Palm Springs Opera Guild of the Desert
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Palm Springs Opera Guild invites everyone in the Coachella Valley and beyond to join the Guild family and participate in its numerous programs.The Guild was established in 1968 to support and promote the operatic arts through outreach, education, fundraising, service, and continues to contribute to its growth today as one of the leading Valleys finest arts companies. We invite everyone to join the Guild and participate in its numerous programs throughout our season.Palm Springs Opera Guild is a membership based organization.Anyone, without regard to race, ethnic background, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, who supports the mission of the Guild and who pays the regular annual dues in the amounts and at the times required by the Board of Directors shall be a general member. General members include persons contributing at various levels including the Patron, Allegro, Bravissimo, and Donor levels.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $665,532
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 42.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $99,994, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 42.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
10 of 10Gave 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 June 30, 2026, 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)
- $592,853 spent. The mission of the Palm Springs Opera Guild is to bring the art of opera to the Coachella Valley through educational outreach, live performances, and financial support for artists. Celebrating over 55 years, the Palm Springs Opera Guild is a premier operatic arts and education organization dedicated to enriching lives through opera music.We offer numerous educational and outreach programs for students (K-12) and adults in the Valley, teaching elements of music, theatre, history, and culture. The Palm Springs Opera Guild serves over 25,000 students each year and hosts an annual Opera in the Park community concert, attracting thousands of attendees from Southern California and the world. Annually, young artists are given opportunities to perform and perfect their operatic skills through our vocal competition and various programs and events.During the 20252026 season, Palm Springs Opera Guild continued its mission to promote and preserve the operatic arts through education, performance, and community engagement. The Guild celebrated its 56th anniversary with a robust lineup of programs that reached thousands across the Coachella Valley. Key accomplishments included: The 2025-26 Season of events and performances began with the season opening and welcome reception at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater followed by the first annual Opera Under the Stars concert. The concert featured four soloists with full orchestra in a program of some of operas most beloved arias and ensembles.In December PSOG hosted the final round of our annual National Vocal Competition at the Rancho Mirage Library. The competition featured 10 finalists competing for more than $30000 in scholarship monies. Judges included opera star Dolora Zajick and conductors Kostis Protopapas and Peter Kozma. This event was presented free to the public.Januarys presentation of a concert of duets and arias from the Spanish-language Zarzuela repertoire took place at Catalan Restaurant in Rancho Mirage as a part of our annual fundraising luncheon.The Evening of Love thank you dinner for our Andante through Bravissimo members took place in February at the Springs Club. Featured performers Michelle Fiore, James Guthrie and Ted Pickell presented selections from the Viennese Operetta repertoire.At the beginning of March, we presented our competition winner Son Jin Kim in his Winners Recital along with pianist Catherine Miller at the Rancho Mirage Library. This event was also presented free to the public.Also in March, we were fortunate to have the opportunity to present selections from the opera Fellow Travelers. Taking place during the Lavendar Scare, this opera had special meaning for the LGBTQ community in our Valley. It also marked our first collaboration with Dezart Performs in their new venue.Also in March was our signature event Opera in the Park. This annual event took place in Sunrise Park in Palm Springs with six soloists and full orchestra in a concert of some of operas greatest hits. This event was free to the public to bring a picnic and enjoy the concert.The season closed with our Season Finale and Annual Meeting at a lovely mid-century private home in Palm Springs. This event, included our annual business meeting along with performances from Metropolitan Opera soprano Emma Marhefka and PSOG competition finalist Ashlyn Brown.The season also included four weeks of our successful Opera in the Schools program that reached into schools in both the Palm Springs Unified and Desert Sands Unified School districts.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, 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 June 2026.
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 June 1968.
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.
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