Lyric Opera of Kansas City Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO MAKE LYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY INDISPENSABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH TRANSFORMATIONAL OPERA EXPERIENCES AND BROAD SERVICE THAT CAPTURE THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $7.5 million
- Spending
- $6.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 192
- Volunteers
- 183
- Highest pay
- $251,298, general director & 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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 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 (2)
- $3.9 million spent. OPERA PRODUCTIONS: LYRIC OPERA OF KANSAS CITY PRODUCED FOUR MAINSTAGE OPERAS IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON, TOTALING 11 PERFORMANCES THAT REACHED 12,612 ATTENDEES. THE SEASON BEGAN BY WELCOMING INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED SOPRANO RENEE FLEMING TO THE LYRIC STAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A PRESENTATION OF PULITZER PRIZE WINNER KEVIN PUTS' "THE BRIGHTNESS OF LIGHT." THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY ROSSINI'S COMEDIC MASTERPIECE "THE BARBER OF SEVILLE;" THE WORLD'S FIRST MARIACHI OPERA "CRUZAR LA CARA DE LA LUNA; AND THE RETURN OF PUCCINI'S GLORIOUS "TURANDOT." ADDITIONALLY, LYRIC OPERA SECURED THE COMPANY'S FIRST GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATION FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE RECORDING OF "THE SHINING."
- $477,285 spent. EDUCATION/ENGAGEMENT: IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON, THE LYRIC BROUGHT OPERA TO 12,596 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING 6,931 K-12 STUDENTS. WE EXPANDED NEW YEAR-LONG RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, PROVIDING 714 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS IN ARTISTIC PROGRAMS TO 345 STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE TOURED OUR NEW OPERA FOR FAMILIES, "MAYA AND THE MAGIC RING," TO COMMUNITY SPACES WHERE FAMILIES GATHER, REACHING 2,184 INDIVIDUALS. OTHER K-12 PROGRAMS INCLUDED AN IN-SCHOOL TOUR OF "THE HABERDASHER PRINCE;" NARRATIVE STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS; STUDENT DRESS REHEARSALS; AND OTHER MASTERCLASSES. ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING INCLUDED COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS; OPERA DIVES DEEP PRESENTATIONS; PRE-OPERA TALKS; AND OPERA TO GO PERFORMANCES AT RETIREMENT/ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.
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
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 June 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 September 1960.
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.