San Francisco Symphony

Tax-deductible

San Francisco, CA501(c)(3)Since 1910Arts & CultureEIN 94-1156284Revenue $79.8M in FY2025

On file with the IRSsfsymphony.orgDavies Symphony Hall 201 Van Ness, 94102-0000 · San Francisco, CATax-exempt since Jan 1955Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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The San Francisco Symphony exists to inspire and serve audiences and communities throughout the bay area and the world through the power of musical performance.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
74¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 1,150 volunteers and 1,004 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 surplus $7.8M a year · 9% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
74%
of spending
Fine: 74% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$3.2M
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 91% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
11
named funders · $153K
Looks good: 11 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$20.0M
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
44
of 44 voting members
Looks good: 44 of 44 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$79.8M
+18% vs prior year
Spent
$82.3M
To programs
74%
Net assets
$431.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$79.8M
FY2025▲ +18%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$65.3M
FY2021$66.4M
FY2022$145.0M
FY2023$71.1M
FY2024$67.8M
FY2025$79.8M
Expenses
$82.3M
FY2025▼ -3%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$73.2M
FY2021$53.8M
FY2022$73.7M
FY2023$80.9M
FY2024$84.6M
FY2025$82.3M
Net assets
$431.1M
FY2025▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$304.7M
FY2021$399.3M
FY2022$357.8M
FY2023$375.7M
FY2024$404.5M
FY2025$431.1M

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 Jan 1955.

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

Where the money goes

74 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 74% · $61.0M Management & general 17% · $13.8M Fundraising 9% · $7.5M

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

58 people listed on the 990; $3.2M 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
Chief Executive Officer
$688,923Pt VII · Sec A
Concert Master
$579,758Pt VII · Sec A
Principal Flute
$438,203Pt VII · Sec A
$381,390Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Philanthropy Officer
$366,385Pt VII · Sec A
Principal Cello
$362,978Pt VII · Sec A
Principal Oboe
$346,181Pt VII · Sec A
Member, Board of Governors
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Matthew Spivey’s $689K as Chief Executive Officer is at the 91st 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
Mark Hanson——$348,500$1,094,874—$974,040
Mark Hanson Left 82021————$763,604—
Matthew Spivey$688,923$724,481$453,648$300,511——
Alexander Barantschik$579,758$577,132$507,943$317,113$260,873$565,737
Yubeen Kim$438,203—————
David Chambers Left 620—————$428,369
Sandra Curry$381,390$303,120————
Leigh Brawer$366,385$373,466$285,591———

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

Performs world-class orchestral music and provides comprehensive music education and mentoring programs to public school students throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

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2 programs · $61.0M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Through its artistic, education, and community programs, the san francisco symphony serves more than 650,000 bay area residents and visitors of every economic and cutural background in over 175 concerts throughout the year.

$58.5Mprogram expense
02

In partnership with the san francisco unified school district, the san francisco symphony provides comprehensive music education to every student in grades 1-5 in san francisco's public elementary schools through adventures in music, and supports every public middle and high school band and orchestra program through music and mentors.

$2.5Mprogram 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
See all 11 funders →
Grants paid · 16 grants · $306K · 2021–2024
The Actors Fund of AmericaNY · FY2024$64,358
Oakland School for the ArtsCA · FY2024$15,000
Oakland Symphony Muse ProgramCA · FY2024$15,000
Friends of Scrap INCCA · FY2024$10,000
Oakland School for the ArtsCA · FY2023$15,000
Oakland School for the ArtsCA · FY2023$15,000
Youth Art ExchangeCA · FY2023$10,000
Youth Art ExchangeCA · FY2023$10,000

