Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Opera in Williamsburg Inc

EIN 47-5511655 · Williamsburg, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceFair51 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

Opera in Williamsburgs objectives are as follows: Create exceptionally engaging attractive and elegant live fully-staged standard repertoire opera productions with world-class cast and creative team in Williamsburg Virginia Attract new audiences to mainstream live Opera and providing Opera lovers with more opportunities to see superb live performances locally Help outstanding professional artists to earn a living by their art Bring the beauty and passion of live Opera singing to schools and to groups that cannot attend performances Assisted Living Memory Units Opera in Williamsburg is dedicated to bringing to Williamsburg Virginia intimate fully-staged opera with world class cast. Funded by ticket sales and the support of members of the community Opera in Williamsburg is committed to the highest artistic standards and maintains a relationship with the International Vocal Arts Institute IVAI under Joan Dornemann and Paul Nadler.

Income
$265,950
Spending
$259,744
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
-1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
0
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$8,500, music director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 336% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 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

    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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (6)
  1. $240,003 spent. Created and presented a fully-stage production of the opera The Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach and of Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti with orchestra in the original French and Italian with English supertitles. Each performed three performances at the Kimball Theatre Williamsburg Virginia May and September 2024. Some income is for tickets to 2025 operas. Held two stand-alone art song concerts a dinner concert with fund-raising auction and a brunch concert with a raffle as well as free concerts with the singers of each opera. Visit schools when we have opportunities at no charge to the school. Provide our recordings to local public broadcasting at no charge. Hold a donors event with a concert for donors. Note: most expenses by far are for opera productions most by far are for artists fees and the expenses of concerts leading up to an opera are difficult to separate.
  2. $12,229 spent. Held a dinner concert with auction as well as a brunch concert with our singers. Income is for brunch raffle income from auction is listed separately and paddle raise at dinner is listed in donations.
  3. $170 spent. Held a free concert with the cast of each opera
  4. Concerts of Italian art songs and of art songs based on Jewish folk songs
  5. Provided the local public broadcasting WHRO with a recording of our operas from ready to broadcast with subtitles; shared with local audience.
  6. Held free pre-opera talks before each opera by Dr. Glenn Winters.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2022 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2022.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2022.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.