Lancaster Symphony Orchestra

Analysis

Lancaster Symphony Orchestra is a registered charity in United States, based in Lancaster, PA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in March 1948, 78 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (gross receipts test) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending June 2023, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra reported income of $734k and spending of $955k, spending 130% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2019 to June 2023, income grew from $686k to $734k (+7.0%), an average of +1.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2022, when income rose by 100%. Over the whole period it spent 117% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra sits at the 82nd percentile: it is larger than about 82% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 76th percentile, and in the 74th percentile within PA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Kayenta Arts Foundation ($734k), Smack Mellon Studios Inc ($734k) and Wormfarm Institute Incorporated ($734k).

On its Form 990 for the period ending June 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 61% and program service revenue 36% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $82k (8.6% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $152k. At year end it held assets of $66k against liabilities of $544k, net assets of -$477k. It reported 155 employees.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.