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Nonprofiteer
← CINCINNATI OPERA ASSOCIATION

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by CINCINNATI OPERA ASSOCIATION.

Totals

Total revenue
$10,649,122
Total expenses
$8,716,791
Contributions and grants received
$6,424,974
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$1,834,851
Investment income
$2,413,732
Other revenue
-$24,435
Total assets, end of year
$41,780,925
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,278,559
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$39,502,366
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$6,546,658
Management and general expenses
$1,241,410
Fundraising expenses
$928,723
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,546,658

Program services were 75.1% 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.

  • 1a · Federated campaigns

    $683,850

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $48,272

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $183,704

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $5,509,148

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $38,860

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Event Revenue

    total $1,575,712 · related or exempt $1,575,712

  • 2b · Program service revenue: Set Rental Income

    total $214,877 · related or exempt $214,877

  • 2c · Program service revenue: Education Outreach

    total $25,315 · related or exempt $25,315

  • 2d · Program service revenue: Merchandise Income

    total $11,947 · related or exempt $11,947

  • 2e · Program service revenue: Shared Services

    total $7,000 · related or exempt $7,000

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $986,077 · unrelated business $33,671 · excluded $952,406

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $4,700,042

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $3,272,387

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $1,427,655

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $1,427,655 · excluded $1,427,655

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $69,209

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $48,272

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $93,703

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$24,494 · excluded -$24,494

  • 11a · Other revenue: Miscellaneous

    total $59 · excluded $59

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $59

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $733,554 · program services $375,275 · management and general $189,793 · fundraising $168,486

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $3,582,904 · program services $2,720,336 · management and general $552,890 · fundraising $309,678

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $36,778 · program services $19,199 · management and general $10,849 · fundraising $6,730

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $304,114 · program services $167,650 · management and general $88,465 · fundraising $47,999

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $186,599 · program services $104,080 · management and general $50,298 · fundraising $32,221

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $5,596 · management and general $5,596

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $46,075 · management and general $46,075

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $135,000 · fundraising $135,000

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $210,823 · program services $116,069 · management and general $58,034 · fundraising $36,720

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $392,614 · program services $272,285 · management and general $1,000 · fundraising $119,329

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $88,373 · program services $7,085 · management and general $73,289 · fundraising $7,999

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $133,178 · program services $93,224 · management and general $19,977 · fundraising $19,977

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $689,411 · program services $643,376 · management and general $36,845 · fundraising $9,190

  • 17 · Travel

    total $345,505 · program services $336,648 · management and general $4,229 · fundraising $4,628

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $8,435 · management and general $1,844 · fundraising $6,591

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $31,561 · program services $25,778 · management and general $5,783

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $62,191 · program services $49,752 · management and general $9,329 · fundraising $3,110

  • 24a · Other expenses: Production & Artistic

    total $1,438,780 · program services $1,438,780

  • 24b · Other expenses: Scenery

    total $123,341 · program services $123,341

  • 24c · Other expenses: Other expenses

    total $105,025 · program services $8,461 · management and general $79,096 · fundraising $17,468

  • 24d · Other expenses: Education Programs

    total $45,319 · program services $45,319

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $11,615 · management and general $8,018 · fundraising $3,597

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $427,176 · end of year $2,344,783

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,133,904 · end of year $1,134,106

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $12,220 · end of year $42,921

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $67,263 · end of year $91,050

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

    $6,507,266

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

    $6,395,115

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $106,196 · end of year $112,151

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $23,951,099 · end of year $24,164,738

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $11,001,269 · end of year $11,873,515

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $353,472 · end of year $10,402

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $2,315,680 · end of year $2,007,259

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $380,637 · end of year $202,601

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $40,619

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $2,354,219 · end of year $2,035,339

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $7,896,210 · end of year $8,264,036

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $28,737,213 · end of year $31,238,330

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

The second oldest opera company in America, Cincinnati Opera presents dynamic opera productions every summer in Cincinnati's historic Music Hall. Cincinnati Opera is dedicated to educating, entertaining, and inspiring audiences by presenting opera performances, school tours, and community programs for adults and children that meet the highest standards of artistic excellence.

Activities or mission (Part I)

To enrich and connect the community through diverse opera experiences.

