The Oregon Symphony is dedicated to moving music forward. Our vision is bold and adventurous: to inspire audiences with exhilarating performances, present the best musicians in a wide range of styles, explore new art forms, shine light on contemporary issues and build a stronger community.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
82¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 97 volunteers and 345 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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $1.2M 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
82%
of spending
Looks good: 82% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.5M
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.2 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
17
named funders · $2.8M
Looks good: 17 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$7.6M
28% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 28% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
45
of 48 voting members
Looks good: 45 of 48 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$19.4M
-26% vs prior year
Spent
$25.7M
To programs
82%
Net assets
$20.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$19.4M
FY2025▼ -26%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$13.5M
FY2021$13.8M
FY2022$26.2M
FY2023$16.9M
FY2024$26.3M
FY2025$19.4M
Expenses
$25.7M
FY2025▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$20.3M
FY2021$11.5M
FY2022$20.9M
FY2023$21.9M
FY2024$23.0M
FY2025$25.7M
Net assets
$20.0M
FY2025▼ -19%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$15.4M
FY2021$21.1M
FY2022$23.9M
FY2023$20.2M
FY2024$24.8M
FY2025$20.0M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 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 Jun 1954.

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

Where the money goes

82 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 82% · $21.0M Management & general 9% · $2.4M Fundraising 9% · $2.2M

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

57 people listed on the 990; $1.5M 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
President/CEO
$407,009Pt VII · Sec A
Music Director
$328,610Pt VII · Sec A
Concertmaster
$199,867Pt VII · Sec A
VP Development
$142,677Pt VII · Sec A
$121,915Pt VII · Sec A
VP Programming
$105,329Pt VII · Sec A
Musician Director
$86,074Pt VII · Sec A
Musician Director
$75,241Pt VII · Sec A

Isaac Thompson’s $407K as President/CEO is at the 65th 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
Scott Showalter—$424,042$403,020$370,712$279,988$369,432
Isaac Thompson$407,009$139,564————
David Danzmayr$328,610$306,750$273,614$118,876——
Sarah Kwak$199,867$201,662$183,176$105,152$123,649$188,661
Russell Kelban—$176,996$167,348$155,717$129,555—
Ellen Bussing—————$166,550
Janet Plummer———$118,018$152,016$160,478
Hilary Blakemore$142,677$155,343$140,149$131,386$123,224$118,358

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 Oregon Symphony Association 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

Performs diverse orchestral concerts, ranging from classical music to film scores and pop, to inspire audiences and connect communities across Oregon.

Questions for Oregon Symphony Association

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $21.0M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Concert Season Highlights

The harmony, rhythm, and power of nature took center stage in the oregon symphony's 2024/25 season, the nature of music. Led by jean vollum music director david danzmayr and performed by the symphony's 77 full-time musicians, the orchestra embarked on a thrilling exploration of the relationship between humanity and the natural world…

$18.5Mprogram expense
02

Audience Development

The oregon symphony continued to adapt to evolving audience preferences in the 2024/25 season, resulting in significant growth in attendance, engagement, and overall reach. Through diverse programming and targeted outreach, we successfully connected with new audience members while deepening relationships with longtime PATRONS.THE season…

$2.1Mprogram expense
03

Education & Access

At the oregon symphony, we're committed to expanding access to music throughout our entire community, from the youngest children to our most vulnerable neighbors. Because we know a musical city is a stronger city.

$421Kprogram 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 17 funders →
Grants paid · 7 grants · $3.0M · 2019–2024
Fear No MusicOR · FY2023$10,000
Outside the FrameOR · FY2022$10,000
Portland 5 Center for the ArtsFY2020$2,000,000
Portland 5 Center for the ArtsFY2019$1,000,000

