Utah Symphony & Opera
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Mission - Connect the community through great live music. Vision - Perform, engage, inspire. The artistic leadership of the organization is committed to representing a broad range of musical styles, including traditional works, contemporary pieces, and new commissions to add to the canon of classical music. Community investment in Utah Symphony | Utah Opera strengthens our economy and enhances our quality of life. Utahns have long recognized that a person's quality of life rests, in part, on the community's commitment to the arts to inspire the human spirit and motivate the betterment of mankind. Over the years, Utah has experienced growth and prominence and continues to become established as a hub for business innovation and scientific research in the United States. Utah Symphony | Utah Opera stands as an influential cultural leader that is often cited by companies as an attraction for a successful and talented workforce to the region.
- Income
- $28.6 million
- Spending
- $30.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 3.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 41%
- Employees
- 536
- Volunteers
- 562
- Highest pay
- $429,449, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 2551 of 55 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 August 31, 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 (4)
- $15.0 million spent. Code 711130 SYMPHONIC CONCERTS - The Utah Symphony was founded during the Great Depression as a Works Progress Administration orchestra under Roosevelt's New Deal. Today, the Utah Symphony is the premiere orchestra in the Intermountain West and one of only sixteen year-round orchestras in the nation. This ranking compares favorably to Utah's rank of 30th among states in population size. The Utah Symphony presented 80 in-person concerts at Abravanel Hall and in communities throughout Utah, reaching approximately 157,300 audience members during the season. A variety of programs are offered featuring some of the industry's most illustrious artists in performance with the Utah Symphony in programs ranging from Classical Symphonies, to Jazz, to Pops. Please see utahsymphony.org for more information. The Utah Symphony | Utah Opera's Education Program benefits Utah's children and is one of the largest in the country, reaching approximately 52,000 students and 2,300 teachers during the fiscal year. Through our education program offerings, each school district in Utah is visited every three to five years. The reach of this programming is far greater than performing arts organizations in other metropolitan areas. In addition to visits to schools, the programs provide opportunities for students to attend performances, rehearsals, master classes, and other great learning events. The community at large is engaged regularly through various Outreach Programs. We present an annual performance for children with special needs and their families reaching over 580 individuals each year, an annual performance for the blind and visually impaired reaching up to 100 members of that community. Other services coordinated by our Education and Outreach Department include a variety of free lectures, internships, on-line learning courses, teacher re-licensure programs, and a Youth Symphony Festival. A stand-out among Utah Symphony | Utah Opera's projects is our local partnership with local museums, art galleries, libraries, film centers, performing arts groups, and scholars, the Festival provides our community opportunities to explore an artistic theme using all their senses. Utah Symphony | Utah Opera is engaged in valuable cooperative relationships with many other non-profit organizations that serve a variety of purposes, including The Road Home, Utah School Boards, Ballet West, and Madeleine Cathedral Choir School. It is also notable that, through a close relationship with the communities it serves, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera is able to reinvest into Utah's economy. The organization employs over 400 individuals each year. *An estimated 93% of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera expenses are fed directly back into the local economy. *Economic development professionals concur that a vibrant symphony and opera are important criteria in attracting new businesses and skilled professionals to Utah. *Source: Salt Lake County Cultural Facilities Master Plan, AMS Consultants, December 2008.
- $5.3 million spent. Code 711110 OPERA PERFORMANCES - Utah Opera performs in Salt Lake City's Capitol Theatre, reaching an audience just under 27,000. Utah Opera offered 24 performances of four mainstage productions this year. Utah Opera has a nationally renowned costume shop, and features some of the top singers, directors, conductors, and designers from around the country. A Resident Artists program provides aspiring young singers an opportunity to refine their craft while performing secondary roles and singing in education and community outreach programs. Please see utahopera.org for more information. A prime example of the services we are able to render to the arts community is the value housed in the Utah Opera Production Studios. One-of-a-kind facility, the Utah Opera Production Studios houses a team of artisans, designers, and skilled craftsmen who bring the art form of opera to life for Utah Opera and performing arts organizations around the world through its sets and costumes construction and rentals programs. The Utah Opera Production Studios bring the integration of all production activities of the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera to one resourceful location (Costume Shop & Rentals, Prop Studio, Scenic Shop & Scenic Studio, Set Storage, Assembly Bay, Rehearsal Hall) and allows the organization to utilize a business model which combines all aspects of both symphonic and operatic art forms. Production needs for performances at Abravanel Hall, the Capitol Theatre, and even the Deer Valley Music Festival can be designed and built with the resources found in this building. This has resulted in valuable cost savings and artistic synergy for the organization and the community.
- $3.3 million spent. Code 711130 DEER VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL - Currently in its twenty first season, the Deer Valley Music Festival is the summer home of the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, reaching an audience of nearly 37,000 during the summer season. The festival provides chamber music, classical, family, and pops offerings in many venues: Deer Valley Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater, St. Mary's Church, and salons in private Park City homes. Please see deervalleymusicfestival.org for more information.
- $2.6 million spent. Other Program services include: Depreciation of Set Equipment - $112,532; Marketing - $1,371,849; Box Office - $553,129; Education - $535,687; Misc. - $35,942
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 September 1975.
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.