Central City Opera House Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE HONOR AND SUSTAIN THE PIONEERING SPIRIT OF OUR COLORADO HISTORY BY CONTINUING TO ENRICH LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE POWER OF SHARED PERFORMANCES AND PRESERVATION OF OUR HISTORIC PROPERTIES.
- Income
- $8.0 million
- Spending
- $8.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- -1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Employees
- 205
- Volunteers
- 66
- Highest pay
- $175,788, ceo & presid
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 78% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 2522 of 22 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 December 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 (5)
- $3.4 million spent. OPERAS AND OTHER PRODUCTIONS - THESE ACTIVITIES PRODUCE WELL-KNOWN OPERA MASTERPIECES, AS WELL AS INNOVATIVE PRODUCTIONS OF REDISCOVERED TREASURES AND AMERICAN WORKS CAPITALIZING ON THE INTIMACY OF THE CENTRAL CITY OPERA HOUSE AND THE NATURAL SETTING OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. THE SUMMER OPERA FESTIVAL ATTRACTS ACCLAIMED DIRECTORS, CONDUCTORS, AND ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. ADDITIONALLY, SHUTTLE AND PARKING WAS PROVIDED FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO PARK AT THE FESTIVALS OR BE TRANSPORTED BY SPECIFICALLY HIRED BUSSES TO THE FESTIVALS. THE BONFILS-STANTON FOUNDATION ARTISTS TRAINING PROGRAM IS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG SINGERS.
- $2.7 million spent. HISTORIC PRESERVATION - CCOHA'S PRESERVATION EFFORTS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN PRESERVING THE DISTINCTIVE HERITAGE OF THE CENTRAL CITY/BLACK HAWK NATIONAL LANDMARK HISTORIC DISTRICT. THE CCOHA OWNS AND MAINTAINS THE OPERA HOUSE AND 27 VICTORIAN-ERA PROPERTIES, WHICH PROVIDE VITAL SUPPORT FACILITIES AND HOUSING FOR THE SUMMER FESTIVAL ARTISTS AND STAFF. IN 2025, ALL THE PROPERTIES WERE GRANTED TO ITS AFFILIATE, CENTRAL CITY OPERA PROPERTIES, AT NET BOOK VALUE TOTALING 1,713,293.
- $268,214 spent. EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS - THESE ACTIVITIES BRING OPERA TO A VARIETY OF AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT COLORADO AND NEIGHBORING STATES. SPECIAL PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, TOURS, AND OTHER VIRTUAL PROGRAMS ARE TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF DIVERSE AUDIENCES FROM ALL COMMUNITIES.
- $111,029 spent. GRANT TO CENTRAL CITY OPERA HOUSE ENDOWMENT FUND FOR ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN. EXPENSES 111,029 INCLUDING GRANTS OF 111,029 REVENUE 0
- GRANT TO CENTRAL CITY OPERA HOUSE ENDOWMENT FUND FOR ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN. EXPENSES 111,029 INCLUDING GRANTS OF 111,029 REVENUE 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 November 6, 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 December 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 October 1933.
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 November 4, 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.