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Arizona Opera Company

EIN 23-7169261 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak28 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ARIZONA OPERA ELEVATES THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF STORYTELLING THROUGH MUSIC - CULTIVATING COMMUNITY AND STRENGTHENING A STATE AND PEOPLE AS ADVENTUROUS AND DIVERSE AS THE PLACE THEY CALL HOME.

Income
$4.5 million
Spending
$5.9 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
-1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
429
Volunteers
109
Highest pay
$280,480, pres. & general director (thru 4/25)

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: 28 out of 100. Higher than 3% 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 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    34 of 34 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

    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 (1)
  1. $3.7 million spent. ARIZONA OPERA'S 2024/25 SEASON INCLUDED A REDUCED SEASON FORMAT WITH ONE FULLY STAGED OPERA, ONE SITE-SPECIFIC OPERA, A FAMILY OPERA AND A CONCERT OPERA, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS THAT EXTENDED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. FALL 2024 INCLUDED A FAMILY-ORIENTED PERFORMANCE OF HECTOR ARMIENTA'S COYOTES AND RABBITS WITH PERFORMANCES HAPPENING IN AND AROUND PHOENIX AND TUCSON, ARIZONA, AS WELL AS THE ONE-PERSON OPERA TELLTALE HEART, AS PART OF THE BEYOND DOWNTOWN SERIES. THIS SERIES CONTINUED IN THE SPRING WITH MOZART'S THE SECRET GARDENER WITH PERFORMANCES AT TOHONO CHUL IN TUCSON AND THE MONROE STREET ABBEY IN PHOENIX BOTH PERFORMANCES WERE SOLD OUT. THE COMPANY PRODUCED PUCCINI'S LA BOHEME IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2024, AND IN APRIL PRODUCED GIUSEPPE VERDI'S AIDA IN CONCERT, ACCOMPANIED BY A NEW FILM MADE WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. IN ADDITION, ARIZONA OPERA'S NEXTGEN INITIATIVE CONTINUED ITS FOCUS ON DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF OPERA ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES, INCLUDING A ROBUST SCHEDULE OF K-12 EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR EMERGING PROFESSIONALS. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDED OUR IN-SCHOOL ARLYN M. BREWSTER OPERA UNITY TOUR THAT REACHES OVER 30,000 CHILDREN PER YEAR ACROSS THE STATE AND OUR STUDENT PREVIEW PERFORMANCES IN THEATER; OUR ELITE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG SINGERS AND THEATER TECHNICIANS, INCLUDE THE MARION ROOSE PULLIN STUDIO, WHICH GIVE SINGERS, PIANISTS AND STAGE DIRECTORS THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE THEY NEED TO LAUNCH THEIR CAREERS; AND A WIDE VARIETY OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALLOW US TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN THE MOST FULSOME WAY POSSIBLE, WHETHER ONE BRAND NEW TO OPERA, OR A LIFELONG FAN. IN THE 2024/25 SEASON, ARIZONA OPERA SERVED APPROXIMATELY 12,000 ARIZONANS THROUGH IN-THEATER PERFORMANCES; OVER 35,000 K-12 STUDENTS THROUGH OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS; AND NEARLY 10,000 RESIDENTS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.

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 May 1972.

    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.

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.