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Nonprofit · EIN 94-6084831

MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM

Tax-exempt · SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102

Financials

$5.3M$3.8M2022$7.8M$4M2023$9.5M$4M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
September 30, 2025990$9,515,179$3,961,616$5,553,563$48,999,645$62,156$48,937,489
September 30, 2024990$7,832,495$3,997,886$3,834,609$45,576,945$212,750$45,364,195
September 30, 2023990$5,285,149$3,756,624$1,528,525$39,312,804$302,607$39,010,197
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$1,704,203
of which government grants
$96,080
Program service revenue
$167,776
Investment income
$7,708,874
Net gain from sales of assets
$6,446,045
Net income from fundraising events
-$65,674
Other revenue
-$65,674

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$154,523
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$392,481
Other salaries and wages
$350,829
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$819,363
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$8,404
Accounting fees
$140,547
Occupancy
$247,323
Travel
$77,367
Depreciation
$15,461
Program services (functional)
$2,597,224
Management and general (functional)
$919,761
Fundraising (functional)
$444,631

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$45,576,945
Total assets, end of year
$48,999,645
Total liabilities, end of year
$62,156
Net assets, end of year
$48,937,489
Land, buildings and equipment
$30,585
Publicly traded securities
$15,619,479
Net assets without donor restrictions
$25,601,828
Net assets with donor restrictions
$23,335,661
Gross receipts
$62,884,128
Employees
12
Volunteers
60
Year formed
1957
State of legal domicile
CA

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Mark ShattuckDir of Finance
Officer
35$171,264$23,204
Sean WaughExec Director
Officer
35$129,161$8,537
Jean KelloggExec Director
Officer
35$54,912$3,485
Barbara Bruser ClarkChair
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
Patrick WilkenVice Chairman
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
Dr James CrossPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
Ruth UchimuraVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
Beatrice GomoryVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
Carol WeitzSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
Stephen ZillesTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
Robert BeadleDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Adam Arthur BierDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Jennifer BrahmDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Carlyn ClauseDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Michael ColbrunoDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
20 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
The Hon Marie CollinsDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
George CrowDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Jeanne DorwardDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
James BusterudDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
John GarfinkleDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Mary HendersonDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Sylvia LindseyDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Zarana UdaniDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Greer HopkinsDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Dr Myron MarxDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Donald McGeeDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Robert MisonDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Carlos PenikisDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Dr Pamela Zell RiggDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Dr David D SteinDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Camille ChanDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Aaron FanDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Carol WeitzDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Susan YorkDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
Dennis ZhangDirector
Trustee or director
2$0
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 35 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Jean KelloggExec Director
Officer
35$166,340$18,300
Mark ShattuckDir of Finance
Officer
35$134,033$23,217
Nancy PetriskoDir of Advancement35$139,388$8,233
Sean WaughExec Director
Officer
35$26,535$0
Patrick WilkenChairman
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
Jayne C DavisVice Chairman
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
Dr James CrossPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
Ruth UchimuraVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
Beatrice GomoryVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
Jeanne DorwardSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
Stephen ZillesTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
Robert BeadleDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Adam Arthur BierDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Jennifer BrahmDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Carlyn ClauseDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Michael ColbrunoDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
The Hon Marie CollinsDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
George CrowDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Michael DarnaudDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
James BusterudDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Barbara Bruser ClarkDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Mary HendersonDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Sylvia LindseyDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Lindsay MacDermidDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Dr Myron MarxDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Donald McGeeDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Robert MisonDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Carlos PenikisDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Dr Pamela Zell RiggDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Dr David D SteinDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Camille ChanDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Aaron FanDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Carol WeitzDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Susan YorkDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Dennis ZhangDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 37 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Jean KelloggExec Director
Officer
35$166,340$27,130
Nancy PetriskoDir of Advancement35$139,388$17,853
Mark ShattuckDir of Finance
Officer
35$134,033$22,384
Patrick WilkenChairman
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
Jayne DavisVice Chairman
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
Barbara Bruser ClarkPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
Ruth UchimuraVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
Christopher WisemanVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
Dr James CrossVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
Jeanne DorwardSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
Robert B JacobyTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
Robert BeadleDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Adam Arthur BierDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Jennifer BrahmDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Carlyn ClauseDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Michael ColbrunoDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
The Hon Marie CollinsDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
George CrowDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Michael DarnaudDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Ileana FacchiniDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Beatrice GomoryDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Mary HendersonDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Sylvia LindseyDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Lindsay MacDermidDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Dr Myron MarxDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Donald McGeeDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Robert MisonDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Carlos PenikisDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Pamela RiggDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
James BusterudDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
David SteinDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Camille ChanDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Aaron FanDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Carol WeitzDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Susan YorkDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Dennis ZhangDirector
Trustee or director
2$0$0
Stephen ZillesVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
601 VAN NESS AVE STE S, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102-3249
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
Barbara Bruser Clark, 601 Van Ness Avenue Q/R, San Francisco, CA 94102
Signed the 990
Sean Waugh, Executive Dir.
Phone
(415) 936-2315
Return prepared by
REGALIA BERGER & BERGER CPAS

