Oregon Symphony

What it reported doing in 2024

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, from classical favorites like vivaldi's four seasons and copland's appalachian spring to contemporary works by composers such as derrick skye and katherine balch. Spanning wonder, awe, and terror alike, the season offered a profound meditation on our deep bond with nature. In total, the Oregon symphony presented 118 performances throughout the year.the symphony continued its commitment to representation and artistic equity: 83% of classical concerts featured works by women or composers of color, reflecting ongoing efforts to broaden the orchestral canon. The organization also championed new music through three commissioned works, further advancing the creativity and vibrancy of today's orchestral landscape.beyond our classical series, we continued to innovate and push the bounds of orchestral music. We welcomed some of the greatest musicians in the world to the arlene schnitzer concert hall, including the legendary itzhak perlman, rapper and activist killer mike, grammy-winning composer jessie montgomery, funk favorites tower of power, and the genre-smashing virtuoso lindsey stirling. Our ever-popular film series traveled back to the future, while our one-night-only specials paid a visit to twin peaks and fused beyonce's greatest hits with beethoven's seventh. From the youngest concertgoers to longtime subscribers, the season offered music to resonate with everyone.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 82%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.29 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 93.8%; rating input score 94; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -32%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.08; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.28; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.8%; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.6% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.7% per year; rating input score 100; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 40th percentile among comparable filings