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New York City Opera Inc

EIN 13-2974347 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

NEW YORK CITY OPERA WAS FAMOUSLY DUBBED "THE PEOPLE'S OPERA" BY MAYOR FIORELLO LAGUARDIA AT ITS FOUNDING IN 1943. MORE THAN 80 YEARS LATER, CITY OPERA CONTINUES ITS HISTORIC MISSION TO INSPIRE AUDIENCES WITH INNOVATIVE AND THEATRICALLY COMPELLING OPERA, NURTURE THE WORK OF PROMISING AMERICAN ARTISTS, AND BUILD NEW AUDIENCES THROUGH AFFORDABLE TICKET PRICES AND EXTENSIVE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
-43.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 75%
Employees
25

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: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 1810% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
  1. $1.3 million spent. CITY OPERA'S CURRENT ADMINISTRATION UTILIZES A UNIQUE, ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS MODEL BY CREATING ARTISTIC AND OPERATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, FORGING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH UNION AND VENUES, AND ENGAGING BOTH NEW AND TRADITIONAL AUDIENCES. CONTINUING ITS HISTORIC COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, THE COMPANY PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOUSAND OF NEW YORK CITY SCHOOL CHILDREN TO ATTEND CITY OPERA DRESS REHEARSALS, WHERE THEY MEET CAST MEMBERS AND CREW AND LEARN ABOUT CAREERS IN THE PERFORMING ARTS. FOR MANY, THIS IS THEIR FIRST LIVE OPERA EXPERIENCE. THROUGHOUT ITS SEASON, CITY OPERA ALSO PRESENTED HOUR-LONG, FAMILY-FRIENDLY ADAPTATIONS OF CLASSIC OPERA, INTRODUCING OPERA TO THE VERY YOUNGEST AUDIENCES. RENEWING ITS TRADITION OF BRINGING OPERA TO THE WIDEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCE, CITY OPERA ALSO PRESENTED FREE OPERA PERFORMANCES IN BRYANT PARK, ENABLING THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS TO EXPERIENCE OPERA IN A RELAXED, FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT. CITY OPERA'S CURRENT ADMINISTRATION UTILIZES A UNIQUE, ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS MODEL BY CREATING ARTISTIC AND OPERATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, FORGING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH UNION AND VENUES, AND ENGAGING BOTH NEW AND TRADITIONAL AUDIENCES. CONTINUING ITS HISTORIC COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, THE COMPANY PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOUSAND OF NEW YORK CITY SCHOOL CHILDREN TO ATTEND CITY OPERA DRESS REHEARSALS, WHERE THEY MEET CAST MEMBERS AND CREW AND LEARN ABOUT CAREERS IN THE PERFORMING ARTS. FOR MANY, THIS IS THEIR FIRST LIVE OPERA EXPERIENCE. THROUGHOUT ITS SEASON, CITY OPERA ALSO PRESENTED HOUR-LONG, FAMILY-FRIENDLY ADAPTATIONS OF CLASSIC OPERA, INTRODUCING OPERA TO THE VERY YOUNGEST AUDIENCES. RENEWING ITS TRADITION OF BRINGING OPERA TO THE WIDEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCE, CITY OPERA ALSO PRESENTED FREE OPERA PERFORMANCES IN BRYANT PARK, ENABLING THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS TO EXPERIENCE OPERA IN A RELAXED, FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT.

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 August 1979.

    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.