THE DES MOINES SYMPHONY IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA FORMED IN 1937 TO ENRICH, EDUCATE, AND INSPIRE THE COMMUNITY BY PERFORMING GREAT ORCHESTRAL MUSIC. THE SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION, GOVERNED BY A VOLUNTEER BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OPERATING ON AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF MORE THAN 4.2 MILLION, SUPPORTS THE SYMPHONY ACADEMY AND ITS NUMEROUS MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING FOUR YOUTH ORCHESTRAS AND A YOUTH WIND ENSEMBLE. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO SUPPORTS THE DES MOINES SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WHICH PERFORMS SEVEN PAIRS OF MASTERWORKS CONCERTS, A SUMMER SEASON OF FREE OUTDOOR CONCERTS AT THE LAURIDSEN AMPHITHEATER IN WATER WORKS PARK, A REGULAR SEASON POPS SERIES INCLUDING THE TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR'S EVE POPS, AND EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND FAMILY CONCERTS. THE DES MOINES SYMPHONY ALSO PRODUCES AND PERFORMS THE ANNUAL YANKEE DOODLE POPS CONCERT IN JULY ON THE GROUND OF THE IOWA STATE CAPITAL.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 3 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $256k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $24k
- Base
- $149k
- Bonus
- $1k
- Other
- —
- Benefits
- $27k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Music Director Key Employee 75th to 90th percentile | $256k | — | — | $24k | $287k $318k |
Executive Director Above 90th percentilevs Arts, Culture & Humanities peers in Iowa | $149k | $1k | — | $27k | $183k $203k |
Director of Finance Median to 75th percentile | — | — | — | — | $128k $141k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the Midwest region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 23 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at DES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION equaled 7% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
Based on 17,098 arts, culture & humanities organizations, each measured at its most recent filing year with reported expenses and compensation.
Funded by
Private foundations whose Form 990-PF Part XV grants matched this organization.
Up 4%
from 2022
From $275k in 2022 to $287k in 2023.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the Midwest region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Key Employee pay rose 4% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue rose 13%.
- Chief Executive Officer pay rose 6% from 2022 to 2023.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2022 and 2023.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about DES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION
What does the Key Employee of DES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION earn?
In 2023, the Key Employee of DES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION received $287,469 in total compensation. This pay is in the top quarter for Key Employee roles among Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations nationwide, though not the top 10% of comparable filings. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Key Employee pay at DES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Arts, Culture & Humanities organizations nationwide, the 2023 pay of the Key Employee at DES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles. In 2023, the highest total compensation at DES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION equaled 7% of the organization's total expenses. The median for arts, culture & humanities organizations is 11%.
What are DES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, DES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION reported $3.6M in total revenue and $4.1M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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