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Nautilus Music Theater

EIN 41-1721692 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceWeak47 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Nautilus provides opportunities for the artistic growth of music-theater artists who create, develop, & produce new operas & other forms of music-theater. We seek to use partnerships between creator, performers, and audiences, as well as to create professional training programs for artists. (See Schedule O for complete statement.)

Income
$93,713
Spending
$148,424
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 42%
Employees
1
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$42,155, president & artistic director

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: 39 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 58% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $68,259 spent. ARTIST DEVELOPMENT: Ongoing training and development of music-theater artists, including writers, composers, performers, and directors. These programs usually include our 3-week-long Wesley Balk Institute, our Composer-Librettist Studio, and selected educational activities. In FY25, we held our 42nd Balk Institute and our 71st Composer-Librettist Studio, along with classes with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, vocal training with Teatro del Pueblo, and our annual class at Yale University. We also participated in the National Opera Association Conference and the Twin Cities Theater Conference, as well as private coachings and auditions.
  2. $30,809 spent. ROUGH CUTS: A series of public presentations of work-in-progress dialogues between artists and audiences, and explorations of the creative process, focused on new works and emerging artists. Having reinstated our Rough Cuts series in FY24, we presented six regular Rough Cuts, along with two Art Crawl appearances.
  3. $28,688 spent. COMMUNITY COMMISSIONS: Projects initiated by or commissioned for specific communities, such as arts organizations, academic institutions, or human service organizations. Projects for FY25 included master classes with Boston Conservatory; additional workshop projects on PROGRESSIVE LENS, THE LAST BABUSHKA, BLUESTEM; dramaturgy workshops with Fortune Fools Theater; An Opera Theater's Voice Labs; and other short-term consultancies.
  4. $40 spent. PRODUCTIONS: Opportunities (sporadically) for artists to present fully-staged productions of music-theater works, including premieres of new work we have developed and supported, or innovative productions of existing operas and musicals. Although no fully staged productions were held FY25, we held developmental sessions on A SONG AT TWILIGHT and supported a tour of MAGIC CARPET RIDE.

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 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 August 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 1996.

    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.