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Nonprofit · EIN 91-0667412

SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC

Tax-exempt · SEATTLE, WA 98111

Financials

$31.3M$34.4M2022$31.1M$37.3M2023$38.1M$40.2M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
August 31, 2025990$38,088,654$40,232,219-$2,143,565$18,381,220$15,994,464$2,386,756
August 31, 2024990$31,140,199$37,349,839-$6,209,640$19,047,917$14,787,807$4,260,110
August 31, 2023990$31,257,219$34,393,963-$3,136,744$19,008,837$10,008,162$9,000,675
Financial details: 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$20,529,805
of which government grants
$720,500
Program service revenue
$17,437,734
Investment income
$205,746
Royalties
$6,394
Net gain from sales of assets
$1,142
Net income from fundraising events
-$140,709
Net income from gaming
-$12,892
Net income from sales of inventory
$52,304
Other revenue
-$84,631

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$350,004
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$2,031,965
Other salaries and wages
$20,282,187
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$30,675,376
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$934,007
Accounting fees
$433,230
Occupancy
$362,710
Travel
$448,465
Depreciation
$234,569
Program services (functional)
$31,679,961
Management and general (functional)
$5,801,079
Fundraising (functional)
$2,751,179

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$19,047,917
Total assets, end of year
$18,381,220
Total liabilities, end of year
$15,994,464
Net assets, end of year
$2,386,756
Land, buildings and equipment
$6,128,175
Net assets without donor restrictions
-$6,141,979
Net assets with donor restrictions
$8,528,735
Gross unrelated business income
$572,196
Gross receipts
$39,416,394
Employees
622
Volunteers
445
Year formed
1903
State of legal domicile
WA

