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Opera Delaware Inc

EIN 51-6018055 · Wilmington, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OPERADELAWARE IS A PROFESSIONAL NON-PROFIT OPERA COMPANY WITH A REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN BOTH OPERA AND ARTS EDUCATION. OPERADELAWARE OPENS THE DOOR TO BOLD, VIBRANT AND CREATIVE OPERATIC PROGRAMMING THAT ENRICHES THE COMMUNITY, TRANSFORMS AUDIENCES, AND ENCOURAGES DIALOGUE.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
65

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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 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 (2)
  1. $1.2 million spent. THE 2024-2025 SEASON SAW CONTINUED GROWTH IN AUDIENCE REACH AND COMMUNITY PRESENCE. THIS SEASON, OPERADELAWARE ENRICHED THE LIVES OF OVER 24,000 PEOPLE THROUGH PERFORMING OR PRESENTING OVER 150 OPERATIC PERFORMANCES, LECTURES, EVENTS, AND YOUTH EDUCATION SESSIONS THROUGHOUT DELAWARE AND THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION. THE 2024-2025 SEASON ATTRACTED OVER 1,500 FIRST-TIME PATRONS, AS WELL AS OVER 650 PATRONS FROM OUTSIDE A 30-MILE RADIUS OF WILMINGTON. IN ADDITION, OUR RIVERFRONT STUDIOS SERVED AS HOME TO MANY DELAWARE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS FOR OFFICE, REHEARSAL, PERFORMANCE, AND EVENT SPACE.
  2. $135,661 spent. OPERADELAWARE'S EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS REACHED UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY CENTERS AND SCHOOLS THROUGH A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH THAT PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH INSTRUCTION, TRAINING, PRESENTATIONS AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES. THE CURRICULUM, REPERTOIRE, AND REHEARSAL TIME ARE CLOSELY TAILORED TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT BODY. THE PARTICIPATION- BASED PROGRAMS INTEGRATE THE ARTS INTO CURRICULUM AS A WAY TO REACH A VARIETY OF LEARNING STYLES. THE 2024-2025 SEASON SAW A CONTINUATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHOIR PROGRAM AND THE LAUNCH OF A NEW IN-SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM LED BY OPERADELAWARE COMPANY ARTISTS, GENERATING OVER 5,000 STUDENT INTERACTIONS. THESE IN- AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE GEARED TOWARDS YOUNG AUDIENCES AND INTRODUCE CHILDREN TO THE POWER AND BEAUTY OF THE UNAMPLIFIED HUMAN VOICE, WHILE TEACHING IMPORTANT LESSONS ABOUT READING, WRITING, AND MUSIC. OPERADELAWARE'S EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS REACHED UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY CENTERS AND SCHOOLS THROUGH A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH THAT PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH INSTRUCTION, TRAINING, PRESENTATIONS AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES. THE CURRICULUM, REPERTOIRE, AND REHEARSAL TIME ARE CLOSELY TAILORED TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT BODY. THE PARTICIPATION- BASED PROGRAMS INTEGRATE THE ARTS INTO CURRICULUM AS A WAY TO REACH A VARIETY OF LEARNING STYLES. THE 2024-2025 SEASON SAW A CONTINUATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHOIR PROGRAM AND THE LAUNCH OF A NEW IN-SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM LED BY OPERADELAWARE COMPANY ARTISTS, GENERATING OVER 5,000 STUDENT INTERACTIONS. THESE IN- AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE GEARED TOWARDS YOUNG AUDIENCES AND INTRODUCE CHILDREN TO THE POWER AND BEAUTY OF THE UNAMPLIFIED HUMAN VOICE, WHILE TEACHING IMPORTANT LESSONS ABOUT READING, WRITING, AND MUSIC.

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

  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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    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 August 2025.

    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 April 1955.

    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.