Arts, Culture & Humanities
(A6A0)
IRS Verified
DX Registered
990 on File
MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM
Financial strength (30%)
72/100
Reliability (20%)
55/100
Effectiveness (25%)
71/100
Impact (25%)
No data yet
CharityAI™ Score
Not yet evaluated
Mission Statement
Each summer, San Francisco becomes a place where dreams come true for the young artists in the Merola Opera Program. Out of hundreds of young hopefuls who audition, approximately 23 singers, five apprentice coaches and one apprentice stage director are chosen to participate in the Program. Merola is dedicated to seeking out the finest young opera talent and helping them develop into professional artists of the highest caliber.
Financial Overview — FY 2025
$9.5M
Total Revenue
$4.0M
Total Expenses
$48.9M
Net Assets
12
Employees
Revenue Sources
Expense Breakdown
Program Expense Ratio
65.6%
Fundraising Efficiency
2195.7%
Operating Reserve
148.23x
Liability-to-Asset
0.1%
Revenue Diversification
81.0%
Executive Compensation
$392K
Compared with Peers
FY 2025
Compared with 1,930 similar organizations
(United States, Arts, Culture & Humanities, $1M–$10M in expenses), FY 2025.
This organization
Middle half of peers (P25–P75)
Peer median
| Ratio | This org | Peer median | Position (P10 → P90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Program expense ratio
Program expenses / total expenses
· higher is better
|
65.6% | 77.7% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Admin expense ratio
Management and general / total expenses
· lower is better
|
23.2% | 14.2% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Fundraising expense ratio
Fundraising expenses / total expenses
· lower is better
|
11.2% | 5.9% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Fundraising efficiency
Fundraising expenses / gross fundraising income
· lower is better
|
2195.7% | 302.5% |
P10P90
|
Bottom quarter |
|
Operating reserve
Months of expenses covered by net assets
· higher is better
|
148.2 mo | 15.8 mo |
P10P90
|
Top quarter |
|
Liabilities to assets
Total liabilities / total assets
· lower is better
|
0.1% | 11.4% |
P10P90
|
Top quarter |
|
Revenue concentration
Share of revenue from the largest source
· lower is better
|
81.0% | 70.6% |
P10P90
|
Below median |
|
Revenue growth
Year over year revenue growth
|
21.5% | 7.9% |
P10P90
|
|
|
Expense growth
Year over year expense growth
|
-0.9% | 5.4% |
P10P90
|
|
|
Surplus margin
Surplus as a share of revenue
|
58.4% | 0.9% |
P10P90
|
Financial History
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Net Assets | Program % | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9.5M | $4.0M | $48.9M | 65.6% | 12 |
| 2024 | $7.8M | $4.0M | $45.4M | 68.5% | 10 |
| 2023 | $5.3M | $3.8M | $39.0M | 67.6% | 11 |
| 2022 | $3.5M | $3.9M | $35.2M | 70.5% | 9 |
| 2021 | $10.9M | $3.2M | N/A | — | 9 |
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