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The Minnesota Opera
The Minnesota Opera reported $10.5 million in revenue and $11.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $70.51 went to program services, $17.43 to management and general costs and $12.06 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 72.8% of the total. Government grants made up 5.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $275,851 (President & General Director). 5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 42% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $12MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $11M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$66.78 $7.1M
- Government grants$5.13 $547K
- Program service revenue$20.73 $2.2M
- Investment income$7.36 $785K
Other revenue was negative: −$131K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 70.5% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 17.4% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 12.1% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.18 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 72.8% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 5.2% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 21.0% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $275,851 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.39% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 42.4 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 31 of 32 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseIn 2024-2025, throughout the Minnesota Opera's 62nd season, the company continued to build on the company's long legacy of producing innovative new work as well as presenting heritage repertoire with tremendous musicality and promising fresh directorial perspectives. In doing so, it routinely demonstrates the art form's ability to cross ideological, generational, and class boundaries, providing a time and place to connect people in pursuit of a more empathetic, equitable, and joyful life. Continuing on Schedule O The season began with Glam Jam, a public benefit concert featuring the Minnesota…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President & General Director Director/trustee, officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $256,985 | $0 | $18,866 | $275,851 |
| VP, Advancement Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $175,343 | $0 | $5,343 | $180,686 |
| VP, Finance Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $126,101 | $0 | $14,929 | $141,030 |
| VP, Production Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $120,431 | $0 | $13,429 | $133,860 |
| VP, Impact Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $104,424 | $0 | $11,066 | $115,490 |
5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Minnesota Opera (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $431K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b32 · 31 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5281
- Volunteers Part I, line 6103
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Kato Roofing Roofing contractor | $211,741 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
22 private foundations reported grants to The Minnesota Opera totaling $4.7M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Minnesota Opera's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Minnesota Opera, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Minnesota Opera spent in FY2025, $70.51 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Discovery Center Great LakesTraverse City, MI · revenue $11M · programs 84.4% · FY2025
- Round House TheatreBethesda, MD · revenue $11M · programs 78.6% · FY2025
- Mingei InternationalSan Diego, CA · revenue $11M · programs 67.6% · FY2025
- Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of ArtHartford, CT · revenue $11M · programs 84.1% · FY2025
- The Epc Museum Dba LA NubeEl Paso, TX · revenue $10M · programs 78.0% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Minnesota
Questions people ask
How much of The Minnesota Opera's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Minnesota Opera reported that 70.5% of its $11.6 million in expenses went to program services, 17.4% to management and general and 12.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Minnesota Opera pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Minnesota Opera reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $275,851, for the role of President & General Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Minnesota Opera get its money?
Of $10.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 72.8% came from contributions and grants (including 5.2% from government grants) and 21.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Minnesota Opera a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 41-0946789 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202640979349300624 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202500769349301680 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202420459349301332 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202310909349301676 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241329349306714 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101279349300420 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 41-0946789: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.