The Cleveland Orchestra

What it reported doing in 2024

Digital Education and Community ResourcesThe Cleveland Orchestra continued serving Northeast Ohio over the course of the 2024-25 season. Ongoing programs in Severance Music Center such as Family Concerts, Education Concerts, and Music Explorers reached more than 20,000 students and thousands of children and families. In-School programs such as Crescendo and Music Mentors created access to instrumental music and expert instruction in Cleveland area schools. All Cleveland Orchestra educational programs are now free for schools. Weekly Concert Previews and Music in Depth webinars continued to serve Cleveland Orchestra lifelong learners.The Orchestra's performed Wild Symphony by New York Times best-selling author Dan Brown as part of its Family Concert series, intended for children ages 7 to 12. The concert brought to life nearly two dozen musical portraits drawn from the animal kingdom, with Brown narrating live. The Orchestra's returned to Cain Park in Cleveland Heights for the first time since 1957. This free community concert celebrated the rich tapestry of American music and was conducted by Anthony Parnther. Across a typical season, the Orchestra's education and community initiatives reach more than 100,000 people. For more information, visit clevelandorchestra.com/engage/community-programs/. The Cleveland Orchestra offers countless digital offerings to serve our local communities and schools. Children can learn the basics of orchestral music and the role of the conductor in video series such as What is an Orchestra? and can explore the instruments of the orchestra up close and personal with Choose Your Instrument. Young children and families can also enjoy Storytime with The Cleveland Orchestra. Each of these series feature tips and advice from Cleveland Orchestra musicians, fun animation, and world-class music. Children or educators can also engage students with The Cleveland Orchestra's Listening Maps interactive clips that bring listeners deeper into the music or dive into online Lesson Plans for grades Pre-K to 5. Each evergreen digital series has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.Mandel Opera & Humanities FestivalThe third edition of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Opera and Humanities Festival took place in May 2025 and was anchored by three performances of Janacek's Jenufa, led by Music Director Franz Welser-Most and featuring The Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus. The festival, which centered around the theme of Reconciliation, also featured The Moth Mainstage: Live from Severance, The Women of Chicago's Black Renaissance with pianist Michelle Cann, Cuban pianist and composer Chucho Valdes, the free art exhibition Re-membering Community, and more events with Cleveland-based community and cultural partners.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 79.9%; rating input score 80
• Program expense ratio: 80.7%; rating input score 81
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.97 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: Scored; rating input score 0
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th 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: 8.2%; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 5.7; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.16; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.4%; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.1% per year; rating input score 100; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.7% per year; rating input score 100; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.3% per year; rating input score 100; 30th percentile among comparable filings