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Opera Philadelphia

EIN 23-1504706 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BE PHILADELPHIA'S PROFESSIONAL PRODUCER OF QUALITY GRAND OPERA, PRODUCING A DIVERSE RANGE OF REPERTOIRE FEATURING INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS ALONGSIDE RISING YOUNG SINGERS, AND TO PRODUCE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WHICH NURTURE THE FUTURE AND RELEVANCE OF THE ART FORM.

Income
$11.1 million
Spending
$11.4 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
-1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
287
Volunteers
55
Highest pay
$366,088, president until 5/31/24

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

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 51% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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 May 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 (2)
  1. $7.1 million spent. IN FY25 OPERA PHILADELPHIA PRODUCED: MISSY MAZZOLI'S THE LISTENERS (OCTOBER 2024) FEATURING NICOLE HEASTON (CLAIRE DEVON) AND KEVIN BURDETTE (HOWARD BARD), DIRECTED BY LILEANA BLAIN- CRUZ AND CONDUCTED BY CORRADO ROVARIS; JOSEPH BOLOGNE'S THE ANONYMOUS LOVER (JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025), FEATURING SYMONE HARCUM (LEONTINE), DIRECTED BY DENNIS WHITEHEAD DARLING AND CONDUCTED BY JALENA BOVELL; AND NEW PRODUCTION OF DON GIOVANNI (MAY 2025), FEATURING SIDNEY OUTLAW (DON GIOVANNI), DIRECTED BY ALISON MORITZ AND CONDUCTED BY CORRADO ROVARIS.
  2. $538,598 spent. OPERA PHILADELPHIA INAUGURATED THE PICK YOUR PRICE INITIATIVE, OFFERING TICKETS AS LOW AS $11 EACH, SELLING OUT THE SEASON AND MAKING OPERA ACCESSIBLE TO NEW AUDIENCES. IN ADDITION, CONTINUED ITS COMMUNITY INITIATIVES WITH PROGRAMMING THAT IMPACTS STUDENTS AND ADULTS THROUGHOUT PHILADELPHIA. OPERA PHILADELPHIA ALSO PRODUCED A FREE CONCERT AT CITY HALL AS PART OF CENTER CITY DISTRICT'S ARTS ON CENTER STAGE AND MOTHER TREE CANTATA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARKSINGERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 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 May 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 1960.

    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.

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