Opera Company of Middlebury Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the Opera Company of Middlebury (OCM) is to bring professional-level, quality live opera productions and experiences to our region. We also maintain a robust educational program for emerging professionals and teen singers while expanding our broader communities' understanding of opera through outreach programs.
- Income
- $259,191
- Spending
- $326,260
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- -6.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $10,385, managing director end 4/18
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: 22 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 85% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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)
- $237,369 spent. In 2024 OCM made the decision to change the dates of its fiscal year. This change necessitated a shortened fiscal year, which was from November 2024 to June 2025. The shortened fiscal year resulted in just one mainstage opera production: La Boheme, composed by Giacomo Puccini. La Boheme was staged in June of 2025 to sold-out audiences of over 750 people. OCM's shows use professional singers and professional musicians from across the United States. The chorus of Boheme featured singers from Vermont and New Hampshire and included a children's chorus of six youth, all of whom had to audition to be a part of the production. Tickets are free for opera patrons aged 26 and younger, thanks to a generous donor. 56 young people took advantage of this opportunity for the mainstage production with 21 young people opting to see the Young Artist production (see accomplishment #2).
- $25,922 spent. OCM staged Giacomo Puccini's one-act comic opera Gianni Schicchi on June 13 and 15, 2025. Ten singers who are early in their careers participated in this production. Both shows, numbering 160 tickets, were sold out. The Young Artists Program, as this training and performance program is called, helps to prepare these younger artists for careers as professional singers. In addition to staging Gianni Schicchi, they served as understudies for La Boheme and participated in its chorus. These artists presented a concert of songs by Puccini and Puccini's contemporaries. The Young Artists receive extensive training, coaching by industry professionals, and master classes by directors and agents.
- $39,558 spent. An important part of OCM's mission is to expose opera to youth. OCM does this by providing training and performance opportunities for high school youth through three programs: a Fall residency in a local high school to teach the youth about opera and to stage performances of Dido and Aeneas; an afterschool opera scenes program; and a summer program for high school and college students with performances in senior living residences. In the Fall of 2024 the Dido and Aeneas program was held at the three high schools in Addison County, VT: Middlebury Union, Mount Abraham Union, and Vergennes Union. This collaboration resulted in a full-scale opera production with over 140 students on stage for each of the two performances. High school students also received valuable training and experience in backstage roles, as stage managers, props personnel, and in lighting and sound roles. The afterschool opera scenes program gives high school youth one-on-one coaching and the opportunity to learn music of a specific language or from a selected composer. These youth gain skills and knowledge and then gain confidence by performing in front of an audience. A unique program is developed each Fall and Spring. In November 2024 the youth presented "Gilbert and Sullivan: the Podcast" featuring six singers. In April 2025 the youth collaborated with members of the Vermont Youth Orchestra to present "Dear Diary" based on the music of Mozart. Eight singers and 16 musicians participated in this program. Due to the shortened fiscal year, the summer program occurred in FY26, not in FY25.
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
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 June 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 September 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.