Pacific Symphony, a cornerstone cultural organization serving orange county, reaches over 225,000 individuals annually with diverse orchestral performances, chamber music, opera, choral music, and premieres of new works. Broadcasting 12 classical series performances on kusc radio expands the symphony's reach. Through education and community engagement programs like heartstrings, Symphony in the cities, the lantern festival, and Symphony on the go, tens of thousands of community members gain free access to the symphony's offerings. Pacific symphony's commitment extends to music education, providing assemblies in elementary schools and training over 300 middle and high school students yearly through Pacific Symphony youth ensembles.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
68¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$2.4M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · 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
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $4.3M a year · 17% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
68%
of spending
Fine: 68% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.4M
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
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $207K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$4.8M
9% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 9% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
72
of 73 voting members
Looks good: 72 of 73 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$23.7M
-23% vs prior year
Spent
$23.9M
To programs
68%
Net assets
$50.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$23.7M
FY2023▼ -23%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$17.6M
FY2021$17.6M
FY2022$30.9M
FY2023$23.7M
FY2024$26.4M
FY2025$35.7M
Expenses
$23.9M
FY2023▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$19.0M
FY2021$11.0M
FY2022$21.7M
FY2023$23.9M
FY2024$23.8M
FY2025$26.6M
Net assets
$50.5M
FY2023▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$28.0M
FY2021$43.1M
FY2022$48.1M
FY2023$50.5M
FY2024$56.2M
FY2025$68.8M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending June 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 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 Jan 1982.

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

Where the money goes

68 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 68% · $16.2M Management & general 24% · $5.8M Fundraising 8% · $1.9M

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

83 people listed on the 990; $2.4M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
Music Director
$475,206Pt VII · Sec A
$362,990Pt VII · Sec A
Concertmaster
$285,070Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Dev.& Ext. Relations
$240,000Pt VII · Sec A
$191,291Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Dir. of Major Gifts
$162,392Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Artistic & Orch.
$155,435Pt VII · Sec A
SR Director of Finance
$132,661Pt VII · Sec A

Carl St Clair’s $448K as Music Director is at the 72nd 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
Mr Carl St Clair—$487,362$475,206$375,978$407,640$448,943
Carl St Clair$448,340—————
Mr John E Forsyte—$384,204$362,990$322,349$271,011$310,464
John Forsyte$363,158—————
Mr Dennis Kim—$211,674$285,070$224,629$127,196$219,078
Mr Gregory Cox—$194,631$240,000$238,370$214,647$227,281
Emily Rankin$225,553—————
Dennis Kim$216,912—————

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 15aYes

Programs and updates

Brings communities together through inspiring, healing music and youth programs.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $16.2M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Classical, pops concerts, outdoor concerts, concerts for ballet, chorale groups and other organizations approximately 125,000 of experiences provided.

$13.0Mprogram expense
02

Educational events and community outreach programs including appreciation of music in school programs, family concerts, youth orchestra and others approximately 100,000 experiences provided.

