The Minnesota Opera

Tax-deductible

Minneapolis, MN501(c)(3)Since 1963Arts & CultureEIN 41-0946789Revenue $10.5M in FY2025

On file with the IRSmnopera.org620 N 1st St, 55401-1225 · Minneapolis, MNTax-exempt since Jan 1969Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

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Minnesota Opera changes lives by bringing people together to advance the art of opera.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
71¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 65 volunteers and 300 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.0M a year · 8% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
71%
of spending
Fine: 71% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$783K
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Top officer’s pay lower than 70% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.3 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $54K
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.7M
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
31
of 32 voting members
Looks good: 31 of 32 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$10.5M
-23% vs prior year
Spent
$11.6M
To programs
71%
Net assets
$40.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$10.5M
FY2025▼ -23%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$7.4M
FY2021$10.0M
FY2022$16.1M
FY2023$16.7M
FY2024$13.7M
FY2025$10.5M
Expenses
$11.6M
FY2025▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$12.2M
FY2021$8.1M
FY2022$10.8M
FY2023$13.1M
FY2024$12.6M
FY2025$11.6M
Net assets
$40.9M
FY2025▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$24.8M
FY2021$29.7M
FY2022$30.9M
FY2023$36.0M
FY2024$39.3M
FY2025$40.9M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 1969.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

71 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 71% · $8.1M Management & general 17% · $2.0M Fundraising 12% · $1.4M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

37 people listed on the 990; $783K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
President & General Director
$256,985Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Advancement
$175,343Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Finance
$126,101Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Production
$120,431Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Impact
$104,424Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Ryan Taylor’s $257K as President & General Director is at the 30th percentile of top reported officer pay among 749 $10–100M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Ryan Taylor$256,985$260,102$241,327$217,670$222,856$243,665
Lani Willis$175,343$171,195$164,208$145,251——
Carley Stuber————$125,205$153,972
Charles D Lunceford—————$143,480
Janelle Erickson$126,101$131,577$108,263———
Steve Matheson—————$124,475
Karen Quisenberry$120,431$119,819$116,295$101,109$101,824—
Gena Holland———$109,975$107,479$53,524

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Brings people together to advance the art of opera, changing lives.

Questions for The Minnesota Opera

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $8.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

In 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.

$8.1Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
See all 5 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$10.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$7.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$785K
Money outPt IX
$11.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$8.1M
Managementcol C$2.0M
Fundraisingcol D$1.4M
Owns and owesPt X
$40.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$42.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
37
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a32
IndependentVI 1b31
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$7.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$547K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$2.4M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$193K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$785K
Total revenueLn 12$10.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$30.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$9.6M
Other assetsLn 15$540K
Total assetsLn 16$42.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M
Net assetsLn 32$40.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5300
VolunteersI 665
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.0M$1.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$27.8M$30.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$9.8M$9.6M
Total assetsLn 16$41.7M$42.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.4M$1.7M
Net assetsLn 32$39.3M$40.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$431K$431K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$53K$53K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$5.7M$4.2M$753K$690K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$162K$121K$21K$20K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$563K$407K$93K$62K
Payroll taxesLn 10$361K$250K$68K$43K
Legal feesLn 11b$19K$19K
Accounting feesLn 11c$39K$39K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$43K$43K
Investment management feesLn 11f$93K$93K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$306K$75K$50K$180K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$159K$82K$37K$40K
Office expensesLn 13$533K$210K$186K$137K
Information technologyLn 14$114K$65K$20K$29K
RoyaltiesLn 15$90K$86K$4K
OccupancyLn 16$146K$128K$9K$8K
TravelLn 17$257K$186K$42K$29K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$4K$2K$2K$306
InterestLn 20$296$296
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$469K$439K$15K$14K
InsuranceLn 23$89K$77K$6K$6K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.9M$1.8M$122K$21K
All other expensesLn 24e$40K$19K$9K$13K
Total functional expensesLn 25$11.6M$8.1M$2.0M$1.4M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $10.5M$11.6M−$1.0M$40.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $13.7M$12.6M$1.1M$39.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $16.7M$13.1M$3.6M$36.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $16.1M$10.8M$5.3M$30.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $10.0M$8.1M$1.9M$29.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $7.4M$12.2M−$4.8M$24.8M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $10,529,091 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $10,253,790$7,665,565
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,645,646$2,210,325
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $808,357$784,548
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $38,951−$131,347
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $13,746,744$10,529,091
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $8,014,446$7,245,565
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $37,500$43,000
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,572,557$4,268,616
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $12,624,503$11,557,181
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,122,241−$1,028,090
Part VI · Governance 31 of 32 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body32
VI-1b Independent voting members31
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $10,529,091 across 11 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $343,859 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$192,590
VIII-1d Related organizations$2,063,896
VIII-1e Government grants$546,554
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,862,525
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$2,409,984
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$7,665,565
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,866,466$1,866,466
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $784,548$784,548
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossUnrelated business $21,335$21,335
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$152,682−$152,682
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,210,325 · Unrelated business $21,335 · Excluded from tax $631,866$10,529,091
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $11,557,181 across 23 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $431,117$431,117
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsFundraising $52,982$52,982
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $4,233,101 · Management $752,712 · Fundraising $689,951$5,675,764
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $120,998 · Management $20,947 · Fundraising $20,355$162,300
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $407,069 · Management $93,375 · Fundraising $62,166$562,610
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $249,506 · Management $68,029 · Fundraising $43,257$360,792
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $19,420$19,420
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $38,719$38,719
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $43,000$43,000
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $92,564$92,564
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $75,447 · Management $49,768 · Fundraising $180,366$305,581
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $81,584 · Management $36,846 · Fundraising $40,353$158,783
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $210,171 · Management $185,962 · Fundraising $137,262$533,395
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $65,022 · Management $19,761 · Fundraising $28,870$113,653
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $86,224 · Fundraising $4,082$90,306
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $128,057 · Management $9,062 · Fundraising $8,484$145,603
IX-17 TravelPrograms $186,354 · Management $42,155 · Fundraising $28,699$257,208
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $2,471 · Management $1,718 · Fundraising $306$4,495
IX-20 InterestManagement $296$296
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $438,952 · Management $15,322 · Fundraising $14,345$468,619
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $77,490 · Management $6,163 · Fundraising $5,771$89,424
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,767,384 · Management $121,652 · Fundraising $21,497$1,910,533
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $18,808 · Management $8,642 · Fundraising $12,567$40,017
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $8,148,638 · Management $2,014,230 · Fundraising $1,394,313$11,557,181
Part X · Balance sheet $42,543,170 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,000,000$1,245,993
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,173,633$668,368
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $118,597$246,896
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $16,708$16,584
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $226,188$237,727
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $9,845,090$9,625,371
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $27,829,882$29,962,215
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $508,604$540,016
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $41,718,702$42,543,170
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,316,834$374,126
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,114,135$1,294,002
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $9,957$785
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,440,926$1,668,913
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $4,173,642$4,311,438
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $35,104,134$36,562,819
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $39,277,776$40,874,257
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $41,718,702$42,543,170
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $40,874,257 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$10,529,091
XI-2 Total expenses$11,557,181
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,028,090
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$39,277,776
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$2,584,390
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$40,181
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$40,874,257

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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