  • Cincinnati Opera, the nation's second-oldest opera company, presented its 105th anniversary season at historic Music Hall. The company's 2025 Summer Festival spanned June and July and included three mainstage productions featuring renowned singers, the Cincinnati Opera Chorus, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Boychoir, and dancers from Cincinnati Ballet. Repertoire included a new-to-Cincinnati production of Giuseppe Verdi's tragic Rigoletto, a sumptuous production of Giacomo Puccini's timeless classic Tosca, and a brand-new production of the beloved musical Fiddler on the Roof. The season also included Studio Sessions, an intimate series of three cabaret-style performances curated by celebrated opera artists, offering audiences a close-up experience of operatic artistry.Cincinnati Opera extended its reach with low-cost and accessible community programs, including Opera Goes to Church presented in conjunction with local congregations, and a Sensory-Friendly Rehearsal, providing an inclusive opera experience for individuals with sensory sensitivities. Year-round, Cincinnati Opera offers a variety of programs throughout the community designed to engage and connect with students, families, and the opera-curious, inspiring a lifelong love of opera across all ages and backgrounds.

    Expenses $6,546,658 · Revenue $1,834,851

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Melanie M Chavez

    Chairman

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Liz Kathman Grubow

    Chairman - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Ronald T Bates

    President

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Robert Bitter

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Charles E Baverman III

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Katherine Anderson

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Boris Auerbach

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Aine M Baldwin

    Trustee - Start 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Flavia Bastos PhD

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Elaine Billmire MD

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Thomas F Boat MD

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Walter Bruyninckx

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Onassis Caneris MD

    Trustee - Start 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Michael L Cioffi

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Sheila Cole

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Peter G Courlas

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Eric Dauer

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Kristy Davis-Mustain

    Trustee - Start 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Ralph A Giannella MD

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Barbara Hahn

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Gary T Doc Huffman

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jason Jackman

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Anne Jaroszewicz

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Kevin C Jones

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Yemisi O Jones MD

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Mike Kelly

    Trustee - Start 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Helen Kemp

    Trustee - Start 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Bo-Kyung Kim Kirby

    Trustee - Start 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Mona Kerstine

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Katie Lanni

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Nanci Wilks Lanni

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Lynn Larson

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Ashleigh Marable

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Michael A Marrero

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Everett McCorvey

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • David Motch

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Christine E Neyer

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Robert W Olson

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Reena Dhanda Patil MD

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Michael L Powell

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Tarita Preston

    Trustee - Start 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Nicholas W Puncer

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jason Riveiro

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Cristina Rugg

    Trustee - Start 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Regina Carswell Russo

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • G James Sammarco MD

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Ruthann Sammarco

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Ann H Santen

    Trustee - Start 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Edward B Silberstein MD

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Bradbury Skidmore MD

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Susan R Strick MD

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Tricia Suit

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Mary Ann Taylor

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Brian Tiffany

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Catharina Toltzis PhD

    Trustee - Start 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Sheila Williams

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Stanford T Williams Jr

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Ronna K Willis

    Trustee - Start 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jeannine Winkelmann

    Trustee - Exit 09/18/24

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Peg Wyant

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Christopher A Milligan

    General Director & CEO

    Total calculated
    $262,656
    From this org
    $242,965
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,691
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $240,465
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $2,500
    Deferred
    $7,156
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,535
    Filer's total
    $262,656
  • Kenneth Wetstein

    Chief Philanthropy Officer

    Total calculated
    $79,183
    From this org
    $72,756
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,427
    Hours/week
    50
  • Jennifer M DuBois

    Chief Financial Officer

    Total calculated
    $137,489
    From this org
    $124,772
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,717
    Hours/week
    50
  • Evans J Mirageas

    Artistic Director

    Total calculated
    $254,227
    From this org
    $236,928
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,299
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $234,428
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $2,500
    Deferred
    $7,334
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,965
    Filer's total
    $254,227

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
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 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 membership was for the Queen City Club. Meetings and business lunches are held there.

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.

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.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

  • Opera the Rhine LLC

    Lessee of Reinhold Drive Warehouse · OH · income $0 · assets $0

    Directly controlled by Cincinnati Opera Association Inc

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
30 March 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.5
Source object
202630909349300213

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