irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $678KMEMBER SERVICES: THE LEAGUE PROVIDES SOME 2,000 MEMBERS WITH EXTENSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIELD, INCLUDING TRENDS, OPEN POSITIONS, NEW APPOINTMENTS, AND THE MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE NATION'S ORCHESTRAS. SERVICES TO MEMBERS INCLUDE SPECIALIZED GUIDANCE ON OPERATIONS, ARTISTIC, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TOPICS THAT SUPPORT THE CAPACITY OF ORCHESTRAS TO DELIVER ON MISSION. MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ONLINE COMMUNITY, A CONFIDENTIAL SPACE WHERE THEY CAN SHARE THEIR EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND LEARN ABOUT BEST PRACTICES THROUGHOUT THE FIELD.
- #2 $648KCOMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS: THE LEAGUE PROVIDES ORCHESTRAS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH UPDATES AND NEWS ABOUT THE FIELD; DEVELOPS STRATEGIC MESSAGING ABOUT THE PUBLIC VALUE OF ORCHESTRAS FOR USE NATIONALLY AND BY ORCHESTRAS LOCALLY; FURNISHES FIELD-WIDE DATA AND CONTEXT TO JOURNALISTS; AND PROVIDES MEDIA RELATIONS GUIDANCE TO ORCHESTRAS NATIONWIDE.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Artistic Administration Intensive
Four-day professional development program for orchestra staff focusing on artistic planning and management skills.
Learning and Leadership Programs
Initiatives supporting professional growth, equity, and inclusion in the orchestral field, including workshops and resources for emerging leaders.
National Conference
Annual convening for orchestra professionals featuring sessions on leadership, innovation, and field-wide challenges and opportunities.
Symphony Magazine
Flagship publication providing news, research, and in-depth coverage of trends and issues in the orchestra field, available online and in print.
Symphony Spot
Online platform showcasing streamed performances and digital content from member orchestras.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Advocacy for Racial Equity and Inclusion in OrchestrasAdvances racial equity and social justice in the orchestral field through advocacy, support for innovative audience engagement, and programming that honors racial justice, such as the presentation of Hannibal Lokumbe’s work at the 2019 National Conference.
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Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
- Annual National Conference OrganizationOrganizes the annual National Conference for U.S. orchestras, featuring sessions, speakers, and artistic presentations, and shares recordings of past events to extend access.
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Professional Field Knowledge Development 1 activity
- Curated Resource Sharing and Knowledge DisseminationMaintains and shares curated resources, including articles, best practices, and toolkits on governance, fundraising, equity, visas, and community engagement, through web resources, publications, and online platforms.
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Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
- Professional Development Programs for Orchestra AdministratorsOffers multi-day professional development programs, including the Essentials of Orchestra Management seminar and a four-day program for artistic administrators, to build leadership and operational capacity in the orchestra field.
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Musicological Research and Scholarly Editions 1 activity
- Research and Publication on Orchestra Governance and Field TrendsConducts and publishes research on effective orchestra governance, equity and inclusion, and field-wide trends, including a second edition guide on governance and a survey of digital music delivery during the pandemic.
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Strategic Planning and Organizational Development 1 activity
- Strategic Framework Development and Organizational PlanningDevelops and maintains a Strategic Framework (2023–2026) that outlines goals and operational strategies to guide the organization’s support of the orchestra field.
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Literary and Cultural Publishing 1 activity
- Symphony Magazine and Online PublishingProduces and publishes a year-round online magazine and an annual print edition of Symphony magazine featuring research, essays, interviews, and in-depth reporting on critical issues in the orchestra field.
