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Merola Opera Program

EIN 94-6084831 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Merola Opera Program is a San Francisco-based training program for opera singers, pianists, and stage directors.

Income
$9.5 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
77.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 81%
Employees
12
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$194,468, dir of finance

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 77.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 58% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 31 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 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 (3)
  1. $2.6 million spent. THE MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM:THE MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SUMMER TRAINING PROGRAM THAT SELECTS APPROXIMATELY 30 EMERGING OPERA ARTISTS FROM OVER 1,300 APPLICANTS AGED 20 TO 34 THROUGH A COMPETITIVE AUDITION PROCESS. THE 9- TO 12-WEEK PROGRAM PREPARES PARTICIPANTS FOR SUSTAINABLE CAREERS THROUGH VOCAL, DRAMATIC, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING. MEROLA ENJOYS A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP WITH SAN FRANCISCO OPERA, WHERE MANY ALUMNI ADVANCE TO THE PRESTIGIOUS ADLER FELLOWSHIP, AND OTHERS JOIN LEADING OPERA COMPANIES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, TRAINING, AND A WEEKLY STIPEND AT NO COST.
  2. THE PROGRAM INTEGRATES TRAINING IN VOCAL STYLE, ROLE INTERPRETATION, ACTING, STAGECRAFT, MOVEMENT, CONDUCTING, PROMPTING, LANGUAGES, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON HOLISTIC ARTIST PREPARATION. MASTER CLASSES LED BY INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED FACULTY OFFER DEEP INSIGHT INTO THE CRAFT, WHILE PUBLIC PERFORMANCESINCLUDING FULLY STAGED OPERAS, A SCENES PROGRAM, AND THE MEROLA GRAND FINALEALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR GROWTH AND TALENT TO BROAD AUDIENCES.
  3. MEROLA PROVIDES THIS TRAINING ENTIRELY FREE TO PARTICIPANTS, FUNDED THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF INDIVIDUAL DONORS, FOUNDATIONS, AND GRANTING AGENCIES. THE PROGRAM EQUIPS ARTISTS WITH A STRONG PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATION AND A CLEAR PATH FORWARD, SUPPORTING THEIR CAREER TRAJECTORIES THROUGH POST-PROGRAM GRANTS, MENTORSHIP, AND A GLOBAL ALUMNI NETWORK.

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

  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 September 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 August 1957.

    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.