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$19.4M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$9.6M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$376K
Money outPt IX
$25.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$21.0M
Managementcol C$2.4M
Fundraisingcol D$2.2M
Owns and owesPt X
$20.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.6M
Total assetsLn 16$27.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
57
listed · VII A
PaidVII A9
Voting boardVI 1a48
IndependentVI 1b45
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$515K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$875K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$9.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$376K
Other incomeLn 4–11$46K
Gains on assetsLn 7$66K
Total revenueLn 12$19.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.9M
SavingsLn 2$2.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$4.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$101K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.4M
Other assetsLn 15$17.6M
Total assetsLn 16$27.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.6M
Net assetsLn 32$20.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5345
VolunteersI 697
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$6.4M$4.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$91K$101K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.1M$1.4M
Total assetsLn 16$31.8M$27.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.1M$7.6M
Net assetsLn 32$24.8M$20.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$10K$10K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$485K$485K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$10.5M$8.8M$880K$772K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$554K$466K$47K$41K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2.2M$1.8M$182K$159K
Payroll taxesLn 10$1.1M$886K$89K$78K
Legal feesLn 11b$22K$22K
Accounting feesLn 11c$159K$159K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$37K$37K
Investment management feesLn 11f$80K$80K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$3.5M$3.3M$29K$115K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$1.4M$1.3M$110K
Office expensesLn 13$915K$420K$19K$476K
Information technologyLn 14$10K$10K
OccupancyLn 16$1.3M$1.1M$49K$94K
TravelLn 17$225K$131K$27K$67K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$53K$53K
InterestLn 20$2K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$210K$84K$63K$63K
InsuranceLn 23$77K$77K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$2.9M$2.5M$180K$191K
All other expensesLn 24e$103K$85K$19K
Total functional expensesLn 25$25.7M$21.0M$2.4M$2.2M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $19.4M$25.7M−$6.2M$20.0M 990 PDF
FY2024 $26.3M$23.0M$3.3M$24.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $16.9M$21.9M−$5.0M$20.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $26.2M$20.9M$5.2M$23.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $13.8M$11.5M$2.3M$21.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $13.5M$20.3M−$6.8M$15.4M 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 $19,431,069 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $15,478,617$9,452,492
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $10,232,642$9,556,808
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $575,122$376,174
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $26,145$45,595
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $26,312,526$19,431,069
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $10,000$10,000
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $13,959,327$14,701,268
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$37,064
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $9,021,320$10,905,992
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $22,990,647$25,654,324
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $3,321,879−$6,223,255
Part VI · Governance 45 of 48 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body48
VI-1b Independent voting members45
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 $19,431,069 across 12 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$614,618
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,541,712
VIII-1e Government grants$515,004
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$6,781,158
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$875,411
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$9,452,492
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $9,556,808$9,556,808
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $310,010$310,010
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $66,164$66,164
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $45,595$45,595
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $9,556,808 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $421,769$19,431,069
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $25,654,324 across 22 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $10,000$10,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $485,471$485,471
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $8,800,520 · Management $879,903 · Fundraising $771,661$10,452,084
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $466,422 · Management $46,634 · Fundraising $40,898$553,954
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,816,677 · Management $181,637 · Fundraising $159,293$2,157,607
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $885,898 · Management $88,575 · Fundraising $77,679$1,052,152
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $22,169$22,169
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $159,000$159,000
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $37,064$37,064
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $79,571$79,571
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $3,335,102 · Management $28,646 · Fundraising $115,429$3,479,177
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,300,930 · Fundraising $110,217$1,411,147
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $419,587 · Management $18,979 · Fundraising $476,139$914,705
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $9,839$9,839
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,118,008 · Management $49,490 · Fundraising $93,630$1,261,128
IX-17 TravelPrograms $130,568 · Management $27,255 · Fundraising $67,009$224,832
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $52,669$52,669
IX-20 InterestManagement $1,700$1,700
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $84,051 · Management $63,039 · Fundraising $63,039$210,129
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $77,108$77,108
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,528,475 · Management $179,914 · Fundraising $190,950$2,899,339
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $84,663 · Management $18,816$103,479
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $21,033,570 · Management $2,417,746 · Fundraising $2,203,008$25,654,324
Part X · Balance sheet $27,633,109 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,960,603$1,902,470
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $3,408,366$2,736,751
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $6,772,628$3,437,546
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $81,958$190,793
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$51,150
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $294,679$264,799
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,119,858$1,369,300
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $90,683$100,559
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $17,120,835$17,579,741
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $31,849,610$27,633,109
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,062,578$1,022,555
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $3,414,859$4,235,712
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $2,595,892$2,371,949
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $7,073,329$7,630,216
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $5,481,888$2,471,915
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $19,294,393$17,530,978
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $24,776,281$20,002,893
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $31,849,610$27,633,109
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $20,002,893 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$19,431,069
XI-2 Total expenses$25,654,324
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$6,223,255
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$24,776,281
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,449,867
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$20,002,893

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

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