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Nonprofiteer
← THE MINNESOTA OPERA

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by THE MINNESOTA OPERA.

Totals

Total revenue
$13,746,744
Total expenses
$12,624,503
Contributions and grants received
$10,253,790
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$2,645,646
Investment income
$808,357
Other revenue
$38,951
Total assets, end of year
$41,718,702
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,440,926
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$39,277,776
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$9,117,065
Management and general expenses
$2,111,454
Fundraising expenses
$1,395,984
Program service expenses (Part III)
$9,117,065

Program services were 72.2% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $1,463,806

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $561,987

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $8,227,997

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $108,635

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Opera Season/Admissions

    total $1,845,158 · related or exempt $1,845,158

  • 2b · Program service revenue: Rental Income

    total $280,078 · related or exempt $280,078

  • 2c · Program service revenue: Luminary Arts Center

    total $205,053 · related or exempt $205,053

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $315,357 · related or exempt $315,357

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $808,357 · excluded $808,357

  • 6a · Gross rents

    personal property $46,766

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    personal property $7,815

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    personal property $38,951

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $38,951 · unrelated business $38,951

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $413,478 · management and general $413,478

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $30,404 · fundraising $30,404

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $6,430,228 · program services $4,837,952 · management and general $862,353 · fundraising $729,923

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $156,094 · program services $118,477 · management and general $18,997 · fundraising $18,620

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $543,108 · program services $395,870 · management and general $85,023 · fundraising $62,215

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $441,134 · program services $311,764 · management and general $80,374 · fundraising $48,996

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $18,345 · management and general $18,345

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $37,100 · management and general $37,100

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $37,500 · fundraising $37,500

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $110,887 · management and general $110,887

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $280,061 · program services $102,450 · management and general $39,299 · fundraising $138,312

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $198,327 · program services $101,003 · management and general $45,643 · fundraising $51,681

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $503,633 · program services $221,087 · management and general $161,008 · fundraising $121,538

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $120,867 · program services $79,063 · management and general $10,790 · fundraising $31,014

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $82,889 · program services $74,344 · fundraising $8,545

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $135,433 · program services $120,439 · management and general $7,744 · fundraising $7,250

  • 17 · Travel

    total $394,914 · program services $298,280 · management and general $39,634 · fundraising $57,000

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $15,481 · program services $4,854 · management and general $7,496 · fundraising $3,131

  • 20 · Interest

    total $920 · management and general $920

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $465,729 · program services $436,193 · management and general $15,254 · fundraising $14,282

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $74,769 · program services $64,791 · management and general $5,153 · fundraising $4,825

  • 24a · Other expenses: Theater Costs

    total $1,000,293 · program services $962,905 · management and general $17,292 · fundraising $20,096

  • 24b · Other expenses: Production Materials

    total $979,312 · program services $927,520 · management and general $48,002 · fundraising $3,790

  • 24c · Other expenses: Bad Debt

    total $73,047 · management and general $73,047

  • 24d · Other expenses: Repairs & Maintenance

    total $32,804 · program services $30,645 · management and general $1,115 · fundraising $1,044

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $47,746 · program services $29,428 · management and general $12,500 · fundraising $5,818

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,425,000 · end of year $2,000,000

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $2,211,618 · end of year $1,173,633

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $1,266,859 · end of year $118,597

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $25,838 · end of year $16,708

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $302,212 · end of year $226,188

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $15,717,099

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $5,872,009

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $10,180,689 · end of year $9,845,090

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $22,181,102 · end of year $27,829,882

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $535,892 · end of year $508,604

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,116,799 · end of year $1,316,834

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $1,027,372 · end of year $1,114,135

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $18,682 · end of year $9,957

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $6,492,724 · end of year $4,173,642

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $29,473,633 · end of year $35,104,134

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

The Minnesota Opera connects people in the shared pursuit of a more empathetic, equitable, joyful life by expanding the circle of musical storytelling.

Activities or mission (Part I)

The Opera was organized for charitable, artistic, and educational purposes.

