Lyric Opera of the North Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PRESENT OPERA PERFORMANCES IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA AND BRING OPERA TO SCHOOLS IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN.
- Income
- $417,474
- Spending
- $420,637
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 48%
- Employees
- 4
- Highest pay
- $47,580, artistic dir
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 38% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 65% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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)
- $413,240 spent. THE 2024-25 SEASON FOR LYRIC OPERA OF THE NORTH (LOON) MARKED ITS 20TH SEASON. THIS ANNIVERSARY SEASON BEGAN WITH A DOUBLE BILL OF "THE IMPRESARIO- AND THE WORLD PREMIER OF A NEW OPERA COMMISSIONED BY LOON TITLED "CIRCE ON SUPERIOR" AT THE HISTORIC DEPOT THEATER. IN JANUARY, LOON PRESENTED "THE RADIO HOUR", AN OPERA FOR CHORUS AND ONE NON-SIGNING ACTOR, AT THE DEPOT THEATER. LITTLE LOON PERFORMED OPERA FOR THE YOUNG'S ADAPTATION OF "RUSALKA: A MAIDS TALE" AT 32 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN SUPERIOR, DULUTH AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA. LOON ENDED THE YEAR OF CELEBRATION WITH ITS MAIN STAGE PRODUCTION OF "DIE FLEDERMAUS" AT THE HISTORIC NORSHOR THEATER. THIS WAS THE FIRST OPERA PRODUCED BY LOON IN ITS INAUGURAL SEASON. LOON HELD TWO FUNDRAISERS. THE VALENTINE'S DAY SOIREE, LOON'S LARGEST FUNDRAISER, WAS HELD IN FEBRUARY AND THE SUMMER SPARKLER WAS HELD OUTDOORS IN AUGUST. THE 2024-25 SEASON FOR LYRIC OPERA OF THE NORTH (LOON) MARKED ITS 20TH SEASON. THIS ANNIVERSARY SEASON BEGAN WITH A DOUBLE BILL OF "THE IMPRESARIO- AND THE WORLD PREMIER OF A NEW OPERA COMMISSIONED BY LOON TITLED "CIRCE ON SUPERIOR" AT THE HISTORIC DEPOT THEATER. IN JANUARY, LOON PRESENTED "THE RADIO HOUR", AN OPERA FOR CHORUS AND ONE NON-SIGNING ACTOR, AT THE DEPOT THEATER. LITTLE LOON PERFORMED OPERA FOR THE YOUNG'S ADAPTATION OF "RUSALKA: A MAIDS TALE" AT 32 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN SUPERIOR, DULUTH AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA. LOON ENDED THE YEAR OF CELEBRATION WITH ITS MAIN STAGE PRODUCTION OF "DIE FLEDERMAUS" AT THE HISTORIC NORSHOR THEATER. THIS WAS THE FIRST OPERA PRODUCED BY LOON IN ITS INAUGURAL SEASON. LOON HELD TWO FUNDRAISERS. THE VALENTINE'S DAY SOIREE, LOON'S LARGEST FUNDRAISER, WAS HELD IN FEBRUARY AND THE SUMMER SPARKLER WAS HELD OUTDOORS IN AUGUST.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.