California records

California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 94-6084831 or by the name MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM.

Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)

Mission

Merola Opera Program is a San Francisco-based training program for opera singers, pianists, and stage directors.

990 for the year ended September 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • THE MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM:THE MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SUMMER TRAINING PROGRAM THAT SELECTS APPROXIMATELY 30 EMERGING OPERA ARTISTS FROM OVER 1,300 APPLICANTS AGED 20 TO 34 THROUGH A COMPETITIVE AUDITION PROCESS. THE 9- TO 12-WEEK PROGRAM PREPARES PARTICIPANTS FOR SUSTAINABLE CAREERS THROUGH VOCAL, DRAMATIC, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING. MEROLA ENJOYS A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP WITH SAN FRANCISCO OPERA, WHERE MANY ALUMNI ADVANCE TO THE PRESTIGIOUS ADLER FELLOWSHIP, AND OTHERS JOIN LEADING OPERA COMPANIES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, TRAINING, AND A WEEKLY STIPEND AT NO COST.
    Expenses $2,597,224 · grants $154,523 · revenue $167,776
  • THE PROGRAM INTEGRATES TRAINING IN VOCAL STYLE, ROLE INTERPRETATION, ACTING, STAGECRAFT, MOVEMENT, CONDUCTING, PROMPTING, LANGUAGES, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON HOLISTIC ARTIST PREPARATION. MASTER CLASSES LED BY INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED FACULTY OFFER DEEP INSIGHT INTO THE CRAFT, WHILE PUBLIC PERFORMANCESINCLUDING FULLY STAGED OPERAS, A SCENES PROGRAM, AND THE MEROLA GRAND FINALEALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR GROWTH AND TALENT TO BROAD AUDIENCES.
  • MEROLA PROVIDES THIS TRAINING ENTIRELY FREE TO PARTICIPANTS, FUNDED THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF INDIVIDUAL DONORS, FOUNDATIONS, AND GRANTING AGENCIES. THE PROGRAM EQUIPS ARTISTS WITH A STRONG PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATION AND A CLEAR PATH FORWARD, SUPPORTING THEIR CAREER TRAJECTORIES THROUGH POST-PROGRAM GRANTS, MENTORSHIP, AND A GLOBAL ALUMNI NETWORK.

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025September 30, 2026February 16, 2027Not due yet
2024September 30, 2025February 17, 2026990 on file
2023September 30, 2024February 18, 2025990 on file

IRS record

EIN
94-6084831
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1957
Accounting year ends
September
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$48,999,645
Income (IRS master file)
$62,884,128

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990September 2025$9,515,179$3,961,616$48,999,645XML
990September 2024$7,832,495$3,997,886$45,576,945XML
990September 2023$5,285,149$3,756,624$39,312,804XML
990September 2022$3,463,701$3,926,241$35,714,221IRS
990September 2021–––IRS
990September 2020–––IRS
990September 2019–––IRS
990September 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 94-6084831).

Questions about MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM

What is the EIN of MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM?
The employer identification number (EIN) of MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM is 94-6084831.
Is MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1957.
Are donations to MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
Who is the principal officer of MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM?
The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names Barbara Bruser Clark.
Who are the officers and directors of MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM?
The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 35 people; 3 received compensation from the organization, the highest $171,264 (Mark Shattuck, Dir of Finance).
How much revenue does MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM have?
On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $9,515,179, expenses of $3,961,616 and total assets of $48,999,645 at year end.

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