Management $5,661 · Fundraising $5,770$686,476
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $729,878 · Management $53,515 · Fundraising $52,846$836,239
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $889,281 · Management $80,765 · Fundraising $61,745$1,031,791
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $93,559 · Fundraising $0$93,559
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $101,911 · Fundraising $0$101,911
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $204,432$204,432
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $118,862 · Fundraising $0$118,862
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $5,599,132 · Management $232,898 · Fundraising $130,306$5,962,336
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $957,085 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$957,085
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $17,404 · Management $83,951 · Fundraising $64,042$165,397
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $0 · Management $304,705 · Fundraising $0$304,705
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $456,899 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$456,899
IX-17 TravelPrograms $10,138 · Management $0 · Fundraising $13,706$23,844
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $3,801 · Management $9,671 · Fundraising $525$13,997
IX-20 InterestPrograms $650,000$650,000
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,151,666 · Management $477,999$1,629,665
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $132,897 · Management $268,676$401,573
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,055,425 · Management $286,451 · Fundraising $0$1,341,876
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $506,366 · Management $232,012 · Fundraising $148,111$886,489
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $25,212,757 · Management $3,617,405 · Fundraising $1,521,159$30,351,321
Part X · Balance sheet $87,042,611 assets, 19 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $2,750,000; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $391,612$784,481
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $2,925,249$1,452,414
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $5,284,922$3,532,929
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $448,136$500,492
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $30,633$61,226
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $567,955$454,563
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $63,597,958$59,945,726
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $5,898,772$6,980,288
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $10,487,632$10,580,492
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $89,632,869$87,042,611
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $3,895,296$4,395,365
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $4,922,788$4,323,168
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $28,818,084$28,718,533
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $46,312,327$42,638,112
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $14,502,458$15,685,966
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $60,814,785$58,324,078
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $89,632,869$87,042,611
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $58,324,078 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$28,093,409
XI-2 Total expenses$30,351,321
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$2,257,912
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$60,814,785
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$205,338
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$27,457
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$58,324,078

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

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