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Opera North

EIN 22-2519789 · Lebanon, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OPERA NORTH'S MISSION IS TO BRING TOGETHER VISIONARY AND EMERGING ARTISTS FROM ACROSS THE CREATIVE SPECTRUM ALONG WITH OUR DISTINGUISHED LEADERS AND ARTISTS TO CREATE GREAT WORKS OF PERFORMING ARTS.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$994,341
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
28
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$55,845, general director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 32% 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

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 48% 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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. $533,034 spent. ARTISTIC EXCELLENCETHROUGH ITS WORK AT BLOW-ME-DOWN FARM, OPERA NORTH SEEKS TO REVITALIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY SPIRIT OF CREATIVITY THAT DEFINED THE CORNISH COLONY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FARM INTO A CAMPUS FOR THE ARTS AND THE SITE OF A NEW SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL. THE 2025 SUMMERFEST SEASON DREW NEARLY 5,000 VISITORS TO THE FARM FOR A RANGE OF PERFORMANCES ENCOMPASSING CIRCUS, OPERA, MUSICAL THEATER, AND JAZZ.
  2. $250,621 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACHTHIRTY PATRONS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL WITH OPERA NORTH TO THE METROPOLITAN OPERA, WHERE WE SAW TWO PRODUCTIONS, ENJOYED A BACKSTAGE TOUR, AND HAD A HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR OF LOWER MANHATTAN'S FIVE POINTS DISTRICT. WE DEVELOPED A SERIES OF SUCCESSFUL VIRTUAL EDUCATION EVENTS AIMED AT ADULT AUDIENCES, INCLUDING A VIRTUAL VOCAL COACHING CONDUCTING BY LOUIS BURKOT TO WHICH THE PUBLIC WAS INVITED TO WATCH. EVENTS WERE ALSO RECORDED AND COULD BE ACCESSED AT PATRONS' CONVENIENCE. THIS VIRTUAL FORMAT WAS AN ESPECIALLY SUCCESSFUL ONE FOR THESE KINDS OF EVENTS, ALLOWING US TO BROADEN OUR AUDIENCE BEYOND THOSE GEOGRAPHICALLY PROXIMATE TO THE EVENT LOCATION.
  3. $12,039 spent. RENOVATION OF THE BEAMAN HOUSE AT BLOW-ME-DOWN FARMDURING THE PAST YEAR, OPERA NORTH MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN PHASE TWO OF RENOVATIONS AT THE BEAMAN HOUSE, THE FUTURE ADMINISTRATIVE BASE FOR THE NEW NATIONAL PARK FOR THE ARTS THAT WE ARE DEVELOPING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. THE WORK TO PRESERVE AND REHABILITATE THE HISTORIC BLOW-ME-DOWN FARM IN CORNISH IS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF ARCHITECT ANDREW GARTHWAITE AND HIS ARCHITECTURAL FIRM HAYNES & GARTHWAITE, WITH CONTRACTOR INGRAM CONSTRUCTION. THE FIRST PHASE OF GARTHWAITE'S WORK, WHICH WAS DELAYED BY THE FEDERAL BUDGETARY SHUTDOWN AND THEN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, IS CURRENTLY ADDRESSING ISSUES RELATED TO THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE BUILDING AND THE PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC SITE. IN 2023, GARTHWAITE AND INGRAM CONSTRUCTION RENOVATING AN EXISTING RESTROOM IN THE MAIN HOUSE TO CREATE AN ACCESSIBLE RESTROOM. IN 2024, ADDITIONAL SITE INCLUDED REPAIRING THE TIMBER SILLS, PAINTING THE EXTERIOR, REPAIRING THE PORCHES, AND REPAIRING THE FRAMING, TRIM, SIDING, WINDOWS AND FLASHING, AS NEEDED.PHASE TWO WAS SUPPORTED, IN LARGE PART, THROUGH GRANTS FROM THE NEW HAMPSHIRE'S LAND AND COMMUNITY HERITAGE INVESTMENT PROGRAM, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS CULTURAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM, AND THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION. ADDITIONALLY, CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEGUN WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NORTHERN BORDERS REGIONAL COMMISSION AND USDA'S RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ABOUT FUNDING FOR NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE ESPECIALLY PUBLIC RESTROOM

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 November 6, 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 September 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 December 1988.

    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 November 4, 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.