Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Operalia Foundation Inc

EIN 95-4857653 · Calabasas, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak45 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR OPERA AND ASPIRING OPERA SINGERS BY FUNDING AN ANNUAL COMPETITION FOR YOUNG ARTISTS. THE COMPETITION IS HELD ON A WORLD WIDE BASIS, TAKING PLACE IN A MAJOR CITY EACH YEAR. THE 2025 COMPETITION TOOK PLACE IN BULGARIA.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$916,791
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
68.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
0
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$120,000, ceo-treasurer

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

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 68.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 79% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 233% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
  1. $855,818 spent. THE FOUNDATION RECEIVES APPROXIMATELY 1,000 APPLICATIONS FROM ASPIRING ARTISTS EACH YEAR. THE FOUNDATION EVALUATES RECORDINGS MADE BY EACH APPLICANT AND THEN INVITES THE TOP 40 SINGERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMPETITION. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES GRANTS TO ALLOW EACH APPLICANT TO ATTEND THE COMPETITION WHICH TAKES PLACE OVER SEVERAL DAYS. TEN SINGERS ARE THEN CHOSEN FOR THE FINAL ROUND AND AWARDS ARE GIVEN TO THE WINNERS. SUCCESS IN THIS COMPETITION IS OFTEN A STEPPING STONE TO A SUCCESSFUL OPERATIC CAREER.

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

  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 December 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 December 2001.

    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.