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Nonprofiteer
← SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$38,088,654
Total expenses
$40,232,219
Contributions and grants received
$20,529,805
Grants paid
$350,004
Program service revenue
$17,437,734
Investment income
$205,746
Other revenue
-$84,631
Total assets, end of year
$18,381,220
Total liabilities, end of year
$15,994,464
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$2,386,756
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$31,679,961
Management and general expenses
$5,801,079
Fundraising expenses
$2,751,179
Program service expenses (Part III)
$31,679,961

Program services were 78.7% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $1,571,128

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $4,099,440

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $720,500

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $14,138,737

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $882,899

  • 2a · Program service revenue: CONCERT REVENUE

    total $14,361,780 · related or exempt $14,361,780

  • 2b · Program service revenue: SUPPORT SERVICE FEES

    total $2,142,363 · related or exempt $2,142,363

  • 2c · Program service revenue: HALL USAGE FEE

    total $833,591 · related or exempt $271,179 · unrelated business $562,412

  • 2d · Program service revenue: MANAGEMENT FEE

    total $100,000 · related or exempt $100,000

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $204,604 · excluded $204,604

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $6,394 · excluded $6,394

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $773,739

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $772,597

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $1,142

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $1,142 · excluded $1,142

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $155,178

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $1,571,128

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $295,887

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$140,709 · excluded -$140,709

  • 9a · Gaming: gross income

    $26,350

  • 9b · Gaming: direct expenses

    $39,242

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total -$12,892 · excluded -$12,892

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $272,318

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $220,014

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $52,304 · unrelated business $9,784 · excluded $42,520

  • 11a · Other revenue: USHER FUND

    total $6,201 · excluded $6,201

  • 11b · Other revenue: AUXILIARY INCOME

    total $4,071 · related or exempt $4,071

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $10,272

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $350,004 · program services $350,004

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $2,031,965 · program services $1,095,778 · management and general $670,831 · fundraising $265,356

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $20,282,187 · program services $17,896,977 · management and general $1,209,480 · fundraising $1,175,730

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $805,605 · program services $720,381 · management and general $40,462 · fundraising $44,762

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $5,562,361 · program services $4,789,093 · management and general $387,810 · fundraising $385,458

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,993,258 · program services $1,600,234 · management and general $250,705 · fundraising $142,319

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $934,007 · program services $27,950 · management and general $906,057

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $433,230 · program services $4,600 · management and general $406,660 · fundraising $21,970

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $54,000 · management and general $54,000

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $128 · management and general $128

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $1,554,969 · program services $1,381,991 · management and general $94,282 · fundraising $78,696

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $948,655 · program services $437,716 · management and general $118,771 · fundraising $392,168

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $636,347 · program services $73,794 · management and general $560,384 · fundraising $2,169

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $211,865 · program services $211,865

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $362,710 · program services $187,611 · management and general $172,424 · fundraising $2,675

  • 17 · Travel

    total $448,465 · program services $428,396 · management and general $7,881 · fundraising $12,188

  • 20 · Interest

    total $418,578 · management and general $418,578

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $234,569 · management and general $234,569

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $84,737 · program services $46,877 · management and general $37,860

  • 24a · Other expenses: CONCERT COSTS

    total $2,677,150 · program services $2,391,031 · management and general $65,603 · fundraising $220,516

  • 24b · Other expenses: UBI TAXES

    total $67,594 · management and general $67,594

  • 24c · Other expenses: RECRUITMENT

    total $62,873 · program services $14,451 · management and general $48,422

  • 24d · Other expenses: TAXES AND LICENSES

    total $16,697 · program services $14,525 · management and general $1,028 · fundraising $1,144

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $60,265 · program services $6,687 · management and general $47,550 · fundraising $6,028

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $384,772 · end of year $678,481

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $43,228 · end of year $43,231

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $3,153,330 · end of year $2,913,932

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $514,937 · end of year $640,009

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $1,154,148 · end of year $1,181,339

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $229,851 · end of year $228,102

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $581,450 · end of year $398,136

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $9,527,440

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $3,399,265

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $6,246,436 · end of year $6,128,175

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $6,739,765 · end of year $6,169,815

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,972,349 · end of year $2,244,181

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $6,572,103 · end of year $6,300,963

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $5,223,973 · end of year $6,429,938

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,019,382 · end of year $1,019,382

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year -$5,407,382 · end of year -$6,141,979

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $9,667,492 · end of year $8,528,735

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

TO PRESENT SYMPHONIC MUSIC OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY IN A DISTINCTIVE WAY FOR THE CULTURAL ENRICHMENT, EDUCATION, ENGAGEMENT AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

Activities or mission (Part I)

SEATTLE SYMPHONY UNLEASHES THE POWER OF MUSIC, BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER, & LIFTS THE HUMAN SPIRIT.

  • THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY IS ONE OF AMERICA'S LEADING ORCHESTRAS AND IS INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED FOR ITS INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING AND EXTENSIVE RECORDING HISTORY. THE 2024-2025 SEASON SAW INCREASED AUDIENCES WITH 227,623 ATTENDING IN PERSON. THAT INCLUDED 50,948 FREE OR DISCOUNTED TICKETS AND OVER 164 COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PROGRAMS TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE PUGET SOUND REGION. SELECTED SERVICES WERE ALSO STREAMED FOR VIEWING ONLINE. THE SYMPHONY ALSO PROVIDED VENUE RENTALS AND STREAMING SERVICES TO OTHER ARTISTIC ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY GROUP EVENTS TAKING PLACE AT BENAROYA HALL.

