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San Francisco Opera Association

EIN 94-0836240 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE BELIEVE OPERA IS A UNIQUELY COMPELLING, ENTERTAINING AND EMOTIONALLY THRILLING ART FORM. OUR MISSION IS TO BRING TOGETHER GROWING AUDIENCES TO EXPERIENCE OPERA'S TRANSFORMATIVE POWER.

Income
$82.8 million
Spending
$89.1 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
941
Volunteers
424
Highest pay
$774,969, ceo/general director

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

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

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

    70 of 71 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 July 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 (3)
  1. $62.0 million spent. PRODUCTION AND ARTISTIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS - SAN FRANCISCO OPERA'S 2024-25 SEASON BEGAN ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2024, WITH THE ANNUAL OPERA BALL GALA AND VERDI'S UN BALLO IN MASCHERA CONDUCTED BY MUSIC DIRECTOR EUN SUN KIM. UN BALLO IN MASCHERA WAS PRESENTED IN A NEW-TO-SAN FRANCISCO OPERA PRODUCTION BY ITALIAN DIRECTOR LEO MUSCATO AND STARRED MICHAEL FABIANO, LIANNA HAROUTOUNIAN, AND THE DEBUT OF MONGOLIAN BARITONE AMARTUVSHIN ENKHBAT. CHORUS DIRECTOR JOHN KEENE PREPARED THE ARTISTS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO OPERA CHORUS.ON SEPTEMBER 14, POUL RUDERS' 2000 OPERA THE HANDMAID'S TALE HAD ITS WEST COAST PREMIERE IN A NEW CO-PRODUCTION BY SAN FRANCISCO OPERA AND THE ROYAL DANISH THEATRE. THE CAST WAS HEADED BY IRENE ROBERTS AND ALSO STARRED LINDSAY AMMANN, SARAH CAMBIDGE, JOHN RELYEA, SIMONE MCINTOSH, CHRISTOPHER OGLESBY, AND BRENTON RYAN, UNDER THE BATON OF KAREN KAMENSEK AND DIRECTED BY JOHN FULLJAMES.WAGNER'S TRISTAN UND ISOLDE RETURNED TO THE COMPANY'S STAGE IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER IN A NEW-TO-SAN FRANCISCO OPERA PRODUCTION BY DIRECTOR PAUL CURRAN AND DESIGNER ROBERT INNES HOPKINS. AS PART OF HER COMMITMENT TO LEAD WORKS BY VERDI AND WAGNER EVERY SEASON, EUN SUN KIM LED THIS PATH-BREAKING ROMANTIC EPIC NOT HEARD ON THE COMPANY'S STAGE IN 18 SEASONS. THE CAST FEATURED SIMON O'NEILL, ANJA KAMPE, KWANGCHUL YOUN, AND, IN THEIR HOUSE DEBUTS, WOLFGANG KOCH AND ANNIKA SCHLICHT.FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO'S PRODUCTION OF BIZET'S CARMEN RETURNED ON NOVEMBER 13, FOR 8 SOLD-OUT PERFORMANCES STARRING EVE-MAUD HUBEAUX IN HER AMERICAN DEBUT AS CARMEN, JONATHAN TETELMAN, CHRISTIAN VAN HORN, AND LOUISE ALDER WITH BENJAMIN MANIS CONDUCTING. THE 2025 SUMMER SEASON OPENED ON JUNE 3 WITH PUCCINI'S LA BOHEME IN THE SAN FRANCISCO OPERA PRODUCTION BY JOHN CAIRD WITH RAMON TEBAR CONDUCTING TWO CASTS. THE PRINCIPAL ROLES WERE PERFORMED BY PENE PATI, EVAN LEROY JOHNSON AS RODOLFO, KAREN CHIA-LING HO, NICOLE CAR AS MIMI, ANDREA CARROLL, BRITTANY RENEE AS MUSETTA ALONG WITH ARTISTS WHO SANG IN ALL PERFORMANCES INCLUDING LUCAS MEACHEM, BOGDAN TALOS, SAMUEL KIDD, AND DALE TRAVIS. LOBBY ACTIVATIONS DURING THE BOHEME PERFORMANCES FEATURING INTERACTIVE SCENES AND PERFORMERS ENHANCED THE AUDIENCE'S EXPERIENCE AND PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHOTOS. EUN SUN KIM CONDUCTED MOZART'S EARLY MASTERPIECE IDOMENEO IN A NEW-TO-SAN FRANCISCO OPERA PRODUCTION BY DIRECTOR LINDY HUME. THE CAST INCLUDED YING FANG IN HER COMPANY DEBUT, DANIELA MACK, ELZA VAN DEN HEEVER, MATTHEW POLENZANI, AND ALEK SHRADER. ON JUNE 27, THE COMPANY PRODUCED ITS FIRST PRIDE CONCERT AS PART OF THE LARGER, SAN FRANCISCO-WIDE PRIDE WEEKEND FESTIVITIES. SAPPHIRA CRISTAL EMCEED THE EVENING SHOWCASING THE SAN FRANCISCO OPERA ORCHESTRA ONSTAGE UNDER THE BATONS OF EUN SUN KIM AND ROBERT MOLLICONE WITH SOLOISTS JAMIE BARTON, BRIAN MULLIGAN, AND NIKOLA PRINTZ. AS A SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE CONCERT, VIDEO PROJECTION DESIGNER TAL ROSNER PROJECTED DESIGNS, ANIMATIONS, AND HISTORIC IMAGES AROUND THE AUDITORIUM.IN OCTOBER, A NEW DOCUMENTARY FILM, EUN SUN KIM: A JOURNEY INTO LOHENGRIN CO-PRODUCED BY SAN FRANCISCO OPERA AND LUMAHAI PRODUCTIONS, WAS RELEASED ONLINE FOR FREE STREAMING. THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES FILM ABOUT KIM AND THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE 2023 PERFORMANCES OF WAGNER'S LOHENGRIN WAS ALSO TELECAST ON KQED.ALONG WITH ITS MAINSTAGE OPERAS, THE COMPANY PRESENTED SEVERAL CONCERTS DURING ITS 102ND SEASON, BEGINNING WITH THE 50TH FREE OPERA IN THE PARK CONCERT AS PART OF OPENING WEEKEND WITH ARTISTS FROM THE FALL SEASON INCLUDING EUN SUN KIM CONDUCTING THE SAN FRANCISCO OPERA ORCHESTRA. IN CELEBRATION OF THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF BEETHOVEN'S NINTH SYMPHONY, KIM CONDUCTED A ONE-NIGHT-ONLY PERFORMANCE OF THE WORK ON OCTOBER 26 LEADING THE ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS ONSTAGE WITH SOLOISTS JENNIFER HOLLOWAY, ANNIKA SCHLICHT, RUSSELL THOMAS, AND KWANGCHUL YOUN. IN DECEMBER, THE COMPANY'S RESIDENT ARTISTS, THE ADLER FELLOWS, WERE FEATURED IN THE FUTURE IS NOW CONCERT AT HERBST THEATRE UNDER THE BATON OF BENJAMIN MANIS. CHORUS DIRECTOR JOHN KEENE LED THE SAN FRANCISCO OPERA CHORUS IN A YEAR-END CONCERT IN THE TAUBE ATRIUM THEATER. THE COMPANY'S POPULAR ENCOUNTER SERIES CONTINUED WITH THE CARMEN ENCOUNTER ON NOVEMBER 21 FEATURING A PERFORMANCE OF ACT I FROM THE OPERA AND AN IMMERSIVE PARTY IN THE TRANSFORMED LOBBY AND HALLWAY SPACES OF THE OPERA HOUSE.THE COMPANY'S BOHEME OUT OF THE BOX- A SHIPPING CONTAINER TURNED INTO A MOBILE STAGE - PRODUCTION OF PUCCINI'S LA BOHEME RETURNED FOR ITS THIRD STRAIGHT SEASON WITH PERFORMANCES IN OPEN-AIR VENUES IN SAUSALITO, SAN RAMON, LOS ALTOS HILLS, AND HAYWARD IN APRIL AND JUNE. THE CASTS FEATURING THE ADLER FELLOWS AND OTHER INVITED ARTISTS ATTRACTED AUDIENCES OF ROUGHLY 300 PER SHOW WITH THE SAN RAMON PERFORMANCE PLAYING TO NEARLY 700 AT ALEXANDER SQUARE IN THE CITY CENTER.THE FREE STORYTELLING WORKSHOP, THE OPERA IN YOU, RETURNED FOR A THIRD SEASON WITH IN-PERSON SESSIONS AT SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY'S POTRERO BRANCH AND THE WILSEY CENTER FOR OPERA ALONG WITH TWO ONLINE COHORTS. ADDITIONAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDED PRE-OPERA TALKS IN THE AUDITORIUM BEFORE EACH MAINSTAGE PERFORMANCE, POST-PERFORMANCE TALKBACKS WITH MUSIC DIRECTOR EUN SUN KIM AND A BOOK CLUB COLLABORATION WITH SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY AROUND THE HANDMAID'S TALE.SAN FRANCISCO OPERA'S 2024-25 SEASON WITNESSED MYRIAD PERFORMANCES AT THE WAR MEMORIAL OPERA HOUSE, ATRIUM THEATER, HERBST THEATRE, GOLDEN GATE PARK, AND PUBLIC SPACES AROUND THE BAY AREA, THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY. ONLINE VIEWERS FOR THE LIVESTREAMS EXTENDED THE COMPANY'S PRESENTATIONS TO MUSIC LOVERS AROUND THE WORLD.
