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Passes our checks

Homer Opus

EIN 84-3921663 · Homer, AK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HOMER OPUS IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT DELIVERS STRING-BASED MUSIC PROGRAMS TO YOUTH AGES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE, AND ADULTS, IN HOMER, ALASKA. OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY BY CREATING MUSIC TOGETHER, AND TO CREATE BETTER LEARNERS AND CITIZENS THROUGH INSTRUMENTAL INSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE.

Income
$109,389
Spending
$118,503
Reserves
9.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 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, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (4)
  1. $3,550 spent. THERE ARE THREE IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS OFFERING FREE INSTRUCTION TO ALL K- 2 STUDENTS. IN HOMER, PAUL BANKS PRELUDES AND FIREWEED FRESCOES, AND IN ANCHOR POINT, CHAPMAN'S EAGLE ENSEMBLE. THESE PROGRAMS USE VIOLIN INSTRUCTION TO BUILD BRAIN CAPACITY AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION SKILLS. THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, HOMER YOUTH STRING ORCHESTRA CLUB (HYSOC) OFFERS A FEE-BASED OPPORTUNITY FOR GRADES 3-12 STUDENTS THAT WISH TO GAIN MUSICIANSHIP SKILLS. HYSOC ALSO SPONSORS AN ADULT ORCHESTRA THAT ALLOWS MORE ADVANCED STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM AND PERFORM WITH ADULT AND PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS. WHILE THE FOCUS OF INSTRUCTION DIFFERS SLIGHTLY IN THE IN-SCHOOL AND THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, THEY ARE RUN IN A COORDINATED MANNER AND SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR PERFORM TOGETHER. VARIOUS FUNDRAISING EVENTS TARGET EACH SCHOOL'S PARENT GROUP, BUT THE FUNDS ARE NOT RETAINED FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THAT SCHOOL.
  2. HOMER OPUS IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN HOMER, AK WITH A MISSION TO BUILD LEARNING SKILLS AND COMMUNITY COHESIVENESS BY TEACHING CHILDREN ORCHESTRAL STRING INSTRUMENTS AND BY PERFORMING. HOMER OPUS SERVES THE SOUTHERN KENAI PENINSULA AND HAS IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN PAUL BANKS ELEMENTARY, FIREWEED CHARTER, AND CHAPMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FOR K-2 CHILDREN. WE ALSO OFFER AN AFTER-SCHOOL YOUTH ORCHESTRA FOR OLDER STUDENTS AND ADULTS. OUR IN-SCHOOL PROGRAM REACHES OVER 240 YOUTH USING VIOLIN INSTRUCTION TO DEVELOP THE KINDS OF LEARNING SKILLS THAT BRAIN RESEARCH SHOW STRING INSTRUCTION CAN PROVIDE. THESE SKILLS ARE KNOWN A EXECUTIVE FUNCTION SKILLS AND INCLUDE SUCH THINGS AS ATTENTION FOCUS, PERSEVERANCE, PLANNING, MULTI-TASKING, AND IMPULSE CONTROL - THINGS THAT IMPROVE CHILDREN'S LONG-TERM ACADEMIA AND LIFE SUCCESS. HOMER OPUS'S AFTER SCHOOL ORCHESTRAL PROGRAM CURRRENTLY SERVES ABOUT 35 AND DEVELOPS MUSICAL AND ORCHESTRAL SKILLS AND GIVES THEM A SENSE OF AGENCY AND BELONGING. OUR ADULT ENSEMBLE OF ABOUT 20 MEMBERS FOCUSES ON MENTORING OUR YOUTH PARTICIPANTS.
  3. ORCHESTRAL INSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH ADULT.
  4. $114,953 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 June 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 September 2020.

    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.