    Expenses $30,983,035 · Grants $350,004 · Revenue $17,291,460

  • FOR EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING IN ADDITION TO DIGITAL CONTENT DELIVERED THROUGH THE STREAMING PLATFORM, ATTENDANCE IN THE 24/25 SEASON SAW 35,609 STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OVER 180 EVENTS INCLUDING OFFSITE EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE PUGET SOUND REGION. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE PRE-CONCERT TALKS, FAMILY AND TINY TOTS CONCERTS, LINK UP (AN INTERACTIVE CONCERT EXPERIENCE FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS), MUSICIANS CLASSROOMS VISITS, OPEN REHEARSALS, CAREER IN THE ARTS PANELS, FREE SIDE-BY-SIDE PERFORMANCES WITH LOCAL YOUTH ORCHESTRAS AND COMMUNITY CONCERTS, COMMUNITY STAGES FUND AWARDEES PERFORMANCES, YOUNG ARTIST CONCERTO AUDITION AND THE YOUNG COMPOSERS WORKSHOP.

    Expenses $696,926 · Revenue $150,345

As filed on the 2024 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • JON ROSEN

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 2 related

  • DANAE HOWE

    VICE CHAIR, EQUITY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JOE DAVY

    VICE CHAIR, AUDIENCES & COMMUNITIES

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • RON KOO

    VICE CHAIR, GOVERNANCE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • SUSAN COUGHLIN

    VICE CHAIR, DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 2 related

  • MOLLY GABEL

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • YUKA SHIMIZU

    TREASURER & VICE CHAIR, FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 4 related

  • SUSAN AMINI

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • SUE BUSKE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • LESLIE CHIHULY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 2 related

  • SAM CHO

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • DAVID CROSS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • SUSAN DETWEILER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • REBECCA EBSWORTH

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JERRY FARLEY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • MIMI GATES

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • LYN GRINSTEIN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 2 related

  • JEAN-FRANCOIS HEITZ

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 2 related

  • PARUL HOULAHAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • DOUGLAS JACKSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 2 related

  • NADER KABBANI

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • SWIL KANIM

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • PAUL LEACH

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • IKE LEE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JASON LEE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • KJRISTINE R LUND

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 2 related

  • BRIAN J MARKS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • BEN MARTZ

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • BILL MCALEER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • MARSHAL MCREAL

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • TONY MILES

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • HISAYO NAKAJIMA

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • NANCY NERAAS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ERIKA NESHOLM

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JUDY RUNSTAD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ELISABETH SANDLER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • MICHAEL SLONSKI

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 2 related

  • LYLE SNYDER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JOAN WANG

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • KRISHNA THIAGARAJAN

    PRESIDENT & CEO

    Total calculated
    $544,333
    From this org
    $492,915
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $51,418
    Hours/week
    33 + 3 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $492,915
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $13,800
    Nontaxable benefits
    $37,618
    Filer's total
    $544,333

  • MARIA YANG

    ACTING CEO & VP OF DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $318,568
    From this org
    $278,156
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,412
    Hours/week
    32 + 3 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $269,890
    Bonus
    $8,266
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $11,042
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,370
    Filer's total
    $318,568

  • CHERONNE WONG

    CFO & BENAROYA HALL COO

    Total calculated
    $323,806
    From this org
    $275,624
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $48,182
    Hours/week
    29 + 6 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $254,618
    Bonus
    $21,006
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,564
    Nontaxable benefits
    $37,618
    Filer's total
    $323,806

  • JENNIFER ADAIR

    COO

    Total calculated
    $218,826
    From this org
    $186,398
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,428
    Hours/week
    25 + 10 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $186,398
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,782
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,646
    Filer's total
    $218,826

  • PAUL JOHNSON

    VP OF PEOPLE & CULTURE

    Total calculated
    $193,611
    From this org
    $174,588
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,023
    Hours/week
    34 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $174,588
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,283
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,740
    Filer's total
    $193,611

  • CHRISTINE WOOD

    VP OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

    Total calculated
    $191,489
    From this org
    $170,854
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,635
    Hours/week
    34 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $170,854
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,895
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,740
    Filer's total
    $191,489

  • TOBY WILSON

    VP ARTISTIC PLANNING

    Total calculated
    $200,209
    From this org
    $170,839
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,370
    Hours/week
    35

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $170,839
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,370
    Filer's total
    $200,209

  • NOAH GELLER

    CONCERTMASTER

    Total calculated
    $350,722
    From this org
    $319,838
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $30,884
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $319,838
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,884
    Filer's total
    $350,722

  • HYERIN KIM

    MUSICIAN

    Total calculated
    $224,682
    From this org
    $185,551
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $39,131
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $185,551
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $39,131
    Filer's total
    $224,682

  • EFE BALTACIGIL

    MUSICIAN

    Total calculated
    $197,488
    From this org
    $185,073
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,415
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $185,073
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,415
    Filer's total
    $197,488

  • AARON GORSETH

    STAGE CREW LEAD

    Total calculated
    $182,706
    From this org
    $182,706
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $182,706
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $182,706

  • DAVID GORDON

    MUSICIAN

    Total calculated
    $185,740
    From this org
    $170,476
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,264
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $170,476
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,264
    Filer's total
    $185,740

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 7
THE BONUS AMOUNTS PAID TO MS. YANG AND MS. WONG FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2024 WERE DETERMINED AND APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT & CEO, CONSISTENT WITH HIS RESPONSIBILITY AS SUPERVISOR AND UNDER AUTHORITY PROVIDED BY THE SYMPHONY'S "DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY" POLICY, APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Related corporations and trusts

Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.

  • CHARITABLE LEAD ANNUITY TRUST (1)

    T · INVESTMENTS · WA

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
7 July 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.5
Source object
202601919349301320

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