WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1939

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

ANDREW BUELOW

Phone

2317263231

Tax Period

2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30

WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY, founded in 1939, is a community nonprofit in the Arts, Culture & Humanities sector that reported $2.0M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. The organization ran a surplus of $323K, a strong 17% operating margin.

Mission

WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY CONNECTS AND ENRICHES OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF MUSIC, INCLUDING LIVE SYMPHONIC PERFORMANCES IN A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT; SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES IN AN IMMERSIVE LISTENING ROOM; AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $1,056,560 Revenue: $1,583,315

AN ANCHOR CULTURAL ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERED IN MUSKEGON, WMS IS A RESIDENT PERFORMING GROUP AT THE FRAUENTHAL CENTER, WHERE ITS EIGHT-CONCERT SEASON IS THE MOST VISIBLE PART OF A LARGER ARTISTIC...

AN ANCHOR CULTURAL ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERED IN MUSKEGON, WMS IS A RESIDENT PERFORMING GROUP AT THE FRAUENTHAL CENTER, WHERE ITS EIGHT-CONCERT SEASON IS THE MOST VISIBLE PART OF A LARGER ARTISTIC ENTERPRISE OF FAR- REACHING COMMUNITY BENEFIT. AT ITS LIVE LISTENING ROOM THE BLOCK, JUST DOWN THE STREET, IT MOUNTS 15 PERFORMANCE EVENTS ANNUALLY FEATURING JAZZ, CLASSICAL, FOLK, AMBIENT AND OTHER OFFERINGS. WMS CONCERTS AND EDUCATION EVENTS BRING 16,500 PEOPLE-MORE THAN 30% OF WHOM ARE CHILDREN AND STUDENTS-DOWNTOWN ANNUALLY, MAKING IT THE LARGEST PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATION ON THE WEST SHORE.

Program 2

Expenses: $172,495 Revenue: $181,164

COMMUNITY MUSIC ENCOUNTERS: WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY REACHES DEEPLY INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSIC LOVERS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE CLICK...

COMMUNITY MUSIC ENCOUNTERS: WEST MICHIGAN SYMPHONY REACHES DEEPLY INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSIC LOVERS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE CLICK CLACK MOOSIC, A LIVE MUSICAL STORY TIME PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-8; LINK UP BEGINNER MUSIC PROGRAM, IMPACTING 4,000 3RD-5TH GRADERS IN 50 AREA SCHOOLS; WMS CHILDREN'S CHOIR, AN AUDITION-BASED GROUP FOR AGES 8-13 PERFORMING ITS OWN CONCERTS AND APPEARING WITH THE ORCHESTRA ANNUALLY; TUNE UP, A FREE BEGINNING STRING PROGRAM FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS IN MUSKEGON PUBLIC SCHOOLS; DEBUT STRINGS, AN AUDITION AND PERFORMANCE-BASED GROUP FOR INTERMEDIATE LEVEL STRING STUDENTS; AND PREMIER STRINGS, WMS'S SHOWCASE YOUTH ENSEMBLE FOR ADVANCED STRING STUDENTS, ACTING AS MENTORS FOR YOUNGER PLAYERS AND PERFORMING THROUGHOUT THE AREA AS A FULL STRING ORCHESTRA AND IN SMALLER CHAMBER GROUPS.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $1,210,155

Program Service Revenue $462,556

Investment Income $52,113

Other Revenue $229,016

TOTAL REVENUE $1,953,840

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $767,862

Fundraising Expenses $155,760

Program Expenses $1,229,055

Other Expenses $862,693

TOTAL EXPENSES $1,630,555

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$1,953,840	$1,837,877	+0.1%
Expenses	$1,630,555	$1,545,214	+0.1%
Net Income	$323,285	$292,663	+0.1%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

Volunteers

Governance Policies

✗ Conflict of Interest Policy

✗ Whistleblower Policy

✗ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$111,190

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
SCOTT SPECK	MUSIC DIRECT	40.00	Highest	$114,737	$0	$114,737
ANDREW BUELOW	PRESIDENT AN	40.00	Officer	$111,190	$0	$111,190
MELISA BAKER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SUSAN CLOUTIER CRAIN	CHAIRPERSON	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
MERICA DOBRY	SECRETARY	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
LARRY FIFE	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
BOB GARRETSON	TREASURER	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
AMY HOSFORD	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DONNA JOYCE	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
STACY MELLEMA	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JASON OLTHOFF	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
EMMA PETERSON	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JENNIFER ROSS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KATE KESTELOOT SCARBROUGH	VICE CHAIRPE	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
RYAN STERKENBURG	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
TOM TRZASKA	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2025	$1,953,840	$1,630,555	$2,760,962	$323,285
2024	$1,837,877	$1,545,214	$2,524,521	$292,663
2023	$1,510,425	$1,466,226	$2,298,759	$44,199
2022	$1,691,459	$1,313,724	$1,923,176	$377,735
2021	$1,549,412	$1,019,593	$2,301,167	$529,819
2020	$1,043,346	$960,523	$1,067,873	$82,823
2019	$1,116,445	$1,109,566	$890,272	$6,879
2018	$1,154,381	$995,850	$880,722	$158,531