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Chicago Opera Theater

EIN 23-7354963 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Chicago Opera Theaters mission is to enrich the lives of those who live, work and play in Chicago by bringing rarely produced and contemporary operas to life, supporting gifted emerging artists, and providing hands-on experiences with opera that entertain, empower creativity, and cultivate a lasting and meaningful connection to the arts.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
64
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$164,088, general dir.

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

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 11% 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 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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

    18 of 18 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 August 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 (3)
  1. $1.6 million spent. PRODUCTION: SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1973, IN A CITY WHERE STOREFRONT THEATERS AND GLOBAL ICONS THRIVE SIDE BY SIDE, CHICAGO OPERA THEATER (COT) HAS GROWN FROM A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION TO A NATIONAL LEADER IN AN INCREASINGLY VIBRANT, DIVERSE, AND FORWARD-LOOKING ART FORM. EACH SEASON, COT PRODUCES A COMBINATION OF CONTEMPORARY OPERAS ALONGSIDE RARELY PRODUCED WORKS, MANY OF WHICH ARE CHICAGO PREMIERES. COT ALSO PROACTIVELY SEEKS TO AMPLIFY THE WORK OF ARTISTS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS, INCLUDING WOMEN AND ARTIST OF COLOR. DURING THE 2024-25 SEASON, COT PRODUCED THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF LEONORA (PAR) AND THE WORLD PREMIERE OF SHE WHO DARED (BARNES/MOUTON); AS WELL AS A CONCERT HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF PUCCINI.
  2. $168,747 spent. PROFESSIONAL ARTIST DEVELOPMENT: COT IS COMMITTED TO MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION OF OPERA ARTISTS THROUGH THE VANGUARD PROGRAM FOR EMERGING OPERA COMPOSERS, AN IMMERSIVE RESIDENCY THAT INCLUDES PARTICIPATION IN COT PRODUCTIONS, TRAINING WITH TOP INDUSTRY LEADERS, EXTENSIVE STUDY OF REPERTOIRE AND VOCAL WRITING, DIRECT INSIGHT INTO ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER BEHINDTHESCENES PROCESSES, AND CULMINATES WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FULLLENGTH CHAMBER OPERA COMMISSIONED BY COT. VANGUARD COMPOSERS RECEIVE A MONTHLY STIPEND AND ALSO RECEIVE COMMISSION FEES FOR WRITING NEW WORKS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PROGRAM. DURING THE 2024-25 SEASON, 2 COMPOSERS WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH THE VANGUARD PROGRAM, AND COT PRESENTED THE CONCERT PREMIERE OF REMEDIOS VARIOS, A NEW OPERA WRITTEN BY VANGUARD COMPOSER IN RESIDENCE CARLOS CARILLO IN COLLABORATION WITH LIBRETTIST STEPHANIE FLEISCHMANN.
  3. $161,703 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS: COTS OPERA FOR ALL (OFA) IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. OFA EMPOWERS CREATIVITY AND FOSTERS COLLABORATION THROUGH HANDSON, WEEKLY IN CLASS WORKSHOPS. DURING OFA SESSIONS, TEACHING ARTISTS GUIDE EACH CLASSROOM THROUGH THE STAGES OF CREATING, PRODUCING, AND PERFORMING THEIR OWN SHORT OPERAS. IN ADDITION TO LIBRETTO WRITING, COMPOSING, PAINTING, SINGING, DANCING, AND PERFORMING, STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO ATTEND A PROFESSIONAL OPERA PERFORMANCE AT COT. OPERA FOR ALL IS FREE FOR ALL PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS. DURING THE 2024-25 SEASON, OFA SERVED 580 STUDENTS IN 24 CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE GREATER CHICAGOLAND AREA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 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 October 1974.

    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.