Better Business Bureau Report for
Houston Symphony Society

Better Business Bureau Report issued October 2012
Better Business Bureau Report expires October 2013


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


Find out more about this charity:

Back To Top

Charity Contact Information

Name: Houston Symphony Society
Address: 615 Louisiana St., #102
  Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713-224-4240
Web Address: houstonsymphony.org
Back To Top

Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1913, Texas
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: The mission of the Houston Symphony is to inspire and enrich the lives of our diverse citizenry through outstanding symphonic music performed by our great orchestra.

Back To Top

Evaluation Conclusions

              

Houston Symphony Society meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Back To Top

Programs

              

Annually, the Houston Symphony performs concerts for approximately 300,000 individuals in Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in downtown Houston (the home of the Houston Symphony) and many other venues throughout Harris and surrounding counties. Concert activities included the Classical Series, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pops and other special programs. Community Connections, the cornerstone of their outreach programs, and their Sounds Like Fun! Summer Concert Series continued to play vital roles by reaching a combined audience of more than 14,025 individuals in untraditional venues in neighborhoods throughout metropolitan Houston and surrounding counties, including area schools, churches, AIDS care centers and hospices, shelters for the homeless and community centers. Additionally, their education and family concerts entertained and educated people ranging in age from 5 years to senior citizens. These performances include Time Warner Family Series, Detectives Concerts, and Explorer concert series.

For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2011, Houston Symphony Society's program expenses were:

  
Orchestra and concert production 17,411,739
Marketing, promotion, and ticketing 3,590,636
Total Program Expenses: $21,002,375
Back To Top

Governance

              

Chief Executive : Mark C. Hanson, Executive Director/ CEO
Compensation*: 
$270,877

Chair of the Board: Jesse Tutor
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Civic/cultural leader

Board Size: 130

Paid Staff Size: 130

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Back To Top

Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

direct mail, print advertisements, television, grant proposals, internet
Fund raising costs were 16% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $12,312,368, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
Back To Top

Tax Status

              

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
Back To Top

Financial

              

The following information is based on Houston Symphony Society's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2011.

Source of Funds  
Public support 10,504,673
Classical pop series 6,141,586
Transfer frpm endowment for operations 3,870,090
Other concerts 2,896,232
Special events 1,261,100
Government grants 546,595
Other operating income 118,537
Total Income $25,338,813


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 83%  Fund Raising: 8%  Administrative: 9% 

Total income $25,338,813
Program expenses $21,002,375
Fund raising expenses 1,920,307
Administrative expenses 2,191,934
Total expenses $25,114,616
Income in Excess of Expenses 224,197
Beginning net assets 47,275,187
Ending net assets 55,131,405
Total liabilities 17,303,603
Total assets $72,435,008


Back To Top

Complaints

              

The BBB has processed no complaints about this organization in the past 36 months, our standard reporting period.

Back To Top

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

Send to:



What is an Accredited Charity