Cincinnati Opera Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The second oldest opera company in America, Cincinnati Opera presents dynamic opera productions every summer in Cincinnati's historic Music Hall. Cincinnati Opera is dedicated to educating, entertaining, and inspiring audiences by presenting opera performances, school tours, and community programs for adults and children that meet the highest standards of artistic excellence.
- Income
- $10.6 million
- Spending
- $8.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 11.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 127
- Volunteers
- 111
- Highest pay
- $262,656, general director & ceo
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2543 of 43 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $6.5 million spent. Cincinnati Opera, the nation's second-oldest opera company, presented its 105th anniversary season at historic Music Hall. The company's 2025 Summer Festival spanned June and July and included three mainstage productions featuring renowned singers, the Cincinnati Opera Chorus, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Boychoir, and dancers from Cincinnati Ballet. Repertoire included a new-to-Cincinnati production of Giuseppe Verdi's tragic Rigoletto, a sumptuous production of Giacomo Puccini's timeless classic Tosca, and a brand-new production of the beloved musical Fiddler on the Roof. The season also included Studio Sessions, an intimate series of three cabaret-style performances curated by celebrated opera artists, offering audiences a close-up experience of operatic artistry.Cincinnati Opera extended its reach with low-cost and accessible community programs, including Opera Goes to Church presented in conjunction with local congregations, and a Sensory-Friendly Rehearsal, providing an inclusive opera experience for individuals with sensory sensitivities. Year-round, Cincinnati Opera offers a variety of programs throughout the community designed to engage and connect with students, families, and the opera-curious, inspiring a lifelong love of opera across all ages and backgrounds.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1942.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.