Opera House Fund Inc
Opera House Fund Inc is a private foundation based in Lexington, Kentucky. It supports performing arts groups using the Lexington Opera House, makes grants to the corporation that owns and operates the venue, and underwrites losses on its Broadway and Variety live series.
Opera House Fund Inc at a glance
In short: Opera House Fund Inc gave $726K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $56K), mostly in Kentucky. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $725,806
- +54.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $55,831
- +54.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $33,076
- Total assets
- $14,371,943
- +9.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Opera House Fund Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 100 W Main St Ste 300, Lexington, KY 40507
Phone: (859) 255-2341
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Opera House Fund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Lexington Theatre Company ($290K). Together the top 10 received $710K.
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 56 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky. The listed 2025 recipients are in Lexington, Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Opera House Fund Inc open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 13 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $60K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $36K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 45% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $452K (2021) to $726K (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $726K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Lexington Theatre Company Lexington, KY | To Support Program Services | $290,000 |
| Lexington Center Corporation Lexington, KY | To Support Program Services | $91,678 |
| UK Opera Theatre Lexington, KY | To Support Program Services | $91,601 |
| Friends of the Arts School (Scapa) Lexington, KY | To Support Program Services | $66,277 |
| Lexington Ballet Company Lexington, KY | To Support Program Services | $60,000 |
| Lexington Children's Theatre Lexington, KY | To Support Program Services | $39,850 |
| Kentucky Ballet Theatre Lexington, KY | To Support Program Services | $33,076 |
| Bluegrass Youth Ballet Lexington, KY | To Support Program Services | $16,817 |
| Lfucg Parks & Recreation Lexington, KY | To Support Program Services | $13,091 |
| Chamber Music Festival Lexington, KY | To Support Program Services | $7,982 |
Ready to take the next step with Opera House Fund Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $14,371,943 | $787,867 | $750,684 | $725,806 | 13 | $764,301 | $758,953 | $665,800 |
| 2024 | $13,160,269 | $446,168 | $569,635 | $469,546 | 13 | $507,558 | $417,518 | $579,828 |
| 2023 | $11,248,881 | $575,009 | $829,778 | $582,475 | 12 | $617,073 | $548,261 | $520,699 |
| 2022 | $10,412,050 | $775,195 | $457,073 | $500,677 | 12 | $506,263 | $742,883 | $601,961 |
| 2021 | $12,224,693 | $726,528 | $499,273 | $451,992 | 6 | — | $693,925 | $515,915 |
| 2020 | $8,951,721 | $835,805 | $505,465 | $452,255 | 9 | — | $797,562 | $444,933 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Opera House Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $666K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The funder’s stated charitable activities include subsidizing performing arts groups that use the Lexington Opera House and supporting Lexington Center Corporation, the venue’s owner and operator.
Its 2025 grantees include arts organizations with varied missions. Lexington Ballet Company describes its work as inspiring audiences through ballet, providing training and performance opportunities, and expanding regional access to the arts. Lexington Children’s Theatre says it provides professional theatre experiences and theatre education for young people. Bluegrass Youth Ballet describes its work as engaging and inspiring youth through dance education, performances, and outreach. Lexington Center Corporation says its mission is to enhance communities through shared experiences and reports hosting more than 450 live events over the past year.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the fund reported 13 grants totaling $725,806. The grants ranged from $3,924 to $290,000, with a median of $33,076. The largest listed grants included $290,000 to The Lexington Theatre Company, $91,678 to Lexington Center Corporation, $91,601 to UK Opera Theatre, $66,277 to Friends of the Arts School (SCAPA), and $60,000 to Lexington Ballet Company. Each was reported for program services.
The fund reported 13 grants totaling $469,546 in 2024 and 12 grants totaling $582,475 in 2023. Its 2023 filing also describes subsidies to 12 organizations using the Lexington Opera House and underwriting losses on its Broadway and Variety live series.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists William T Young Jr as president and director; Linda Carey as vice president and director; Douglas Dean as secretary/treasurer and director; and Melanie Simpson, Christopher Young, and Burgess Carey as directors.
Opera House Fund Inc is led by William T. Young Jr., President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William T. Young Jr.
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Burgess Carey
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Young
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Dean
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Carey
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melanie Simpson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: W. James Host (2020–2024) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Opera House Fund Inc
How much does Opera House Fund Inc give each year?
Opera House Fund Inc gave $726K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $470K across 13 grants.
What is Opera House Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Opera House Fund Inc's median grant in 2025 was $33,076, and its average grant was $55,831, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Opera House Fund Inc that year got $8K on average.
Where does Opera House Fund Inc give grants?
Opera House Fund Inc gives mostly in Kentucky: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lexington, KY (13 grants).
Does Opera House Fund Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Opera House Fund Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Program Services" (13 grants).
Who are Opera House Fund Inc's largest grantees?
Opera House Fund Inc's largest 2025 grantees include The Lexington Theatre Company ($290,000), Lexington Center Corporation ($91,678) and UK Opera Theatre ($91,601), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Opera House Fund Inc?
Opera House Fund Inc reported $14.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $764K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $666K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Opera House Fund Inc fund?
The funder’s stated charitable activities include subsidizing performing arts groups that use the Lexington Opera House and supporting Lexington Center Corporation, the venue’s owner and operator. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Opera House Fund Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Opera House Fund Inc's EIN?
Opera House Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0180177. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Opera House Fund Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Opera House Fund Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/opera-house-fund-inc-morg_a2b5efa4972d4f47ad9826f186b26840
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510180177_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Opera House Fund Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/opera-house-fund-inc-morg_a2b5efa4972d4f47ad9826f186b26840},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Opera House Fund Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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