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Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

EIN 43-0821958 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OPERA THEATRE'S MISSION IS TO SHAPE A VIBRANT FUTURE FOR OPERA BY CONNECTING, INSPIRING, AND ENTERTAINING OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE POWER AND BEAUTY OF THE ART FORM; TO FOSTER THE NEXT GENERATION BY EMPOWERING A DIVERSE GROUP OF ARTISTS, ARTISANS, AND ADMINISTRATORS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL; AND TO MAKE OPERA ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE THROUGH INNOVATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE STORYTELLING THAT REFLECTS, ENGAGES, AND STRENGTHENS THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY AND ATTRACTS NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES.

Income
$34.9 million
Spending
$14.4 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
333
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$298,251, general director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 209% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 25

    54 of 54 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 September 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. $9.7 million spent. THE 2025 FESTIVAL SEASON WAS OTSL'S 50TH, AND INCLUDED FOUR BRAND NEW PRODUCTIONS, INCLUDING STRAUSS'S DIE FLEDERMAUS, DONIZETTI'S DON PASQUALE, BRITTEN'S A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, AND THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THIS HOUSE BY COMPOSER RICKY IAN GORDON AND LIBRETTISTS LYNN NOTTAGE AND RUBY AIYO GERBER. IN ADDITION, THE SEASON FEATURED TWO CONCERTS, CENTER STAGE AND OUR SONGS. THE MAIN STAGE PERFORMANCES FEATURED EARLY CAREER SINGERS IN CHORUS, FEATURE, AND PRINCIPAL ROLES ALONGSIDE ESTABLISHED PERFORMERS IN PRODUCTIONS LED BY WORLD RENOWNED CONDUCTORS, STAGE DIRECTORS, AND DESIGNERS. THE ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ACCOMPANIES ALL PERFORMANCES. SETS, PROPS, COSTUMES, AND LIGHTING ARE CREATED LOCALLY BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS AND CRAFTSPEOPLE. THE 27 PERFORMANCES SAW 14,490 TICKETS SOLD, AND 2,253 GIVEN AWAY AS PART OF THE PHYLLIS' SEATS INITIATIVE TO BRING NEW PEOPLE TO OPERA. ATTENDEES CAME FROM ACROSS THE REGION, COUNTRY, AND GLOBE.
  2. $492,503 spent. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 THE EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS REACHED MORE THAN 75,000 STUDENTS IN 312 SCHOOLS ACROSS 42 STATES AND CANADA. PROGRAMS INCLUDED: A DIGITAL STREAMING OPERA PROGRAM IN PRIVATE, PAROCHIAL, AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE WORLD; DOCENT PRESENTATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY; ARTS INTENSIVE PROGRAMS IN LOCAL SCHOOLS CULMINATING IN STUDENTS CREATING AND PERFORMING THEIR OWN WORLD PREMIERE OPERAS; VOCAL INSTRUCTION AND COACHING FOR HIGH SCHOOLS STUDENTS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS CULMINATING IN A PUBLIC RECITAL AND SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS; CAMPS FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS; AND TRAILBLAZERS IN OPERA-AN INTERACTIVE LESSON SERIES SPOTLIGHTING GROUNDBREAKING PAST AND PRESENT BLACK OPERA SINGERS AND COMPOSERS.
  3. $360,722 spent. NEW WORKS COLLECTIVE IS A PROGRAM DEDICATED TO EXPAND THE AMERICAN OPERA CANON WITH ORIGINAL, INNOVATIVE PRODUCTIONS THAT AUTHENTICALLY REPRESENT STORIES OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE NEW WORKS COLLECTIVE IS A DYNAMIC GROUP OF ST. LOUIS-BASED ARTISTS, ACTIVISTS, AND EDUCATORS THAT IS TASKED WITH IDENTIFYING AND COMMISSIONING WORKS THAT ARE RELEVANT AND RELATABLE FOR THE BROADER ST. LOUIS REGION. IN 2025 THE COLLECTIVE SELECTED THREE CREATIVE TEAMS FROM A BROAD, NATIONWIDE OPEN CALL. THE CYCLE OF THREE NEW WORKS SELECTED BY THE COLLECTIVE PREMIERED IN FEBRUARY 2025 TO SOLD OUT AUDIENCES AT THE KIRKWOOD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. THE THREE PREMIERES WERE BLACK COFFEE BY COMPOSER CONCERT BLACK AND LIBRETTIST ALICIA REVE LIKE, FAMILY STYLE BY COMPOSER MEILINA TSUI AND LIBRETTIST MELISA TIEN, AND KANDAKE BY COMPOSER TIM AMUKELE AND LIBRETTIST JARROD LEE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 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 September 1966.

    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.