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Omaha Performing Arts Society

EIN 47-0832480 · Omaha, NE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The mission of Omaha Performing Arts is to enrich the community through presentation of the highest quality arts and entertainment experiences; education and community engagement programs; and stewardship of three world-class venues - the Orpheum Theater, Holland Performing Arts Center, and Steelhouse Omaha.

Income
$43.1 million
Spending
$41.2 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
347
Volunteers
611
Highest pay
$673,607, president

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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 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. $20.0 million spent. Omaha Performing Arts presents productions of the highest quality by artists and ensembles at venues including the Orpheum Theater, the Holland Performing Arts Center, and Steelhouse Omaha.
  2. $1.4 million spent. Omaha Performing Arts' mission includes enriching the community through education and community engagement activities and initiatives. In the past 20 years, more than 615,000 students and community members have participated in a variety of programs including Jazz on the Green, Student Matinees, Master Classes, workshops and more. Omaha Performing Arts provides four Education and Community Engagement programs in conjunction with national partners: Disney Musicals in Schools, in which underserved elementary schools receive significant resources to produce an annual Disney KIDS musical; Musical Explorers, a curriculum-based music education program for grades K-2 produced in partnership with Carnegie Hall; Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, a Pre-K arts education program that integrates music, dance, theatre, puppetry, and storytelling, and the Broadway League's National High School Musical Theatre Awards program, which provides top Nebraska Theater Academy students the chance to train with Broadway professionals. Other educational offerings include Student Rush, which offers deeply discounted tickets to students. Additional community engagement offerings include Voices AMPLIFIED!, a cultural engagement series that celebrates artists from various cultures and creates opportunities for discussion, reflection, and new experiences, and Arts Access, which provides organizations serving at-risk and low-income populations with free tickets to select performances.
  3. $14.6 million spent. The Orpheum Theater, Holland Performing Arts Center, and Steelhouse Omaha host a variety of cultural, community, performing arts, and entertainment events, including the Omaha Symphony, Opera Omaha, American Midwest Ballet, and national touring artists.

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 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 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 April 2001.

    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.