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Los Angeles Opera Company

EIN 95-2096402 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SERVE THE PUBLIC BY PRODUCING WORLD-CLASS OPERA THAT PRESERVES, PROMOTES AND ADVANCES THE ART FORM WHILE EMBODYING THE DIVERSITY, SPIRIT AND ARTISTIC SENSIBILITY UNIQUE TO LOS ANGELES. WE ENVISION AN ENGAGED AND ENLIGHTENED COMMUNITY IN WHICH (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) ALL MEMBERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECTIVELY ENJOY THE RICH AESTHETIC, EMOTIONAL, INTELLECTUAL AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCE OF OPERA.

Income
$50.3 million
Spending
$46.8 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
891
Volunteers
294
Highest pay
$1.0 million, ex. officio dir., pres. & ceo

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

Financial health

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 25

    98 of 100 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 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. $28.4 million spent. OPERA: THE COMPANY HELD 30 OPERA PERFORMANCES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025. THE COMPANY SOLD 63,000 TICKETS TO MAINSTAGE OPERAS DURING THE YEAR, GENERATING REVENUE OF OVER $9 MILLION.
  2. $3.2 million spent. OTHER ARTISTIC PROGRAMS (RECITALS AND OFF GRAND): THE COMPANY PRESENTS OPERAS IN A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY, EXPAND THE AUDIENCE, AND PROMOTE THE ART FORM. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE OUR "OFF GRAND" PROGRAMS AND RECITALS FEATURING WORLD RENOWNED OPERA SINGERS. THE COMPANY HELD 4 RECITALS AND 11 OFF GRAND PERFORMANCES.
  3. $3.4 million spent. LA OPERA CONNECTS: LA OPERA CONNECTS IS A PROGRAMMING WING FOCUSING ON EQUITABLE ACCESS TO OPERA, PROVIDING UNIQUE PROGRAMS TO STUDENTS, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES, AMONGST OTHER AUDIENCES, IN THE LOS ANGELES REGION. IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON, LA OPERA PARTNERED WITH NUMEROUS SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMING TO OVER 140,000 INDIVIDUALS. PROGRAMS INCLUDED ARTS AND HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS, K-12 AND COLLEGE PROGRAMS, PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, AND COMMUNITY OPERA ENSEMBLES.
  4. $1.9 million spent. THE YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM SEEKS TO SUPPORT AND DEVELOP THE CAREERS OF PROMISING SINGERS AND PIANISTS. THIS PAID RESIDENCY PROGRAM PROVIDES EXTENSIVE TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE THROUGH MAIN-STAGE ROLES, COVER ROLES, CONCERTS AND OTHER PRODUCTIONS. DURING THE SEASON, YOUNG ARTISTS APPEARED IN A LARGE NUMBER OF ROLES AND COVERS FOR MAIN-STAGE PRODUCTIONS. TWO PIANISTS WORKED AS INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF THE LAO MUSIC STAFF, INCLUDING PAYING PIANO FOR REHEARSALS OF ALL MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS AND PLAYING IN THE PIT FOR PERFORMANCES. YOUNG ARTISTS NURTURED CONNECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY WITH ACTIVE SINGING ROLES AND WINNING COMPETITIONS AND GRANTS AT OPERA COMPANIES AND MUSIC PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Source: Form 990 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 May 1960.

    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.