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Pittsburgh Opera Inc

EIN 25-1073139 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF PITTSBURGH OPERA, INC. IS TO ENRICH PITTSBURGH AND THE TRI-STATE AREA CULTURALLY AND TO DRAW NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE REGION. THIS COMMITMENT IS COMPRISED OF FOUR GOALS: CREATING OPERA PRODUCTIONS WHICH MEET AND PRESERVE THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE; CONVEYING THE OPERATIC ARTS IN WAYS THAT MAKE THE ART FORM INTELLECTUALLY AND FINANCIALLY ACCESSIBLE TO A DIVERSE AUDIENCE; PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP YOUNG SINGERS INTO TOMORROW'S ARTISTS; AND ENSURING THE FUTURE OF THE COMPANY THROUGH RESPONSIBLE FISCAL MANAGEMENT TODAY.

Income
$7.5 million
Spending
$8.7 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
288
Volunteers
98
Highest pay
$333,606, general director

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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% 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 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

    42 of 43 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 (4)
  1. $3.9 million spent. PITTSBURGH OPERA'S CORE PROGRAMMING INITIATIVE IS THE FOSTERING, DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT OF MUSIC AND OPERA ALONG WITH THE PRESENTATION OF PRODUCTIONS IN A VARIETY OF MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC STYLES, DRAWN FROM THE COMPLETE OPERATIC REPERTOIRE. CASTS INCLUDE INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ARTISTS PERFORMING WITH PITTSBURGH OPERA'S CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA IN PRODUCTIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. PITTSBURGH OPERA ATTRACTS A DIVERSE AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN 25,000 MUSIC-LOVERS TO THESE PERFORMANCES, MAKING A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL VITALITY OF PITTSBURGH'S CULTURAL DISTRICT. IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON, THE OPERA PRODUCED THREE OPERAS AT THE BENEDUM CENTER AND ONE PRODUCTION AT THE BYHAM THEATRE, RESPECTIVELY FOR A TOTAL OF SIXTEEN PERFORMANCES.
  2. $1.0 million spent. PITTSBURGH OPERA'S RESIDENT ARTIST TRAINING PROGRAM IS AN INTENSIVE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO DEVELOP THE TALENTS OF EMERGING VOCAL ARTISTS AND STAGE DIRECTORS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE TO THESE ARTISTS THROUGH PERFORMANCES IN THE OPERA'S MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS AS WELL AS TWO RESIDENT ARTIST PRODUCTIONS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES AN INDIVIDUAL COURSE OF STUDY DESIGNED TO ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE FOUNDATION FOR THE EMERGING OPERA SINGER'S BURGEONING CAREER, INCLUDING VOCAL COACHING, CAREER MANAGEMENT COUNSELING, MEDIA COACHING AND MASTER CLASSES WITH OPERATIC EXPERTS, ALL DELIVERED IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SUPPORTIVE AND NURTURING SO THAT SINGERS CAN EXPERIMENT, LEARN AND GROW AS INTERPRETIVE ARTISTS. FOR THE RESIDENT ARTIST PROGRAM IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON, THE COMPANY PRODUCED TWO FULLY-STAGED PRODUCTIONS WITH ORCHESTRA FOR A TOTAL OF EIGHT PERFORMANCES. EACH YEAR THE PROGRAM RECEIVES OVER 850 APPLICATIONS AND AUDITIONS OVER 350 SINGERS FOR 7-8 POSITONS.
  3. $194,502 spent. PITTSBURGH OPERA'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO BRING OPERA CLOSER TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO BROADEN UNDERSTANDING OF AND ENTHUSIASM FOR THE ART FORM AMONG PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES LECTURES, DEMONSTRATIONS, STAGED PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, CONCERTS AND RECITALS THAT INTRODUCE OPERA TO STUDENTS FROM GRADES PRE-K TO COLLEGE, AND THAT ENHANCE APPRECIATION OF OPERA AMONG ADULT LIFELONG LEARNERS. OTHER ACTIVITIES MAKE OPERA ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND PROVIDE EDUCATORS WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO INTEGRATE THE STUDY OF OPERA AND TO ADDRESS STATE ACADEMIC STANDARDS IN ALL CONTENT AREAS. PITTSBURGH OPERA HAS OVER 30 EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND PROVIDES SERVICES TO 20,000 PARTICIPANTS ANNUALLY. EDUCATION PROGRAMS IMPACT OVER 900 EDUCATORS.
  4. $112,863 spent. PITTSBURGH OPERA'S STRATEGIC IMPACT AND ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ENSURES THAT ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES, POLICIES, AND BEST PRACTICES PERMEATE THE ORGANIZATIONAL DEMOGRAPHY OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE. PITTSBURGH OPERA OFFERED 10 TRAININGS, WORKSHOPS, AND GUIDED DISCUSSIONS FOR STAFF, PERFORMERS, AND CONSTITUENTS, CONDUCTED ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES INCLUDING AUDITING FOR BEST PRACTICES AND ADMINISTERED STAFF AND BOARD ENGAGEMENT SURVEYS. STRATEGIC IMPACT INITIATIVES ARE FURTHER REALIZED THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFERINGS IN ORDER TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THOSE WE SERVE. FURTHER, PITTSBURGH OPERA, WITH THE AID OF A CIVIC PRACTICE GRANT AWARDED BY OPERA AMERICA, BEGAN ITS FIRST PHASE OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE HOMEWOOD COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH AND EXPOSE THE POPULATION TO OPERA AND ELEMENTS SURROUNDING THIS ART FORM. PITTSBURGH OPERA HELD OUR ANNUAL FAMILY DAY WHERE WE SAW AN INCREASE OF 56% TO 181 CHILDREN, TEENS, AND THEIR FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN FOUR DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES SOME OF THE MANY DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT MAKE UP OPERA: (1) INSTRUMENT SHOW AND TELL; (2) VOICE LESSONS; (3) DANCE/MOVEMENT/CHOREOGRAPHY; AND (4) PROP MAKING AS WELL AS A PROFESSIONAL OPERATIC PERFORMANCE.

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 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 June 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 July 1955.

    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.