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Civic Light Opera Association

EIN 25-6000890 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE, PERPETUATE AND CREATE THE VERY BEST OF MUSICAL THEATER AND ENCOURAGE ITS APPRECIATION BY PRODUCING AND PRESENTING FIRST-RATE PERFORMANCES AND CONDUCTING EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR THE ENRICHMENT OF THE COMMUNITY. CLO IS DEDICATED TO THE FUTURE OF THE MUSICAL THEATER ART FORM THROUGH ITS SPECIAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE ACADEMY OF MUSICAL THEATER, THE GENE KELLY AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER, AND THE CLO/CMU NEW WORKS PROJECT.

Income
$9.8 million
Spending
$11.4 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 59%
Employees
357
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$207,532, executive producer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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

    61 of 61 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $7.2 million spent. FOR MORE THAN SEVENTY YEARS, THE PITTSBURGH CIVIC LIGHT OPERA HAS BEEN PROVIDING CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS TO OVER 200,000 PATRONS A YEAR. THE PITTSBURGH CLO'S MAJOR ACTIVITY IS THE PRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION OF A SIX SHOW, MULTI-VENUE SUMMER SEASON OF MUSICALS, WHICH RAN FROM MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER IN 2024. PRODUCTIONS WERE HELD AT THE BENEDUM THEATER, BYHAM THEATER, AND GREER CABARET IN PITTSBURGH FOR THE CULTURAL ENRICHMENT AND ENJOYMENT OF ITS AUDIENCE AND COMMUNITY. VIBRANT PRODUCTIONS, INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND BOLD NEW WORKS WILL CONTINUE TO DEFINE PITTSBURGH CLO AS A LEADER IN THE MUSICAL THEATER INDUSTRY FOR YEARS TO COME.
  2. $1.1 million spent. THE PITTSBURGH CLO'S ACADEMY OF MUSICAL THEATER TRAINS 500 STUDENTS RANGING FROM AGES FIVE THROUGH EIGHTEEN IN VOICE, DANCE AND ACTING. THE MISSION OF THE ACADEMY IS TO TRAIN STUDENTS ACCORDING TO A HIGH PERFORMANCE STANDARD AND TO OFFER STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS AND ENHANCE THEIR SELF CONFIDENCE WHETHER OR NOT THEY PLAN TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THE PERFORMING ARTS. THROUGHOUT ITS 36-YEAR HISTORY, THE ACADEMY HAS EDUCATED, INSPIRED, AND ENRICHED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, ASPIRATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. ALSO, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ACADEMY AND THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PITTSBURGH AREA, THE PITTSBURGH CLO'S INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS IMPACT THE LIVES OF MANY UNDER-SERVED POPULATIONS.CLO OFFERS IN PERSON AND HYBRID CLASSES, AND CONTINUES TO ADD NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH BROADWAY PROFESSIONALS VIRTUALLY AND CREATES DIGITAL PROGRAMMING.
  3. $563,157 spent. THE CABARET AT THEATER SQUARE IS A VENUE FOR SMALL-SCALE MUSICALS AND PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND PRESENCE FOR THE PITTSBURGH CLO. THIS 200-SEAT BLACK BOX SPACE HAS GIVEN THE PITTSBURGH CLO THE OPPORTUNITY TO CROSS MARKET ITS PRODUCTIONS, HAS ADDED A REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE PITTSBURGH CLO AND HAS BECOME AN ECONOMIC CATALYST FOR THE CULTURAL DISTRICT AND CITY OF PITTSBURGH. SINCE IT OPENED IN 2004, MORE THAN 460,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ENTERTAINED AT THE PITTSBURGH CLO CABARET.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 September 1947.

    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 October 21, 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.