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Opera America Inc

EIN 20-3520577 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OPERA AMERICA, INC. ("OPERA AMERICA") WAS FOUNDED TO: (I) PROMOTE GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF THE OPERATIC ART FORM; (II) FOSTER AND IMPROVE THE EDUCATION, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF OPERATIC COMPOSERS, SINGERS AND ALLIED TALENT (III) ASSIST IN DEVELOPING RESIDENT PROFESSIONAL OPERA COMPANIES THROUGH COOPERATIVE ARTISTIC AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO ITS MEMBERSHIP; (IV) ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF OPERATIC PRESENTATION; AND (V) ENCOURAGE GREATER APPRECIATION AND ENJOYMENT OF OPERA BY ALL SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY.

Income
$8.4 million
Spending
$8.3 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
45
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$379,614, president/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

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 23% 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

    10 of 20

    It owes 47% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    41 of 42 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    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 (3)
  1. $2.3 million spent. NATIONAL OPERA CENTER - OPERA AMERICA'S NATIONAL OPERA CENTER IS A STATE-OF-THE-ART RENTAL FACILITY FOR THE OPERA COMMUNITY AND ALSO HOUSES OPERA AMERICA'S ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES. CUSTOM-BUILT TO RESPOND TO THE INDUSTRY'S NEED FOR SUITABLE AUDITION, REHEARSAL AND RECORDING FACILITIES, SPECIALLY EQUIPPED ROOMS FACILITATE CO-PRODUCTION MEETINGS, DESIGN PRESENTATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACITIVITES, AS WELL AS A WIDE RANGE OF ARTISTIC WORK FROM PERFORMANCES TO READINGS OF NEW WORKS AND LECTURES. STATE-OF-THE-ART ELECTRONIC MEDIA TECHNOLOGY FOR STREAMING AND VIDEO CONFERENCE OVERCOMES THE BARRIER OF GEOGRAPHY FOR THIS WIDELY DISPERSED, YET HIGHLY COLLABORATIVE, INDUSTRY.
  2. $1.1 million spent. ARTISTIC SERVICES - REPERTOIRE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, OPERA DISCOVERY AND COMMISSIONING GRANTS FOR NEW COMPOSERS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR COMPOSERS SUPPORT THE PRESENTATION OF NEW OPERA PROJECTS. A NEW WORKS FORUM CONVENES COMPOSERS, LIBRETTISTS, DESIGNERS, PRODUCERS AND PUBLISHERS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT METHODS FOR ENSURING THE SUCCESSFUL CREATION AND PRODUCTION OF NEW OPERATIC WORKS. THE ONSTAGE PROGRAM IS A SERIES OF EVENTS OFFERING THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM AND INTERACT WITH MAJOR TALENTS WITHIN THE OPERA WORLD. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS OFFER TOOLS AND ADVICE FOR SINGERS TO HONE THEIR SKILLS AND FURTHER THEIR CAREERS.
  3. $656,676 spent. OPERA AMERICA HOSTS AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND A RANGE OF WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS TO DISCUSS ISSUES, ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION AND EXPLORE THE VALUES THAT FORM THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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