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Opera Association of Central Ohio

EIN 31-1020676 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OPERA COLUMBUS ENRICHES CENTRAL OHIO BY EDUCATING, ENLIGHTENING, AND ENTERTAINING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS THROUGH THE LIVE MUSIC THEATRE EXPERIENCE BY EMPLOYING A DIVERSE AND FAR-FLUNG SUPPLY OF CREATIVE TALENT, IDEAS AND ARTISTICE ENERGIES.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 42%
Employees
8
Volunteers
125
Highest pay
$183,110, ceo

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 27 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (3)
  1. $1.1 million spent. PRODUCTIONS: FOUNDED IN 1981, OPERA COLUMBUS BRINGS THE FULL GRANDEUR OF OPERA TO COLUMBUS STAGES WTIH LUSH MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS AND CREATIVE EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS PROGRAMS. UNDER THE VISION OF GENERAL DIRECTOR AND CEO JULIA NOULIN-MIRAT, OPERA COLUMBUS IS REDEFINING AND REIMAGINING THE CONCEPT OF REGIONAL OPERA WITH WORLD-CLASS PRODUCTIONS THAT CELEBRATE EXTRAORDINARY TALENT AND ARTISTIC PARTNERSHIPS, ENGAGING A NEW, DIVERSE AUDIENCE FOR THIS MOST MAGNIFICENT OF ART FORMS. FROM GROUNDBREAKING COLLABORATIONS TO INNOVATIVE AND BREATHTAKING PRODUCTIONS, OPERA COLUMBUS IS PASSIONATE ABOUT CREATING ARTISTIC MOMENTS FOR EACH AND EVERY PATRON.
  2. $151,614 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS: OUR YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS SUPPORT CHILDREN'S LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, BUILDING AN APPRECIATION FOR OPERA AND THE ARTS WHILE TEACHING IMPORTANT LIFE LESSONS. WE ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL FABRIC. WE INVEST IN COLUMBUS' FUTURE THROUGH OUR EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING OPERA GOES TO SCHOOL TOUR, PERFORMANCE WORKSHOPS, CONCERTS IN THE CLASSROOM, OPERA REHEARSAL PREVIEWS, SKETCH OPERA, STUDENT DRESS REHEARSALS, SOUTHERN THEATRE TOURS AND FREE STUDENT TICKETS. OPERA COLUMBUS WILL CONTINUE OUR MISSION TO ADVANCE THE EXPERIENCE AND THE ART OF OPERA BY EDUCATING AND INSPIRING ALL GENERATIONS THROUGH A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION, WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF PREPARING THE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY. EDUCATION PROGRAMS: OUR YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS SUPPORT CHILDREN'S LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, BUILDING AN APPRECIATION FOR OPERA AND THE ARTS WHILE TEACHING IMPORTANT LIFE LESSONS. WE ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL FABRIC. WE INVEST IN COLUMBUS' FUTURE THROUGH OUR EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING OPERA GOES TO SCHOOL TOUR, PERFORMANCE WORKSHOPS, CONCERTS IN THE CLASSROOM, OPERA REHEARSAL PREVIEWS, SKETCH OPERA, STUDENT DRESS REHEARSALS, SOUTHERN THEATRE TOURS AND FREE STUDENT TICKETS. OPERA COLUMBUS WILL CONTINUE OUR MISSION TO ADVANCE THE EXPERIENCE AND THE ART OF OPERA BY EDUCATING AND INSPIRING ALL GENERATIONS THROUGH A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION, WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF PREPARING THE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
  3. $39,353 spent. VOCAL COMPETITION: THE PURPOSE OF THE ANNUAL, INTERNATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED IRMA M. COOPER-ARTHUR AND HETTY BING VOCAL COMPETITION IS TO EMPOWER AND CELEBRATE YOUNG, EMERGING ARTISTS THROUGH CASH PRIZES AND AUDITION EXPERIENCE. THIS COMPETITION DISCOVERS TALENT, REVEALS ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITY, AND ENGAGES THE NEXT GENERATION INTO THE PROFESSIONAL OPERA COMMUNITY. FOUNDED IN 1983, THE COMPETITION ATTRACTS EXCEPTIONAL ARTISTS EACH YEAR, HELPING TO LAUNCH THE CAREERS OF MANY OF ITS COMPETITORS. FORMER WINNERS INCLUDE INTERNATIONALLY-RENOWNED SUPERSTAR DENYCE GRAVES AND METROPOLITAN OPERA ARTISTS DINA KUZNETSOVA, RICHARD PAUL FINK, SUSAN FOSTER, LUCAS MEACHEM, AND ALYSON CAMBRIDGE. THE ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD (LAUNCHED IN 2013) HONORS A TALENTED HIGH SCHOOL OR UNDERGRADUATE ARTIST FROM CENTRAL OHIO, WHO RECEIVES A CASH PRIZE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM AT THE VOCAL COMPETITION FINALS. VOCAL COMPETITION: THE PURPOSE OF THE ANNUAL, INTERNATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED IRMA M. COOPER-ARTHUR AND HETTY BING VOCAL COMPETITION IS TO EMPOWER AND CELEBRATE YOUNG, EMERGING ARTISTS THROUGH CASH PRIZES AND AUDITION EXPERIENCE. THIS COMPETITION DISCOVERS TALENT, REVEALS ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITY, AND ENGAGES THE NEXT GENERATION INTO THE PROFESSIONAL OPERA COMMUNITY. FOUNDED IN 1983, THE COMPETITION ATTRACTS EXCEPTIONAL ARTISTS EACH YEAR, HELPING TO LAUNCH THE CAREERS OF MANY OF ITS COMPETITORS. FORMER WINNERS INCLUDE INTERNATIONALLY-RENOWNED SUPERSTAR DENYCE GRAVES AND METROPOLITAN OPERA ARTISTS DINA KUZNETSOVA, RICHARD PAUL FINK, SUSAN FOSTER, LUCAS MEACHEM, AND ALYSON CAMBRIDGE. THE ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD (LAUNCHED IN 2013) HONORS A TALENTED HIGH SCHOOL OR UNDERGRADUATE ARTIST FROM CENTRAL OHIO, WHO RECEIVES A CASH PRIZE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM AT THE VOCAL COMPETITION FINALS.

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 December 1981.

    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.