BAKERSFIELD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

BAKERSFIELD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC

EIN 95-6001765 · Arts, Culture & Humanities (A69Z)

What they do

The Mission of The Bakersfield Symphony is to Unify and Celebrate Our Diverse Community Through Shared Musical Experiences and to Provide Students Across Kern County, But Especially Those In Rural and Disadvantaged Areas, Every Opportunity for Quality Musical, Artistic, and Educational Experiences.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $57.80 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 leaders29 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

45.88%of revenue went to mission work57.8% of expenses · Program services

5.76%of revenue went to fundraising7.3% of expenses

$79.35spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

27.71%of revenue went to management and office costs34.9% of expenses

$0.76in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

77.2%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

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 $108,095 for HOLLY ARNOLD (EXECUTIVE DIR.). 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.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

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.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$1,136,548

Mission workProgram services$521,41945.88% of revenue57.8% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$314,90327.71% of revenue34.9% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$65,5005.76% of revenue7.3% of expenses

Total expenses$901,82279.35% of revenue

The uncolored part of the ring is revenue above these reported expenses.

Has the pattern changed?

Each bar shows the share of annual spending reported for mission work, management, and fundraising.

202457.8% mission

202360.5% mission

202258.3% mission

202154.6% mission

202046.8% mission

201962.7% mission

201869.5% mission

201770.7% mission

Money in and money out

Revenue$1,136,548

Expenses$901,822

Annual surplus $234,726 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$521,419 · 57.8% of expenses

Management and office costs$314,903 · 34.9% of expenses

Fundraising$65,500 · 7.3% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$1,136,548

Expenses$901,822

Assets$681,261

Income$1,201,092

Contributions$876,963

Mission work (program services)$521,419

Fundraising$65,500

Management and general$314,903

Executive compensation (total)$169,241

Accounting fees$18,543

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

HOLLY ARNOLDEXECUTIVE DIR. · 40 hrs/week $108,095

STILIAN KIROVMUSIC DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $86,111

LAURA ARGANBRIGHTORCHESTRA REP. · 1 hrs/week $4,383

MARY CERVANTESORCHESTRA PRES. · 1 hrs/week $3,249

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 (29)

HOLLY ARNOLDEXECUTIVE DIR.

STILIAN KIROVMUSIC DIRECTOR

LAURA ARGANBRIGHTORCHESTRA REP.

MARY CERVANTESORCHESTRA PRES.

KAMAL BHAKTADIRECTOR

TERRI CHURCHSECRETARY

TERESA WALLERDIRECTOR

STEPHEN SANDERSDIRECTOR

SHANNON LOWTHER CFATREASURER

RUSSEL HUGEDIRECTOR

RICK STEVENSDIRECTOR

PATRICK PAGGI CPACHAIR

MONA PANKEYDIRECTOR

MELISSA FORTUNE CPAVICE CHAIR

KEN BEURMANNDIRECTOR

KEITH WOLARIDGEDIRECTOR

ALAN AVERYDIRECTOR

JUSTIN SALTERSDIRECTOR

JIM BELLENDOWMENT REP

JENNIFER SELFDIRECTOR

JASON CATERDIRECTOR

IRA COHENDIRECTOR

GABRIELA GONZALESDIRECTOR

DOUG PIERCE CPADIRECTOR

CORY WILLIAMSDIRECTOR

BRIANNE LANCASTERDIRECTOR

BRADFORD ANDERSON MDDIRECTOR

BETH PANDOLPAST CHAIR

ALAN DOUDDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1948
Location: PO Box 751, Bakersfield, CA 93302
County: Kern
In care of: Nick Gonzalez
Primary officer: Nick Gonzalez, Executive Director

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailinfo@BSOnow.org Phone(661) 323-7928

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: BROWN ARMSTRONG ACCOUNTANCY CORP
NTEE classification: Arts, Culture & Humanities (A69Z)
IRS tax category: Musical Groups and Artists