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Palm Beach Opera Inc

EIN 59-1060864 · West Palm Bch, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PALM BEACH OPERA IS DEDICATED TO PRODUCING LIVE OPERA AT AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE, ENRICHING THE LIVES OF THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES WITH A DIVERSE OFFERING OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND TO TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF OPERA STARS.

Income
$7.3 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
306
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$221,569, former direc

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 25

    27 of 27 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 May 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)
  1. $4.1 million spent. PBO'S CORE PROGRAMS ARE FULLY STAGED WORLD-CLASS OPERA PRODUCTIONS FEATURING INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED SOLOISTS, CONDUCTORS, DIRECTORS, AND DESIGNERS, AS WELL AS A PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA, CHORUS, AND STAGE CREW. PBO ATTRACTS A DIVERSE AUDIENCE OF OVER 20,000 OPERA LOVERS AND MAKES A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL VITALITY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. THIS YEAR, THE OPERA PRODUCED THREE MAIN STAGE OPERAS: ROMEO ET JULIETTE, LA TRAVIATA, AND THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISING GALA FEATURED INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SOPRANO ANNA NETREBKO.
  2. $551,701 spent. PBO OFFERS THREE ARTIST TRAINING PROGRAMS. THE PBO STUDIO PROGRAM IS FREE TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO WISH TO RECEIVE TRAINING AND PREPARATION FOR A FUTURE COLLEGE DEGREE IN THE VOCAL ARTS. APPRENTICE ARTISTS ARE EMERGING POST-GRADUATE SINGERS WHO PERFORM IN THE COMPANY'S EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS (SEE BELOW), AND SING IN THE CHORUS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON TO GAIN STAGE EXPERIENCE. LAUFER YOUNG ARTISTS ARE MORE ADVANCED SINGERS WHO COVER LEAD ROLES AND SING SMALLER ROLES FOR THE MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS. SINGERS IN EACH PROGRAM PERFORM FREQUENT CONCERTS AND RECEIVE VOCAL, MUSICAL, DICTION, AND DRAMATIC TRAINING THROUGH MASTERCLASSES AND COACHING.
  3. $157,548 spent. PBO'S EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED TO A BROAD SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH FREE PRESENTATIONS AND ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO BROADEN AWARENESS AND ENTHUSIASM FOR OPERA, FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. PROGRAMS SUCH AS CONCERTS IN THE CLASSROOM, STORYTIME SERIES, OPERA REHEARSAL 101, OPERA IMMERSION PROGRAM WITH THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, ANIMA, AND CONVERSATIONS SERIES PROVIDE A DEEPER APPRECIATION OF THE OPERA ART FORM TO MORE THAN 7,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY, INCLUDING OVER 6,000 LOCAL CHILDREN WHILE PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTARY EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR EDUCATORS THAT FIT STATE ACADEMIC STANDARDS.
  4. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 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 May 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 August 1965.

    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.