  2. $3.6 million spent. OPERA CENTER (TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT) - THE OPERA SUPPORTS AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, THE ADLER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. THE ADLER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IS A PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED RESIDENCY OF TWO YEARS OFFERING ADVANCED YOUNG ARTISTS INTENSIVE INDIVIDUAL TRAINING, COACHING, PROFESSIONAL SEMINARS, AND A WIDE RANGE OF PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES. ADLER FELLOWS GAIN VALUABLE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE BY PERFORMING ROLES OF INCREASING IMPORTANCE IN THE OPERA'S MAIN-STAGE SEASON. IN ADDITION TO PERFORMANCES ON THE MAIN STAGE, SELECTED ADLER FELLOWS ARE FEATURED IN THE SCHWABACHER RECITAL SERIES. THE ADLER SEASON CULMINATES IN AN ADLER FELLOWS CONCERT. ALUMNI FROM THE ADLER PROGRAM INCLUDE: SOPRANOS LEAH CROCETTO, NANCY GUSTAFSON, PATRICIA RACETTE, NADINE SIERRA, RUTH ANN SWENSON, ELZA VAN DEN HEEVER, AND DEBORAH VOIGT; MEZZO-SOPRANOS ZHENG CAO AND DOLORA ZAJICK; TENORS BRIAN JAGDE, SEAN PANIKKAR, AND NOAH STEWART; COUNTERTENOR BRIAN ASAWA; BARITONES MARK DELAVAN AND LUCAS MEACHEM; AND BASS-BARITONES MONTE PEDERSON AND JOHN RELYEA. THE SAN FRANCISCO OPERA ALSO SUPPORTS THE MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM FOR ASPIRING PROFESSIONALS, OFFERING UP-AND-COMING SINGERS, COACH-ACCOMPANISTS AND STAGE DIRECTORS THE OPPORTUNITY OF INTENSE STUDY AND PERFORMANCE DURING AN ELEVEN-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM.THE OPERA'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING MUSIC EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS, TEACHERS, YOUNG AUDIENCES, AND ADULTS CONTINUED IN A MYRIAD OF SCHOOL AND FAMILY PROGRAMS AND ONLINE RESOURCES. THE SAN FRANCISCO OPERA AND OPERA GUILD BRING OPERA AND MUSIC EDUCATION TO STUDENTS AND INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
  3. $1.1 million spent. ELECTRONIC MEDIA - THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS INITIATIVE IS TO EXTEND THE COMPANY'S AUDIENCE THROUGH TELEVISION AND RADIO BROADCASTS, HOME VIDEO PRODUCTS, LOCAL SIMULCASTS, CINEMA PRESENTATIONS, WEB VIDEOS, AND IN-HOUSE HD COVERAGE. THE COMPANY'S PIONEERING LOBBYVISION PROVIDES AUDIENCES A VIEW OF THE STAGE FROM VARIOUS LOCATIONS FRONT OF HOUSE WITH SCREENS SHOWING REAL-TIME HD VIDEO AND SUBTITLES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 November 6, 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 July 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 March 1924.

    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 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.