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Boston Lyric Opera Company Inc

EIN 04-2469627 · Boston, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BOSTON LYRIC OPERA INSPIRES, ENTERTAINS, AND CONNECTS COMMUNITIES THROUGH COMPELLING OPERA PERFORMANCES, PROGRAMS, AND GATHERINGS.

Income
$14.5 million
Spending
$12.3 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
-1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
355
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$360,474, general director and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $7.6 million spent. PRODUCTIONS:THE 2024/25 SEASON WELCOMED MORE THAN 22,200 AUDIENCE MEMBERS THE COMPANY'S HIGHEST ATTENDANCE IN MORE THAN A DECADE. THE PRODUCTION LINE-UP INCLUDED THE RARELY PERFORMED MITRIDATE, MOZART'S FIRST PUBLISHED OPERA; VERDI'S AIDA, BRINGING TOGETHER NEARLY 200 ARTISTS, INCLUDING 100 CHORISTERS AND A FULL ORCHESTRA; THE SEASONS, A WORLD-PREMIERE OPERA INSPIRED BY VIVALDI AND CLIMATE CHANGE WITH A LIBRETTO BY AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHT SARAH RUHL; AND RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN'S CAROUSEL, MARKING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRODUCTION AND RETURNING THE SHOW TO THE HOME OF ITS 1940S PRE-BROADWAY TRYOUT.
  2. $383,170 spent. COMMUNITY & EDUCATION:MORE THAN 8,200 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN BLO'S FREE COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THIS SEASON. PROGRAMMING INCLUDED THE STREET STAGE OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES, A MOBILE MUSIC VENUE THAT ACTIVATED NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS GREATER BOSTON AND CULMINATED IN A BOSTON CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING BLO'S CULTURAL LEADERSHIP. YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMING INCLUDED BLO'S ANNUAL OPERA STORIES TOUR TO MORE THAN 20 SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES AND THE COMPANY'S CREATE YOUR OWN OPERA" SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM SUPPORTING K-12 STUDENTS AS THEY WRITE, COMPOSE, REHEARSE, AND PREMIERE ORIGINAL OPERAS.THIS YEAR, BLO LAUNCHED A NEW COMMUNITY INITIATIVE, "RISING WATERS / RISING VOICES" TO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES POSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, WITH PARTNERS INCLUDING THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, MUSEUM OF SCIENCE, GROUNDWATER ARTS, STONE LIVING LAB, AND THE MIT MEDIA LAB. A HIGHLIGHT OF THE INITIATIVE WAS A PERFORMANCE OF NOAH'S FLOOD, BLO'S FIRST FREE, PARTICIPATORY COMMUNITY OPERA, FEATURING 400 YOUTH AND COMMUNITY PERFORMERS AND PARTNERING BLO WITH A DOZEN COMMUNITY AND YOUTH-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS, WITH SPECIAL REMARKS BY MAYOR MICHELLE WU AND MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MICHAEL BOBBITT.
  3. $4,380 spent. SPACE:THIS SEASON MARKED THE FULL ACTIVATION OF BLO'S OPERA + COMMUNITY STUDIOS, A 14,000+ SQUARE FOOT ART-MAKING AND CIVIC SPACE IN BOSTON'S FORT POINT NEIGHBORHOOD. IN 2024/25, THE STUDIOS HOSTED MORE THAN 100 PROGRAMS, REHEARSALS, EXHIBITIONS, COMMUNITY DIALOGUES, AND RENTALS; BECAME THE NEW HOME FOR ALL BLO STAGING, DESIGN, ORCHESTRA, CHORUS, AND MASTERCLASS REHEARSALS; AND HAS STRENGTHENED RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORS, CIVIC PARTNERS, AND ARTISTS ACROSS THE REGION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1970.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.