Kentucky Opera Association INC

Tax-deductible

Louisville, KY501(c)(3)Since 1952Arts & CultureEIN 61-6013111Revenue $2.0M in FY2024

On file with the IRSkyopera.org708 Magazine St, 40203-2043 · Louisville, KYTax-exempt since Jan 1968Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Kentucky Opera sparks discovery, joy, and connection among communities throughout the commonwealth with the shared experience of Opera.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
57¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 25 volunteers and 84 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $215K a year · 12% of revenue · last 4 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
57%
of spending
Worth a look: 57% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$168K
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 74% 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
Concern: 0.4 months of spending in cash; under 2 weeks.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
9
named funders · $378K
Looks good: 9 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.1M
24% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 24% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.0M
+19% vs prior year
Spent
$2.5M
To programs
57%
Net assets
$3.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.0M
FY2024▲ +19%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.9M
FY2021$1.8M
FY2022$2.1M
FY2022$101K
FY2024$1.7M
FY2024$2.0M
Expenses
$2.5M
FY2024▼ -4%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.4M
FY2021$1.1M
FY2022$2.1M
FY2022$92K
FY2024$2.6M
FY2024$2.5M
Net assets
$3.3M
FY2024▼ -18%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$3.4M
FY2021$4.9M
FY2022$4.3M
FY2022$3.9M
FY2024$4.0M
FY2024$3.3M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · 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: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jan 1968.

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

Where the money goes

57 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 57% · $1.4M Management & general 35% · $887K Fundraising 8% · $193K

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

18 people listed on the 990; $168K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
General Director/CEO
$168,300Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Barbara Lynne Jamison’s $168K as General Director/CEO is at the 74th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2024FY2022FY2022FY2021FY2020
Barbara Lynne Jamison$168,300$133,649——$97,091$104,296
Barbara Lynn Jamison——$115,712$109,371——

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.

See Kentucky Opera Association INC executive salaries →

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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

Enriches community with opera and arts programming.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.4M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Ko produced two mainstage productions at the brown theatre: madama butterfly (november 2025), addressing themes of family insecurity, and this little light of mine (february 2025), ko's first commission since 1988, inspired by civil rights icon fannie lou hamer.

$955Kprogram expense
02

Ko is proud of the deeper connection we've built with our community. The opera center hosted free recitals, rehearsals, and programs that brought opera into daily life. In FY2025, ko welcomed 1,787 new attendees, including 225 from louisville's 11 most distressed zip codesmany experiencing opera for the first TIME.WE are especially proud…

$408Kprogram expense
03

Ko delivered 1,187 arts education experiences across 44 zip codes. Programs included bravo time, overture, student dress rehearsals, and the youth opera project (yop), which performed at the sold-out amplify songs of remembrance in may 2025 and drew a record number of applicants.

$65Kprogram 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 · FY2024
See all 9 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$998K
Investment incomeLn 3$634K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$356K
Money outPt IX
$2.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.4M
Managementcol C$887K
Fundraisingcol D$193K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$89K
Total assetsLn 16$4.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$998K
Government grantsLn 1e$158K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$11K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$49K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$356K
Investment incomeLn 3$634K
Other incomeLn 4–11$38K
Gains on assetsLn 7$560K
Total revenueLn 12$2.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$89K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$89K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$303K
Other assetsLn 15$745K
Total assetsLn 16$4.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.1M
Net assetsLn 32$3.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 584
VolunteersI 625
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$12K$89K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$4.4M$3.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$352K$303K
Total assetsLn 16$5.6M$4.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.6M$1.1M
Net assetsLn 32$4.0M$3.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$190K$95K$47K$47K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$632K$342K$252K$38K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$8K$5K$2K$896
Other employee benefitsLn 9$16K$11K$4K$881
Payroll taxesLn 10$59K$32K$22K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$25K$25K
Investment management feesLn 11f$25K$25K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$176K$121K$55K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$63K$1K$62K
Office expensesLn 13$132K$106K$25K$797
Information technologyLn 14$34K$2K$30K$2K
RoyaltiesLn 15$11K$11K
OccupancyLn 16$338K$280K$41K$17K
TravelLn 17$178K$167K$8K$3K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$318$318
InterestLn 20$40K$40K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$63K$38K$26K
InsuranceLn 23$47K$11K$33K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$470K$328K$121K$21K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.5M$1.4M$887K$193K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $1.7M$2.6M−$918K$4.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 Not on file
FY2022 $2.1M$2.1M−$83K$4.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.8M$1.1M$671K$4.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.9M$2.4M−$529K$3.4M 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,025,529 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $962,345$997,772
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $315,908$355,715
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $426,793$634,042
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$606$38,000
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,704,440$2,025,529
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 $980,479$904,637
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,641,979$1,603,581
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,622,458$2,508,218
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$918,018−$482,689
Part VI · Governance 17 of 17 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members17
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 $2,025,529 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $258 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$48,953
VIII-1e Government grants$158,190
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$790,629
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$11,351
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$997,772
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $355,715$355,715
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $74,296$74,296
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $17,350$17,350
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $559,746$559,746
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$4,255−$4,255
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $24,647$24,647
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $397,970 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $629,787$2,025,529
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,508,218 across 19 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $94,911 · Management $47,455 · Fundraising $47,455$189,821
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $342,123 · Management $252,414 · Fundraising $37,504$632,041
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $5,341 · Management $2,231 · Fundraising $896$8,468
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $10,620 · Management $4,214 · Fundraising $881$15,715
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $31,596 · Management $21,559 · Fundraising $5,437$58,592
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $25,000$25,000
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $25,420$25,420
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $121,443 · Fundraising $54,981$176,424
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,125 · Management $62,052$63,177
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $106,104 · Management $25,425 · Fundraising $797$132,326
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,967 · Management $30,429 · Fundraising $1,807$34,203
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $11,285$11,285
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $279,742 · Management $41,366 · Fundraising $16,794$337,902
IX-17 TravelPrograms $166,903 · Management $7,652 · Fundraising $3,008$177,563
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsManagement $318$318
IX-20 InterestManagement $39,830$39,830
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $37,620 · Management $25,666$63,286
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $10,940 · Management $33,470 · Fundraising $2,188$46,598
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $327,689 · Management $121,077 · Fundraising $21,483$470,249
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,427,966 · Management $887,021 · Fundraising $193,231$2,508,218
Part X · Balance sheet $4,334,959 assets, 17 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $11,586$88,701
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $70,389$140,859
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $1,877$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $50,932$61,356
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $352,234$302,824
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $4,351,007$2,995,997
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $791,330$745,222
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $5,629,355$4,334,959
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $63,798$7,778
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $112,408$61,537
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $647,285$217,111
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $810,254$772,143
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,633,745$1,058,569
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $101,547$558,082
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $3,894,063$2,718,308
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,995,610$3,276,390
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $5,629,355$4,334,959
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,276,390 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,025,529
XI-2 Total expenses$2,508,218
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$482,689
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,995,610
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$236,531
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,276,390

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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