$3.2Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$207K
See all 3 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$23.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$12.8M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8.4M
Other incomeLn 4–11$1.6M
Money outPt IX
$23.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$16.2M
Managementcol C$5.8M
Fundraisingcol D$1.9M
Owns and owesPt X
$50.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$8.3M
Total assetsLn 16$55.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
83
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a73
IndependentVI 1b72
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$12.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$344K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$2.3M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$834K
Other incomeLn 4–11$1.6M
Gains on assetsLn 7$94K
Total revenueLn 12$23.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$5.1M
SavingsLn 2$3.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$8.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$28.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.5M
Other assetsLn 15$174K
Total assetsLn 16$55.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.8M
Net assetsLn 32$50.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5426
VolunteersI 61,400
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$11.5M$8.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$26.0M$28.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.9M$6.5M
Total assetsLn 16$53.8M$55.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.7M$4.8M
Net assetsLn 32$48.1M$50.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.8M$778K$531K$502K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$9.1M$7.0M$1.6M$531K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$741K$704K$32K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$644K$434K$156K$54K
Payroll taxesLn 10$772K$566K$134K$72K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$502K$410K$92K
Accounting feesLn 11c$84K$84K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$32K$32K
Investment management feesLn 11f$95K$95K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$642K$49K$364K$229K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2.1M$1.7M$408K
Office expensesLn 13$478K$33K$378K$68K
Information technologyLn 14$269K$269K
RoyaltiesLn 15$82K$82K
OccupancyLn 16$211K$139K$72K
TravelLn 17$71K$14K$46K$11K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$14K$2K$8K$3K
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$413K$272K$140K
InsuranceLn 23$145K$54K$91K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$5.8M$5.7M$68K$4K
Total functional expensesLn 25$23.9M$16.2M$5.8M$1.9M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $35.7M$26.6M$9.1M$68.8M 990 PDF
FY2024 $26.4M$23.8M$2.6M$56.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $23.7M$23.9M−$222K$50.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $30.9M$21.7M$9.1M$48.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $17.6M$11.0M$6.6M$43.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $17.6M$19.0M−$1.4M$28.0M 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 M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $23,725,547 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $21,971,736$12,848,468
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $7,284,876$8,408,164
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $315,799$833,663
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $1,298,025$1,635,252
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $30,870,436$23,725,547
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 $12,496,652$13,081,143
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $56,121$32,052
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $9,195,175$10,833,990
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $21,747,948$23,947,185
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $9,122,488−$221,638
Part VI · Governance 72 of 73 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body73
VI-1b Independent voting members72
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
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 $23,725,547 across 13 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $27,331 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,183,511
VIII-1e Government grants$344,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$11,320,957
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$2,285,838
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$12,848,468
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $8,408,164$8,408,164
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $739,982$739,982
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $93,681$93,681
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $1,367,867$1,367,867
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $240,054$240,054
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $8,675,549 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $2,201,530$23,725,547
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $23,947,185 across 30 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $778,175 · Management $530,966 · Fundraising $502,198$1,811,339
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $6,995,777 · Management $1,585,875 · Fundraising $530,798$9,112,450
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $703,527 · Management $32,258 · Fundraising $5,567$741,352
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $434,471 · Management $155,995 · Fundraising $53,827$644,293
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $565,633 · Management $134,249 · Fundraising $71,827$771,709
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $410,000 · Management $92,016$502,016
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $83,540$83,540
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $32,052$32,052
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $95,204$95,204
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $48,574 · Management $364,398 · Fundraising $228,965$641,937
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $1,670,124 · Fundraising $407,785$2,077,909
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $32,776 · Management $377,593 · Fundraising $68,040$478,409
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $268,558$268,558
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $81,840$81,840
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $139,100 · Management $71,658$210,758
IX-17 TravelPrograms $13,985 · Management $46,169 · Fundraising $10,546$70,700
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $2,476 · Management $8,445 · Fundraising $2,580$13,501
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $272,335 · Management $140,294$412,629
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $54,084 · Management $90,831$144,915
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $5,679,823 · Management $67,979 · Fundraising $4,272$5,752,074
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $16,212,576 · Management $5,816,152 · Fundraising $1,918,457$23,947,185
Part X · Balance sheet $55,229,756 assets, 24 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $844,238$5,137,479
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $10,649,270$3,199,325
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $6,125,950$9,409,791
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $2,339,898$1,251,241
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $805,754$838,168
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $6,877,347$6,546,503
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $25,958,255$28,673,049
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $174,200$174,200
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $53,774,912$55,229,756
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,789,038$2,081,683
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $2,905,246$2,672,439
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $5,694,284$4,754,122
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $12,416,584$12,662,950
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $35,664,044$37,812,684
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $48,080,628$50,475,634
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $53,774,912$55,229,756
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $50,475,634 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$23,725,547
XI-2 Total expenses$23,947,185
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$221,638
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$48,080,628
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$2,700,516
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$83,872
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$50,475,634

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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