The Santa Fe Opera
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO FURTHER THE OPERATIC ART FORM BY PRESENTING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY IN A VARIED REPERTOIRE OF NEW AS WELL AS RARELY PERFORMED AND STANDARD WORKS, TO ENSURE EXCELLENCE OF OPERA'S FUTURE THROUGH ITS APPRENTICE PROGRAMS FOR ARTISTS, TECHNICIANS AND ARTS ADMINISTRATORS, AND TO FOSTER AND ENRICH AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION FOR OPERA IN THE COMMUNITY BY OUTREACH TO A DIVERSE PUBLIC.
- Income
- $42.1 million
- Spending
- $32.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 10.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 710
- Volunteers
- 465
- Highest pay
- $649,878, general director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2540 of 40 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 September 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 (2)
- $23.7 million spent. ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST IMPORTANT SUMMER FESTIVALS, THE SANTA FE OPERA IS PRAISED FOR ITS INNOVATIVE REPERTORY AND HIGH STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 69,168 ATTENDEES OF THE 2025 SEASON. THE 2025 SEASON INCLUDED A TOTAL OF 36 PERFORMANCES OF 5 FULLY STAGED OPERAS, INCLUDING: LA BOHEME COMPOSED BY GIACOMO PUCCINI, THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO COMPOSED BY WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART, RIGOLETTO COMPOSED BY GIUSEPPE VERDI, THE TURN OF THE SCREW COMPOSED BY BENJAMIN BRITTEN, AND DIE WALKURE COMPOSED BY RICHARD WAGNER. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE 2 PERFORMANCES BY THE SANTA FE OPERA APPRENTICE SINGERS, DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY THE SANTA FE OPERA TECHNICAL APPRENTICES.
- $1.4 million spent. DURING THE OPERA'S 2025 FISCAL YEAR, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS SERVED APPROXIMATELY 25,000 INDIVIDUALS IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY, INCLUDING OVER 20,000 ADULTS AND 3,000 YOUTHS IN PERSON. ADDITIONALLY 465 VOLUNTEERS ENGAGED WITH THE OPERA BOTH ON SITE AND IN SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES CONTRIBUTING 8,400 VOLUNTEER HOURS. THE OPERA HAS CONTINUED PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS IN 4 NM SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND RESIDENCIES FOR STUDENTS FOCUSING ON ARTS INTEGRATION AND STUDENT PRODUCED OPERAS IN 3 OF THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 October 13, 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 September 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 November 2015.
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 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.