Better Business Bureau Report for
Alton Symphony Orchestra

Better Business Bureau Report issued July 2007
Better Business Bureau Report expires July 2009


Does not meet one or more standards
This charity does not meet one or more of the 20 standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Alton Symphony Orchestra
Address: P.O. Box 1205
  Alton, IL 62002
Phone: 618-467-2326
Web Address: www.altonsymphony.org
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1951, Illinois
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: To provice a medium for further development of instrumental and orchestral music among area musicians. To contribute to the musical culture of the area by presenting concerts and outstanding soloists. To promote interest and participation in music among young people through competitions and special programs.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Alton Symphony Orchestra (ASO) does not meet the following 7 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 1: Oversight of Operations and Staff - Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

The board of directors does not review the performance of the chief executive officer (CEO) at least once every two years, does not have a board-approved budget, and does not have a board-approved conflict of interest policy.

Standard 6: Board Policy on Effectiveness - Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

The organization's board of directors does not have an official policy that the organization's performance and effectiveness will be assessed at least once every two years.

Standard 7: Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness - Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

The organization's board of directors does not have an official policy that the organization's performance and effectiveness will be assessed at least once every two years.

Standard 14: Budget - Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

The organization states that it does not have a budget for the current fiscal year.

Standard 16: Annual Report - Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in the past year.

Standard 17: Web Site Disclosures - Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions, the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.

The organization solicits donations online; however it does not have its annual report information or a  link to its most recent IRS Form 990 on the site. 

Standard 18: Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy - Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

The organization does not have an online privacy policy. 

Alton Symphony Orchestra (ASO) meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

The Alton Symphony Orchestra is entering its 62nd concert season, originally established as a group of professional area musician in 1945 and formally incorporated with the State of Illinois in 1951. The organization remains in good standing as an Illinoits Not-For-Profit organization. IRS records indicate that a determination letter was issued in January 1953 recognizing this group exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The regular season includes four (4) concerts each with a different theme, a children's concert and a Pops and Jazz concert held in the spring. The orchestra starts rehearsing weekly in September for its regular concerts on the campus of Lewis and Clark Community College and performs in the Hatheway Cultural Center which is capable of seating nearly 1000 guests. Themes for this years concerts were a Halloween Concert in October, a Holiday Concert in December, a Eastern European Music Concert in February, and a Young Artists Presentation Concert in April. Near the holiday this year bus loads of children were brought in from area schools to fill the auditorium and attend a special Children's Concert. For the Halloween concert musician perform in costume and invite the guests to come dressed, as well. The Lewis and Clark Community College choir participated in the holiday concert and provided several soloists. A college faculty member who recently visited Poland created a visual travelogue to music taking the audience to places where well-known composers once lived. The culmination of the young artists competition is the Young Artists concert where four finalists are choosen to perform with the symphony. The annual competition is done to show case area young talent, and encourage students to further profession as a musician. The final concert of the season is the POPS and JAZZ concert which is held in The Commons on the LCCC campus where seating is at round tables, and there are auction items, attendance prizes and other drawings. Food and refreshments are served, and some years this event has been done as a dinner. The Alton Symphony Orchestra is under the direction of music director and conductor Edward Dolbashian, and consists of about 60 members. Members of the orchestra include professional and semi-professional musicians, college students receiving credit for their participation, and recommended high school students of exceptional skill. Other community choral groups and area soloists are engaged to perform with the symphony as the programs allow. The mascot for the group is a fully dressed penguin named TEMPO, who is the friendly face in the crowd welcoming and shaking hands with all symphony guests. Please visit our webpage for further information at www.altonsymphony.org

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, ASO's program expenses were:

  
Production 38,438
Total Program Expenses: $38,438
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Edward Dolbashian, Music Director and Conductor
Compensation*: 
$11,000

Chair of the Board: Dave Miller, Board President
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Airport Manager, St. Louis Regional Airport

Co-Chair of the Board : Children's Concert

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Self-Employed, Real Estate

Co-Chair of the Board : Young Artists Competition

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Music Educator

Board Size: 12

Paid Staff Size:

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:


Fund raising costs were 15% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $25,457, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
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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.
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Financial

              

The following information is based on ASO's IRS Form 990-EZ for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.

Source of Funds  
Production Sales/Patronage 15,083
General Sales/Patronage 13,952
Investments 4,000
Production Ads 3,950
General Ads 3,509
Income-Wine Tasting 2,407
Income-Memorials 667
Income-Misc 398
Interest 239
Income-Pointsettia Sale 110
General Other 20
Total Income $44,335


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 90%  Fund Raising: 9%  Administrative: 1% 

Total income $44,335
Program expenses $38,438
Fund raising expenses 3,844
Administrative expenses 427
Total expenses $42,709
Income in Excess of Expenses 1,626
Beginning net assets 7,544
Ending net assets 5,625
Total liabilities
Total assets $5,625


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