  • The 2023-2024 season at Minnesota Opera was a remarkable blend of traditional works and innovative productions, showcasing the company's dedication to community engagement and storytelling. It began with Cruzar la Cara de la Luna in November 2023, the world's first mariachi opera. Composed by Jose "Pepe" Martinez with a libretto by Leonard Foglia, this piece captivated audiences with its emotional story of a family divided by the U.S.-Mexico border. Continuing on Schedule O The opera's commission of a fully-orchestrated version, performed at the Ordway, marked a significant step in Minnesota Opera's efforts to fulfill its vision to "sing every story." The combination of traditional mariachi music with operatic storytelling provided an immersive experience, drawing in new audiences and celebrating the vibrant culture of Mexican-American communities. Attendance at Cruzar la Cara de la Luna over four performances totaled 5,459 patrons. In January and February 2024, Donizetti's beloved The Elixir of Love graced the stage at the Ordway. This comic opera, which tells the story of the hapless Nemorino and his unrequited love for the clever Adina, charmed audiences with its humor and heart. The inventive staging and direction, which garnered director Daniel Ellis the 2021 OPERA America Robert L. B. Tobin Director-Designer Prize, highlighted the opera's blend of romance and humor, while Principal Conductor Christopher Franklin's lively interpretation of Donizetti's score kept the energy high throughout. Attendance at The Elixir of Love over four performances totaled 5,476 patrons. The Luminary Arts Center hosted two one-act operas in March 2024, offering an evening of contrasting relationship-based themes. First was Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti, a reflective exploration of suburban life and the breakdown of a marriage. This was Minnesota Opera's first production of a Bernstein opera in nearly 50 years, and it brought a melancholic yet insightful perspective on mid-century American life. The second piece, Service Provider, a contemporary comic opera by Christopher Weiss and John de los Santos, was a humorous commentary on modern relationships, with a focus on how technology - particularly smartphones - interferes with human connection. This double bill especially showcased the in-house talent of MN Opera, featuring a cast of then current Resident Artists and Company Artist and Project Opera alum, mezzo-soprano Zoie Reams. Attendance at Trouble in Tahiti/Service Provider over nine performances totaled 1,511 patrons. The season concluded with a spectacular production of Puccini's La boheme, a perennial favorite that resonated deeply with audiences. Running for nine performances from May 4-19, 2024, the opera featured alternating casts, with standout performances by sopranos Melinda Whittington and Symone Harcum as Mimi, and tenors Won Whi Choi and Christian Sanders as Rodolfo. The story of love, youth, and tragedy set against the bohemian backdrop of 19th-century Paris was given new life through an innovative staging by Rodula Gaitanou in her MN Opera directorial debut. Attendance at La boheme over nine performances totaled 10,744 patrons. On the New Works Initiative front, Harrison David Rivers and B.E. Boykin workshopped their new chamber opera My Name is Florence with a libretto reading in December and first piano workshop in May. Minita Gandhi and Kamala Sankaram's adaptation of The Many Deaths of Laila Starr saw its libretto reading in May. Further development of these two works and others from the New Works Cohort will continue in the 2024-2025 season. Throughout the 2023-2024 season - it's 61st - Minnesota Opera continued to build on its legacy of balancing inherited works with bold, new storytelling. The variety of productions from a mariachi opera to a comedic take on smartphone addiction illustrated the opera's ability to adapt and innovate while staying true to its mission of expanding the circle of musical storytelling.

    Expenses $9,117,065 · Revenue $2,645,646

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Ryan Taylor

    President & General Director

    Total calculated
    $278,267
    From this org
    $260,102
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,165
    Hours/week
    35 + 5 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $247,464
    Bonus
    $12,500
    Other
    $138
    Deferred
    $7,881
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,016
    Filer's total
    $278,999

  • Mark Gordon

    Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4 + 0.1 related

  • Missy Staples Thompson

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Rachelle McCord

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • James Powell

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Joelle Allen

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Meg Blake

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Sosha Brink

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Roma Calatayud-Stocks

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Ivonne Chand O'Neal

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Gayle Fuguitt

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Amy Hoffman

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Dorothy J Horns

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Philip Isaacson

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Diane Levy Jacobson

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Deborah Jiang-Stein

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Anne Kokayeff

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Robert L Lee

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5 + 0.5 related

  • Natalie Volin Lehr

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Jeninne McGee

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Fayneese Miller

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Jodi Mooney

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Kay Ness

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Ben Ollendick

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Elizabeth Redleaf

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Bart Reed

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Criss Ross

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Mary Schrock

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Nadege Souvenir

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Margaret VB Wurtele

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Wayne Zinc

    Board Member (July - February)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Janelle Erickson

    VP, Finance

    Total calculated
    $145,460
    From this org
    $131,577
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,883
    Hours/week
    40

  • Lani Willis

    VP, Advancement

    Total calculated
    $176,414
    From this org
    $171,195
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,219
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $168,516
    Bonus
    $2,500
    Other
    $179
    Deferred
    $5,133
    Nontaxable benefits
    $852
    Filer's total
    $177,180

  • Karen Quisenberry

    VP, Production

    Total calculated
    $133,780
    From this org
    $119,819
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,961
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · Health or social club dues or initiation fees
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Part I, Line 1a
The Organization pays social club dues for the President. This is considered a business expense of the Organization since the Organization requires the President to be active at the social club. The social club does not offer memberships at the business level; thus the membership must be held at the individual level.
Part I, Line 1b
The Minneapolis Club bill is reviewed by the Director of Board Relations, compared to the President's calendar, and then the bill is verified by the VP Finance and submitted for payment.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Related corporations and trusts

Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
15 March 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202500769349301680

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