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
KRISHNA THIAGARAJANPRESIDENT & CEO
Officer
33$492,915$51,418
NOAH GELLERCONCERTMASTER
Highest-paid employee
40$319,838$30,884
CHERONNE WONGCFO & BENAROYA HALL COO
Officer
29$275,624$48,182
MARIA YANGACTING CEO & VP OF DEVELOPMENT
Officer
32$278,156$40,412
HYERIN KIMMUSICIAN
Highest-paid employee
40$185,551$39,131
JENNIFER ADAIRCOO
Key employee
25$186,398$32,428
TOBY WILSONVP ARTISTIC PLANNING
Key employee
35$170,839$29,370
EFE BALTACIGILMUSICIAN
Highest-paid employee
40$185,073$12,415
PAUL JOHNSONVP OF PEOPLE & CULTURE
Key employee
34$174,588$19,023
CHRISTINE WOODVP OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Key employee
34$170,854$20,635
DAVID GORDONMUSICIAN
Highest-paid employee
40$170,476$15,264
AARON GORSETHSTAGE CREW LEAD
Highest-paid employee
40$182,706$0
JON ROSENCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
DANAE HOWEVICE CHAIR, EQUITY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
JOE DAVYVICE CHAIR, AUDIENCES & COMMUNITIES
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
36 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
RON KOOVICE CHAIR, GOVERNANCE
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
SUSAN COUGHLINVICE CHAIR, DEVELOPMENT
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
MOLLY GABELSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
YUKA SHIMIZUTREASURER & VICE CHAIR, FINANCE
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
SUSAN AMINIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
SUE BUSKEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
LESLIE CHIHULYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
SAM CHODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
DAVID CROSSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
SUSAN DETWEILERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
REBECCA EBSWORTHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
JERRY FARLEYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
MIMI GATESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
LYN GRINSTEINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
JEAN-FRANCOIS HEITZDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
PARUL HOULAHANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
DOUGLAS JACKSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
NADER KABBANIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
SWIL KANIMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
PAUL LEACHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
IKE LEEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
JASON LEEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
KJRISTINE R LUNDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
BRIAN J MARKSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
BEN MARTZDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
BILL MCALEERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
MARSHAL MCREALDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
TONY MILESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
HISAYO NAKAJIMADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
NANCY NERAASDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
ERIKA NESHOLMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
JUDY RUNSTADDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
ELISABETH SANDLERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
MICHAEL SLONSKIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
LYLE SNYDERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
JOAN WANGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
990 for the year ended August 31, 2024: 53 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
KRISHNA THIAGARAJANPRESIDENT & CEO
Officer
34$507,666$47,922
NOAH GELLERCONCERTMASTER
Highest-paid employee
40$301,679$30,686
MARIA YANGVP DEVELOPMENT
Key employee
33$277,996$40,654
CHERONNE WONGCFO & BENAROYA HALL COO
Officer
29$277,672$37,939
JENNIFER ADAIRVP & GENERAL MANAGER
Key employee
34$189,529$30,234
HYERIN KIMMUSICIAN
Highest-paid employee
40$164,735$42,208
RAFF WILSONVP ARTISTIC PLANNING
Key employee
34$172,976$27,421
AARON T GORSETHSTAGE CREW LEAD
Highest-paid employee
40$171,797$27,613
ROBERT J WISEMANSR. DIRECTOR OF INDIVIDUAL GIVING
Highest-paid employee
35$167,329$21,016
PAUL JOHNSONVP OF PEOPLE & CULTURE
Key employee
34$162,610$21,538
CHRISTINE WOODVP OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Key employee
34$167,935$12,328
EFE I BALTACIGILMUSICIAN
Highest-paid employee
40$168,375$11,636
JON ROSENCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
DIENA MANNVICE CHAIR, EQUITY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
JOE DAVYVICE CHAIR, AUDIENCES
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
DICK PAULVICE CHAIR, GOVERNANCE
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
SUSAN COUGHLINVICE CHAIR, DEVELOPMENT
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
SUSAN JOHANNSENSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
YUKA SHIMIZUTREASURER, VICE CHAIR, FINANCE
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
SUSAN AMINIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SUE BUSKEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
LESLIE CHIHULYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SAM CHODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SUSAN DETWEILERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
REBECCA EBSWORTHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JERRY FARLEYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JUDITH FONGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MIMI GATESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MAURICIO GONZALEZ DE LA FUENTEDIRECTOR THRU 02/24
Trustee or director
2$0$0
LYN GRINSTEINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SHAWN HARMONDIRECTOR THRU 04/24
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JEAN-FRANCOIS HEITZDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
PARUL HOULAHANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DANAE HOWEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DOUGLAS JACKSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
NADER KABBANIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SWIL KANIMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
PAUL LEACHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
CHERYL LEEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
IKE LEEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DOROTHY LIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
KJRISTINE R LUNDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BRIAN J MARKSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BEN MARTZDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BILL MCALEERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MARSHAL MCREALDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
HISAYO NAKAJIMADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
NANCY NERAASDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
ELISABETH SANDLERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MICHAEL SLONSKIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
LYLE SNYDERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JOAN WANGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
STEPHEN WHYTEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
990 for the year ended August 31, 2023: 48 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
KRISHNA THIAGARAJANPRESIDENT & CEO
Officer
34$482,796$47,924
NOAH GELLERCONCERTMASTER
Highest-paid employee
40$280,453$24,048
MARIA YANGVP DEVELOPMENT
Key employee
33$249,744$36,668
CHERONNE WONGCFO & BENAROYA HALL COO
Officer
29$234,561$30,994
JENNIFER ADAIRVP & GENERAL MANAGER
Key employee
34$187,171$28,751
RAFF WILSONVP ARTISTIC PLANNNG
Key employee
34$161,188$26,453
MICHAEL WERNERMUSICIAN
Highest-paid employee
40$155,420$30,991
EFE BALTACIGILMUSICIAN
Highest-paid employee
40$162,297$8,487
JEFFREY FAIRMUSICIAN
Highest-paid employee
40$156,969$10,062
EDUARDO RIOS SILVAMUSICIAN
Highest-paid employee
40$153,645$12,074
CHRISTINE WOODVP OF MARKETING & COMM.
Key employee
34$150,646$6,479
BEN MARTZTREASURER, VICE CHAIR, FINANCE
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
BILL MCALEERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BRIAN J MARKSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
CHERYL LEEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
CHUCK SCHWEIZERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DICK PAULVICE CHAIR, GOVERNANCE
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
DIENA MANNVICE CHAIR, EQUITY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
DOROTHY LIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DOUGLAS JACKSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
IHNIKE LEEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
ISIAAH CRAWFORDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
JOE DAVYVICE CHAIR, AUDIENCES
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
JON ROSENCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
JUDITH FONGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
KJRISTINE R LUNDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
LESLIE JACKSON CHIHULYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
LYLE SNYDERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
LYN GRINSTEINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MARSHAL MCREALDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MAURICIO GONZALEZ DE LA FUENTEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MICHAEL HATCHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MICHAEL SLONSKIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MIMI GATESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MOLLY GABELDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
NADER KABBANIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
NANCY NERAASDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
PAULA BOGGSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
REBECCA EBSWORTHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
RONALD KOOSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
SAM CHODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SHAWN HARMONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
STEPHEN WHYTEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SUSAN AMINIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SUSAN COUGHLINVICE CHAIR, DEVELOPMENT
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
SUSAN DETWEILERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
SWIL KANIMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
YUKA SHIMIZUDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
PO BOX 21906, SEATTLE, WA 98111-3906
In care of
% SEAT
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
SUSAN COUGHLIN, PO BOX 21906, SEATTLE, WA 981113906
Signed the 990
JANE REPENSEK, CFO
Phone
(206) 215-4700
Return prepared by
CLARK NUBER PS

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.

990 for the year ended August 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • 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

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in August, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025August 31, 2026January 15, 2027Not due yet
2024August 31, 2025January 15, 2026990 on file
2023August 31, 2024January 15, 2025990 on file

IRS record

EIN
91-0667412
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1928
Accounting year ends
August
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$18,381,220
Income (IRS master file)
$39,416,394

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990August 2025$38,088,654$40,232,219$18,381,220XML
990-TAugust 2025–––IRS
990August 2024$31,140,199$37,349,839$19,047,917XML
990-TAugust 2024–––IRS
990August 2023$31,257,219$34,393,963$19,008,837XML
990-TAugust 2023–––IRS
990August 2022$27,955,149$29,961,061$21,537,269IRS
990-TAugust 2022–––IRS
990August 2021–––IRS
990-TAugust 2021–––IRS
990August 2020–––IRS
990August 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 91-0667412).

Questions about SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC

What is the EIN of SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC is 91-0667412.
Is SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1928.
Are donations to SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending August 31, 2026) is due January 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended August 2025.
Who is the principal officer of SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC?
The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 names SUSAN COUGHLIN.
Who are the officers and directors of SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC?
The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 lists 51 people; 12 received compensation from the organization, the highest $492,915 (KRISHNA THIAGARAJAN, PRESIDENT & CEO).
How much revenue does SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $38,088,654, expenses of $40,232,219 and total assets of $18,381,220 at year end.

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