The mission of the Tucson Symphony is to build and enrich community through the experience of live music of the highest quality.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
70¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$265K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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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
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.0M a year · 29% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
70%
of spending
Fine: 70% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$265K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
15 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 14.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
14
named funders · $600K
Looks good: 14 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.6M
10% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 10% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 19 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 19 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$5.0M
-55% vs prior year
Spent
$2.6M
To programs
70%
Net assets
$14.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$5.0M
FY2021▼ -55%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$11.1M
FY2021$5.0M
FY2022$6.5M
FY2023$5.3M
FY2024$6.4M
FY2025$8.0M
Expenses
$2.6M
FY2021▼ -49%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$5.1M
FY2021$2.6M
FY2022$4.5M
FY2023$5.7M
FY2024$6.0M
FY2025$6.3M
Net assets
$14.2M
FY2021▲ +42%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$10.0M
FY2021$14.2M
FY2022$14.0M
FY2023$14.4M
FY2024$18.3M
FY2025$19.8M

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

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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 Apr 1965.

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

Where the money goes

70 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 70% · $1.8M Management & general 22% · $564K Fundraising 9% · $225K

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

23 people listed on the 990; $265K 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
Past Preside
$135,869Pt VII · Sec A
Past CFO
$62,688Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair/P
$22,748Pt VII · Sec A
Ex-Officio
$20,939Pt VII · Sec A
$11,777Pt VII · Sec A
Ex-Officio
$6,986Pt VII · Sec A
$3,584Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Paul Meecham’s $170K as President & CEO is at the 74th 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Paul Meecham$169,623$165,700$166,444$81,676——
Steven Haines————$135,869$17,596
Eric Lind$110,485$107,152————
Paula Egan$101,532$99,083$96,154$31,011——
Karen Sivert———$84,015$22,748—
Natasha Zahn————$62,688$62,731
Nadgegzda Miller-Zahn—————$62,731
Nadgegzda Zahn———$36,693——

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 Tucson Symphony Society executive salaries →

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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

Enriches community by presenting high-quality live orchestral music.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.8M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tucson symphony orchestra postponed its originally planned orchestral 2020-2021 season until the fall of 2021 and transitioned to digital offerings.

$1.6Mprogram expense
02

The Tso Offers Six Innovative Music Education Programs

Just for kids, kinderkonzerts, music in the schools, young people's concerts, young composers project, and band and orchestra clinics. In 2020-2021, tso shifted to an online format for its education programs.

$213Kprogram expense
03

In response to covid health and safety protocols, tso debuted their first mobile stage, "tso on the go", an innovative stage on wheels that allows small groups of musicians to take their artistry around the tucson area.

$33Kprogram 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
See all 14 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$105K
Other incomeLn 4–11$27K
Money outPt IX
$2.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.8M
Managementcol C$564K
Fundraisingcol D$225K
Owns and owesPt X
$14.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.2M
Total assetsLn 16$15.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
23
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a19
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$795K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8K
Investment incomeLn 3$105K
Other incomeLn 4–11$27K
Gains on assetsLn 7$72K
Total revenueLn 12$5.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$692K
SavingsLn 2$2.5M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$613K
Other assetsLn 15$7.5M
Total assetsLn 16$15.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.6M
Net assetsLn 32$14.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5246
VolunteersI 6157
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$2.7M$3.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.1M$2.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$631K$613K
Total assetsLn 16$11.9M$15.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.9M$1.6M
Net assetsLn 32$10.0M$14.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$261K$9K$196K$56K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.0M$909K$102K$13K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$277K$271K$6K$337
Payroll taxesLn 10$95K$80K$10K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$69K$69K
Investment management feesLn 11f$13K$13K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$133K$113K$21K
OccupancyLn 16$82K$52K$24K$7K
InterestLn 20$30K$30K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$120K$96K$19K$5K
InsuranceLn 23$25K$25K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$449K$279K$68K$103K
All other expensesLn 24e$27K$9K$3K$15K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.6M$1.8M$564K$225K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $8.0M$6.3M$1.7M$19.8M 990 PDF
FY2024 $6.4M$6.0M$440K$18.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.3M$5.7M−$450K$14.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $6.5M$4.5M$2.1M$14.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $5.0M$2.6M$2.4M$14.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $11.1M$5.1M$6.0M$10.0M 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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,960,515 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $8,818,450$4,820,890
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,936,200$7,750
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $227,005$105,104
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $89,863$26,771
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $11,071,518$4,960,515
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,081,576$1,657,684
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,009,229$948,327
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,090,805$2,606,011
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $5,980,713$2,354,504
Part VI · Governance 15 of 19 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body19
VI-1b Independent voting members15
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 $4,960,515 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$794,631
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,026,259
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,820,890
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $7,750$7,750
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $32,727$32,727
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $72,377$72,377
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $26,771$26,771
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $34,521 · Excluded from tax $105,104$4,960,515
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,606,011 across 13 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $9,349 · Management $195,887 · Fundraising $56,093$261,329
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $908,682 · Management $102,244 · Fundraising $13,244$1,024,170
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $270,776 · Management $5,878 · Fundraising $337$276,991
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $80,104 · Management $9,953 · Fundraising $5,137$95,194
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $69,435$69,435
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $12,750$12,750
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $112,605 · Fundraising $20,656$133,261
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $51,975 · Management $23,676 · Fundraising $6,733$82,384
IX-20 InterestManagement $29,701$29,701
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $95,933 · Management $19,236 · Fundraising $5,003$120,172
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $24,566$24,566
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $278,531 · Management $67,512 · Fundraising $102,854$448,897
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $8,634 · Management $3,233 · Fundraising $15,294$27,161
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,816,589 · Management $564,071 · Fundraising $225,351$2,606,011
Part X · Balance sheet $15,810,045 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $972,526$692,322
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,713,540$2,512,082
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $357,455$1,553,538
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $46,791$365,112
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $81,465$50,889
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $630,815$613,498
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $2,067,743$2,533,898
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $6,046,563$7,488,706
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $11,916,898$15,810,045
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $131,076$125,475
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $955,737$869,175
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $660,220$624,526
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,897,033$1,619,176
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $567,061$2,397,226
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $9,452,804$11,793,643
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $10,019,865$14,190,869
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $11,916,898$15,810,045
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $14,190,869 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,960,515
XI-2 Total expenses$2,606,011
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,354,504
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$10,019,865
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$374,357
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$1,442,143
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$14,190,869

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

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