Heartbeat Opera Ltd
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Grounded in the belief that excellent opera making should build community and radiate beauty, Heartbeat Opera creates incisive adaptations, revelatory arrangements of classics, and interdisciplinary collaboration. We reckon with the harmful aspects of opera's past and pioneer an equitable and inclusive future for our art form, centered in love.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Employees
- 61
- Highest pay
- $78,200, artistic dir.
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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 39% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 257 of 7 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 (1)
- $936,225 spent. In 2025, Heartbeat Opera furthered its mission to reinterpret opera for contemporary audiences through innovative performance, revelatory adaptation, and audience expansion initiatives. During the season, the organization presented 23 performances, selling 5,001 tickets, representing the companys highest-attended and highest-grossing season to date. In October 2024, Heartbeat Opera presented its 9th Annual Drag Opera Extravaganza, SLAYLEM: The Witch Trials, at Judson Memorial Church in New York City. This signature annual program blended drag performance and opera in an accessible theatrical format designed to engage new and diverse audiences.In February 2025, Heartbeat Opera presented a new chamber adaptation of Richard Strausss Salome at The Space at Irondale. The production received significant critical acclaim, including designation as a New York Times Critics Pick, and furthered the organizations reputation for intimate and inventive reinterpretations of canonical opera. In May 2025, Heartbeat Opera presented a new adaptation of Charles Gounods Faust at Baruch Performing Arts Center, continuing the organizations commitment to reimagining operatic masterworks through contemporary staging and reduced orchestration. Additionally, during Fiscal Year 2025, Heartbeat Opera began development of its adaptation of Samuel Barbers Vanessa in preparation for its summer 2025 presentation as the first ever opera at the 70 year old Tony Award Winning Williamstown Theatre Festival.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2015.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.