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Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis reported $34.9 million in revenue and $14.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $73.23 went to program services, $12.09 to management and general costs and $14.68 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 49.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $298,251 (GENERAL DIRECTOR). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 40% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $14MFor 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 September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $35MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 73.2% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.1% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 14.7% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.12 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 49.8% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.1% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 3.5% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $298,251 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.07% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 107.5 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 54 of 54 | 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 expenseThe 2025 festival season was otsl's 50th, and included four brand new productions, including strauss's die fledermaus, donizetti's don pasquale, britten's a midsummer nights dream, and the world premiere of this house by composer ricky ian gordon and librettists lynn nottage and ruby aiyo gerber. In addition, the season featured two concerts, center stage and our songs. The main stage performances featured early career singers in chorus, feature, and principal roles alongside established performers in productions led by world renowned conductors, stage directors, and designers. The st. Louis…
In fiscal year 2025 the education and engagement programs reached more than 75,000 students in 312 schools across 42 states and canada. Programs included: a digital streaming opera program in private, parochial, and public schools across the world; docent presentations in the community; arts intensive programs in local schools culminating in students creating and performing their own world premiere operas; vocal instruction and coaching for high schools students from local schools culminating in a public recital and scholarship awards; camps for middle and high school age students; and…
New works collective is a program dedicated to expand the american opera canon with original, innovative productions that authentically represent stories of our community. The new works collective is a dynamic group of st. Louis-based artists, activists, and educators that is tasked with identifying and commissioning works that are relevant and relatable for the broader st. Louis region. In 2025 the collective selected three creative teams from a broad, nationwide open call. The cycle of three new works selected by the collective premiered in february 2025 to sold out audiences at the…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GENERAL DIRECTOR Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $282,941 | $0 | $15,310 | $298,251 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $198,951 | $0 | $40,310 | $239,261 |
| DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $130,908 | $0 | $38,595 | $169,503 |
| DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $126,463 | $0 | $15,753 | $142,216 |
| ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $129,794 | $0 | $5,676 | $135,470 |
| DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $118,467 | $0 | $13,927 | $132,394 |
| DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & PR Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $116,492 | $0 | $15,045 | $131,537 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $110,492 | $0 | $4,542 | $115,034 |
9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $772K (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–1b54 · 54 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 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5333
- Volunteers Part I, line 6250
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ST LOUIS SYMPHONY Musician services | $1,161,212 |
| SECURE DATA TECHNOLOGIES INC Cyber security and it services | $219,019 |
| CES & JUDY'S CATERING FOODWORKS INC Catering and food/bar service | $194,780 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
36 private foundations reported grants to Opera Theatre of Saint Louis totaling $787K 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 Opera Theatre of Saint Louis's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Opera Theatre of Saint Louis spent in FY2025, $73.23 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Providence Performing Arts CenterProvidence, RI · revenue $35M · programs 81.1% · FY2025
- Wisconsin Historical FoundationMadison, WI · revenue $35M · programs 69.7% · FY2025
- Bethel Woods Center for the ArtsLiberty, NY · revenue $35M · programs 87.3% · 2024
- Cox Science Center and AquariumWest Palm Beach, FL · revenue $35M · programs 66.2% · FY2025
- Houston Grand Opera AssociationHouston, TX · revenue $35M · programs 81.0% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Missouri
Questions people ask
How much of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis reported that 73.2% of its $14.4 million in expenses went to program services, 12.1% to management and general and 14.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Opera Theatre of Saint Louis pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Opera Theatre of Saint Louis reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $298,251, for the role of GENERAL DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Opera Theatre of Saint Louis get its money?
Of $34.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 49.8% came from contributions and grants (including 1.1% from government grants) and 3.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Opera Theatre of Saint Louis a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 43-0821958 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), 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 September 30, 2025, object 202602249349301015 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202502189349301010 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202422279349301842 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202302269349302625 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202242279349303379 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202102239349301130 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 43-0821958: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.