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Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
- Webinars and Educational Events on Operational and Artistic TopicsHosts webinars and educational events on topics such as legal compliance for pernambuco wood use, strategic planning, and music director searches, providing practical guidance to orchestra professionals.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Membership Network and Peer Connection FacilitationSupports a network of over 1,600 to 2,000 orchestras and individuals across North America and facilitates peer connections through the Member Directory, Constituency Groups, National Conference, Midwinter Managers Meeting, and League360 online forum.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$8.26M
Contributions & grants$7.41M90%
Program service revenue$793K10%
Investment income$40K0%
Other revenue$16K
expenses
Total expenses$6.93M
Program expenses66%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising18%
Salaries & benefits$4.30M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$10.94M
Cash$1.09M
Investments$5.73M
Liabilities$1.81M
Net assets$9.13M
Liquid reserves11.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +32.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 10
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIMON WOODS | PRESIDENT/CEO | 38 | $483K |
| HEATHER NOONAN | VP ADVOCACY | 38 | $265K |
| MARLAH MCDUFFIE | VP OF DEVELOPMENT | 38 | $232K |
| KAREN YAIR | VP KNOWLEDGE LEARNING | 38 | $220K |
| CAEN THOMASON-REDUS | VP INCLUSION & LEARNING | 38 | $209K |
| RACHEL ROSSOS GALLANT | VICE PRES. MARKETING | 38 | $204K |
| ANDREW CLARK | VP. FINANCE & ADM. | 38 | $185K |
| AUDREY ELLIOTT-RISBUD | SENIOR DIRECTOR DEV. | 38 | $164K |
| ROBERT SANDLA | EDITOR IN CHIEF SYMPHONY | 38 | $153K |
| STEPHEN ALTER | DIRECTOR OF CONFERENCES & BUSINESS | 38 | $144K |
board members · 15
- AARON FLAGG — VICE CHAIR
- AFA S DWORKIN — DIRECTOR
- ALAN MASON — CHAIR
- ALAN PIERSON — DIRECTOR
- ALAN VALENTINE — DIRECTOR
- BOB WAGNER — DIRECTOR
- BURTON ALTER — DIRECTOR
- CATHERINE C MOYE — DIRECTOR
- CHARLES DICKERSON III — DIRECTOR
- CHARLES SCHWEIZER — DIRECTOR
- CHRIS DOERR — TREASURER
- DANIEL BERNARD ROUMAIN — DIRECTOR
- DANIEL SONG — DIRECTOR
- DAVID ALAN MILLER — DIRECTOR
- DAVID ROTH — DIRECTOR
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- ASCAP Foundation Partner — Recipient of Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Awards from the ASCAP Foundation for outstanding music journalism.
- Handel and Haydn Society Partner — Leadership-endorsed organization affirming the League's role in supporting orchestras.
- Intersection Partner — Presented Hannibal Lokumbe’s work at the League’s 2019 National Conference
- League of American Orchestras Network — AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LEAGUE is a member of the League of American Orchestras network.
- League of American Orchestras Network — AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LEAGUE is part of the national network of orchestras supported by the League of American Orchestras.
- League of American Orchestras Network — Receives support from donors to provide services to orchestras and their leadership.
- League360 Network — Online discussion forum for members of the League of American Orchestras to exchange ideas and solutions.
- National Conference Network — Annual gathering of orchestras across the U.S. organized by the League of American Orchestras.
- San Diego Symphony Partner — Professional development participant organization in the Essentials of Orchestra Management seminar.
- Symphony Network — Magazine published and shared as part of the League's resources for the orchestra community.
- Symphony Spot Partner — Collaborates on a microsite highlighting digital orchestra initiatives and streamed performances.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partner — Collaborated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a webinar about pernambuco sustainability and legal compliance.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Collective Action and National Field Leadershipmethodology: collective_action_and_national_leadershipBy mobilizing stakeholders and providing national leadership, the organization drives systemic change in the orchestral field because coordinated, field-wide initiatives amplify impact beyond what individual orchestras can achieve alone.
- Collective Wisdom and Networked Learningmethodology: collective_wisdomBy leveraging the shared experiences and innovations of member orchestras, the organization strengthens the entire orchestral field because peer-driven knowledge transfer increases organizational effectiveness and accelerates adaptation.
- Equity-Centered Field Advancementmethodology: equity-centered programmingBy embedding racial equity, inclusion, and civic engagement into orchestral practice, the organization ensures long-term relevance and sustainability because equitable representation in musicianship, programming, and leadership strengthens public connection and artistic vitality.