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St Petersburg Opera Company

EIN 20-8523525 · St Petersburg, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceFair67 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ST. PETERSBURG OPERA COMPANY IS TO ENRICH THE CULTURAL LIVES OF THE RESIDENTS OF, AND VISITORS TO, THE TAMPA BAY AREA BY PRESENTING FULLY STAGED PROFESSIONAL OPERA PRODUCTIONS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY, AND TO MAKE OPERA ACCESSIBLE TO PRESENT AND FUTURE AUDIENCES THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH, EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, AND COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
10
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$129,602, ceo & artist

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    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 July 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)
  1. $1.5 million spent. PRODUCTION, ORGANIZATION, AND PRESENTATION OF OPERA PERFORMANCES INCLUDING SAINT-SANS' SAMSON & DELILAH, SONDHEIM'S A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, AND BIZET'S CARMEN. ALSO OFFERING MANY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING HOLIDAY SPARKLE, AND BROADWAY CABARET AT OPERA CENTRAL. FOR YOUNGER AUDIENCES WE HAD PERFORMANCES OF PINOCCHIO AT OPERA CENTRAL AS WELL AS IN TITLE I SCHOOLS. FOR SELECT AUDIENCES WE OFFERED SILVER BELLS FOR THE ST. PETERSBURG OPERA GUILD, AND FOUR DONOR QUARTERLIES AT OPERA CENTRAL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 June 2008.

    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.