DES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION
EIN 42-6058830 · Arts, Culture & Humanities (A690)
What they do
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 YEARS 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.
Should I give to this charity?
Of every $100 spent, about $81.50 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.
Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.
Basic facts we verified
IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.
Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.
They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.
They name their leaders25 people are listed in the latest report.
You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.
Money made simple
Ask these three easy questions
- Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
- What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
- Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.
Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $305,382 for JOSEPH GIUNTA (MUSIC DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.
Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.
Financial picture
A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.
How each $100 of revenue was used
The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.
Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.
Has the pattern changed?
Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.
Money in and money out
Reported spending amounts
Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.
See all reported dollar amounts
Leadership and board
Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.
People reported as paid
Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.
See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (25)
JOSEPH GIUNTAMUSIC DIRECTOR
RICHARD L EARLYEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SCOTT WYCKOFFDIRECTOR OF FINANCE
LIZ COONEYTRUSTEE
STEVE VAN OORTTRUSTEE
STEPHEN C SMITHTRUSTEE
STACY POLYDORANTRUSTEE
RUSSELL J BITTERMANTRUSTEE
ROBERT H WOOTTENSECRETARY
REBECCA L YOUNGVICE PRESIDENT/PRESIDENT E
PROCTOR LUREMANTRUSTEE
MICHELE FARRELLTRUSTEE
MARY EDRINGTONTRUSTEE
LIZZY NEUGENT DIXONTRUSTEE
ANN COLLINSTREASURER
LAURIE WOLF PHDTRUSTEE
KAYLEIGH KOESTERTRUSTEE
KATHRYN GREENFIELDTRUSTEE
KATE HIGHTSHOE-LAMBERTTRUSTEE
KATE FRANKOTRUSTEE
EMILY STORKTRUSTEE
DAVID BRICKTRUSTEE
BRYAN MYERSTRUSTEE
BILLY WEATHERSTRUSTEE
BARBARA BEATTY MDPRESIDENT
About this charity
- Recognized since
- January 1959
- Location
- 1011 LOCUST ST STE 200, DES MOINES, IA 50309-2813
- County
- Polk
- In care of
- RICHARD EARLY
- Primary officer
- RICHARD EARLY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
How to reach them
Filing and classification
- Latest tax year
- 2024
- Tax period began
- July 1, 2024
- Return type
- 990
- Tax preparer
- DENMAN CPA LLP
- NTEE classification
- Arts, Culture & Humanities (A690)
- IRS tax category
- Musical Groups and Artists