Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

The Wisconsin youth symphony orchestras (wyso) and music makers programming annually serves approximately 540 students, ages 5 to 18 years, from up to 15 counties in south central Wisconsin, with nearly 80% residing in dane county communities. Wyso offers five orchestras (three full orchestras with winds, brass and percussion, and two string orchestras), a variety of ensembles, chamber groups, and classes. During each season, students rehearse on 33 saturdays and participate in three or more concerts, as well as an annual in-state tour of public/private schools, and community centers. Music makers provides access to private lessons, group classes, instruments and supplies all at subsidized, sliding scale tuition options. No audition is required for participation. Concerts are integral for developing young musicians, offering opportunities to develop confidence, discipline, and resilience, and also functioning as benchmarks in the progress of each orchestra. While the bulk of learning takes place in rehearsals and in the practice room, concerts are opportunities to showcase their musical achievements. Wyso's rehearsals and three concert series of the year are its largest programs as well as the main tool in achieving the overall objective of the organization. For each concert weekend, fall, winter, and spring, each of the orchestras and the wyso music makers present a concert on either saturday or sunday of the scheduled weekend. These concerts serve our total member population as well as the audience, consisting of almost 6,000 family, friends, and local arts supporters annually. The organization's objective, both short and long term, is to provide exceptional music education experiences through orchestral training and performance opportunities. Additionally, we provide the community an inspiring and low-cost opportunity to hear young people performing classical music at a very high level.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 60.7%; rating input score 61
• Program expense ratio: 73.9%; rating input score 74
• Fundraising efficiency: $10.97 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • 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: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 18.5%; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 9.31; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.19; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.5%; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 16.6% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 21.3% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 28.9% per year; rating input score 100; 92nd percentile among comparable filings