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$79.8M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$31.8M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$31.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$14.5M
Money outPt IX
$82.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$61.0M
Managementcol C$13.8M
Fundraisingcol D$7.5M
Owns and owesPt X
$431.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$18.3M
Total assetsLn 16$451.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$20.0M
PeoplePt VI, VII
58
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a44
IndependentVI 1b44
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$31.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.4M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$2.1M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$2.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$31.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$14.5M
Other incomeLn 4–11$1.7M
Gains on assetsLn 7$9.1M
Total revenueLn 12$79.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$17.8M
SavingsLn 2$496K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$18.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$376.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$14.3M
Other assetsLn 15$29.2M
Total assetsLn 16$451.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$20.0M
Net assetsLn 32$431.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51,004
VolunteersI 61,150
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$8.7M$18.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$363.6M$376.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$14.2M$14.3M
Total assetsLn 16$425.9M$451.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$21.5M$20.0M
Net assetsLn 32$404.5M$431.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$180K$180K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.4M$217K$853K$298K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$41.5M$33.8M$4.6M$3.1M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$1.5M$1.4M$28K$18K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$8.6M$6.8M$1.1M$685K
Payroll taxesLn 10$3.3M$2.5M$501K$245K
Management feesLn 11a$3.6M$1.3M$1.3M$959K
Legal feesLn 11b$1.8M$1.8M
Accounting feesLn 11c$245K$245K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$88K$88K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$353K$353K
Investment management feesLn 11f$1.5M$704K$763K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$5.7M$4.9M$243K$531K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2.9M$2.9M
Office expensesLn 13$432K$394K$28K$9K
Information technologyLn 14$683K$556K$76K$51K
OccupancyLn 16$1.5M$1.0M$409K$70K
TravelLn 17$513K$404K$52K$57K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$76K$51K$9K$17K
InterestLn 20$202K$202K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$535K$383K$149K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$548K$64K$484K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$2.9M$2.5M$49K$321K
All other expensesLn 24e$2.4M$780K$849K$755K
Total functional expensesLn 25$82.3M$61.0M$13.8M$7.5M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $79.8M$82.3M−$2.5M$431.1M 990 PDF
FY2024 $67.8M$84.6M−$16.8M$404.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $71.1M$80.9M−$9.8M$375.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $145.0M$73.7M$71.3M$357.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 $66.4M$53.8M$12.6M$399.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 $65.3M$73.2M−$7.9M$304.7M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $79,757,311 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $26,467,798$31,754,783
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $31,619,154$31,767,560
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $10,420,103$14,549,977
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$702,102$1,684,991
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $67,804,953$79,757,311
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $64,309$179,716
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $54,633,532$56,214,079
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $347,907$353,495
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $29,545,342$25,533,400
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $84,591,090$82,280,690
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$16,786,137−$2,523,379
Part VI · Governance 44 of 44 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body44
VI-1b Independent voting members44
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 $79,757,311 across 14 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $66,360 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$48,615
VIII-1c Fundraising events$2,054,644
VIII-1e Government grants$2,421,805
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$27,229,719
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$2,142,343
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$31,754,783
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $31,767,560$31,767,560
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $5,484,623$5,484,623
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $72,083$72,083
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossUnrelated business $4,600 · Excluded from tax $92,107$96,707
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $9,065,354$9,065,354
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $638,431$638,431
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $811,410$811,410
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $31,833,920 · Unrelated business $4,600 · Excluded from tax $16,164,008$79,757,311
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $82,280,690 across 24 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $179,716$179,716
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $217,268 · Management $853,265 · Fundraising $297,712$1,368,245
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $33,789,848 · Management $4,618,605 · Fundraising $3,117,084$41,525,537
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,414,597 · Management $28,478 · Fundraising $17,772$1,460,847
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $6,817,885 · Management $1,097,023 · Fundraising $684,612$8,599,520
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $2,514,031 · Management $500,851 · Fundraising $245,048$3,259,930
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $1,314,361 · Management $1,283,601 · Fundraising $959,488$3,557,450
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $1,803,833$1,803,833
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $245,210$245,210
IX-11d Lobbying feesManagement $88,000$88,000
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $353,495$353,495
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $703,872 · Management $762,529$1,466,401
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $4,907,899 · Management $242,736 · Fundraising $530,782$5,681,417
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $2,946,262$2,946,262
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $393,913 · Management $28,248 · Fundraising $9,485$431,646
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $556,125 · Management $76,014 · Fundraising $51,302$683,441
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,001,400 · Management $408,624 · Fundraising $69,929$1,479,953
IX-17 TravelPrograms $403,908 · Management $52,234 · Fundraising $56,873$513,015
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $50,509 · Management $8,750 · Fundraising $16,738$75,997
IX-20 InterestManagement $202,118$202,118
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $383,293 · Management $149,142 · Fundraising $2,281$534,716
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $64,406 · Management $484,009$548,415
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,521,626 · Management $49,382 · Fundraising $320,510$2,891,518
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $780,335 · Management $848,974 · Fundraising $754,699$2,384,008
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $60,961,254 · Management $13,831,626 · Fundraising $7,487,810$82,280,690
Part X · Balance sheet $451,082,739 assets, 18 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $1,994,563; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $7,482,592$17,830,289
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,227,721$495,991
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $6,747,360$6,702,014
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $2,350,475$2,458,755
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,362,183$1,420,532
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $14,221,174$14,271,317
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $56,234,756$59,154,879
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $307,355,014$317,586,333
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $26,836,549$29,168,066
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $425,949,812$451,082,739
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $4,455,547$5,458,442
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $14,752,171$12,968,909
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $2,264,711$1,560,584
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $21,472,429$19,987,935
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $49,419,624$57,134,641
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $355,057,759$373,960,163
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $404,477,383$431,094,804
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $425,949,812$451,082,739
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $431,094,804 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$79,757,311
XI-2 Total expenses$82,280,690
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$2,523,379
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$404,477,383
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$23,037,506
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$6,103,294
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$431,094,804

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

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