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Kentucky Opera Association Inc

EIN 61-6013111 · Louisville, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

KENTUCKY OPERA SPARKS DISCOVERY, JOY, AND CONNECTION AMONG COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH WITH THE SHARED EXPERIENCE OF OPERA.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
Employees
84
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$190,168, general director/ceo

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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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 25

    17 of 17 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 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 (3)
  1. $954,899 spent. KO PRODUCED TWO MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS AT THE BROWN THEATRE: MADAMA BUTTERFLY (NOVEMBER 2025), ADDRESSING THEMES OF FAMILY INSECURITY, AND THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE (FEBRUARY 2025), KO'S FIRST COMMISSION SINCE 1988, INSPIRED BY CIVIL RIGHTS ICON FANNIE LOU HAMER. THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE WAS DEVELOPED WITH COMPOSER CHANDLER CARTER AND LIBRETTIST DIANA SOLOMON-GLOVER. BOTH WERE SUPPORTED BY KO'S AWAKENINGS SERIESFREE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS CONNECTING EACH OPERA TO ISSUES FACING KENTUCKIANS. THESE EVENTS ARE NOW A PERMANENT PART OF KO'S PRODUCTION CYCLE.KO PRODUCED TWO PRODUCTIONS IN THE KENTUCKY OPERA CENTER FOR CULTURAL HEALTH, AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS (DECEMBER 2024) AND PYGMALION (APRIL 2025). AMAHL FEATURED PERFORMERS FROM KO'S YOUTH OPERA PROGRAM, AND PYGMALION EXPLORED THEMES OF IDENTITY AND GROWTH WHILE FEATURING AN ORCHESTRA OF BAROQUE PERIOD INSTRUMENTS.THE AMPLIFY YOUR VOICE RECITAL SERIES ALSO GREW. IN OCTOBER 2024, KO PRESENTED THE FANNIE LOU HAMER BIRTHDAY RECITAL AT THE OPERA CENTER WITH TWO BLACK OPERA SINGERS FROM LOUISVILLE. IN JUNE 2025, KO EXPANDED ITS AMPLIFY SONGS OF JUSTICE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION WITH SUPPORT FROM THE KENTUCKY250 AND JUNETEENTH JUBILEE COMMISSIONS.
  2. $64,804 spent. KO DELIVERED 1,187 ARTS EDUCATION EXPERIENCES ACROSS 44 ZIP CODES. PROGRAMS INCLUDED BRAVO TIME, OVERTURE, STUDENT DRESS REHEARSALS, AND THE YOUTH OPERA PROJECT (YOP), WHICH PERFORMED AT THE SOLD-OUT AMPLIFY SONGS OF REMEMBRANCE IN MAY 2025 AND DREW A RECORD NUMBER OF APPLICANTS. IN RESPONSE TO FAMILY FEEDBACK, KO INTRODUCED SHORTER-TERM CHORUS COMMITMENTS AND ONE-DAY INTENSIVES.FY2025 ALSO SAW THE LAUNCH OF TAG-ALONG, OFFERING FREE CHILDCARE DURING MAINSTAGE PERFORMANCESA RARE OFFERING IN THE OPERA WORLD AND A MAJOR STEP TOWARD ACCESSIBILITY. KO'S PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN TICKETING INITIATIVE RESULTED IN 154 TICKETS DISTRIBUTEDTHE MOST IN KO'S HISTORY.
  3. $408,263 spent. KO IS PROUD OF THE DEEPER CONNECTION WE'VE BUILT WITH OUR COMMUNITY. THE OPERA CENTER HOSTED FREE RECITALS, REHEARSALS, AND PROGRAMS THAT BROUGHT OPERA INTO DAILY LIFE. IN FY2025, KO WELCOMED 1,787 NEW ATTENDEES, INCLUDING 225 FROM LOUISVILLE'S 11 MOST DISTRESSED ZIP CODESMANY EXPERIENCING OPERA FOR THE FIRST TIME.WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF YOP'S TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT. AS ONE PARENT SHARED:"WHAT VERITY MET THAT DAY WAS A GROUP OF KIND AND ENTHUSIASTIC MUSICIANS... THEY ARE THE FUTURE AUDIENCES AND PATRONS OF THE OPERA... YOU HAVE GIVEN MY CHILD A BEAUTIFUL AND MEANINGFUL GIFT." MORGAN GRUBOLA VONBERGPARTICIPANTS ECHOED THE IMPACT:"KENTUCKY OPERA YOUTH PROJECT HAS ALLOWED ME TO SING WITH A GROUP ONCE MY SCHOOL STOPPED OFFERING CHOIR.""OUR STUDENTS WERE STILL TALKING ABOUT HOW POWERFUL AND EMOTIONAL THE STORY WAS LONG AFTER THE SCHOOL DAY ENDED THAT'S A REAL WIN!" OVERTURE TEACHER, AFTER SEEING MADAMA BUTTERFLYTHROUGH INITIATIVES LIKE TAG-ALONG, AMPLIFY, AND EXPANDED EDUCATION PROGRAMS, KO IS REDUCING LONG-STANDING BARRIERS TO OPERA AND AFFIRMING ITS ROLE AS A CIVIC PARTNER AND CULTURAL ANCHOR.

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

  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 June 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 January 1968.

    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.