Opera House Fund Inc
Opera House Fund Inc is a private foundation based in Lexington, Kentucky. Established in 1983, the fund supports performing arts groups that use the Lexington Opera House.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.2M
+17.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$470K
-19.4% YoY
Grant Count
13
+8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
-25.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Opera House Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $580K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund's primary purpose is to support performing arts organizations, with a specific focus on groups that utilize the Lexington Opera House. Their funding priorities include:
- Arts, Culture & Humanities
- Human Services
- Community Improvement & Capacity Building
Grantmaking
The fund has demonstrated consistent support for local performing arts organizations:
Grant Range
$2,758–$244,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund primarily supports organizations in Kentucky, with particular emphasis on the Lexington area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,160,269 |
| Total Annual Giving | $469,548 |
| Average Grant Amount | $2,758–$244,000 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,160,269 | $11,248,881 | $10,412,050 |
| Revenue | $446,168 | $575,009 | $775,195 |
| Expenses | $569,635 | $829,778 | $457,073 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $507,558 | $617,073 | $506,263 |
| Net Investment Income | $417,518 | $548,261 | $742,883 |
| Distributable Amount | $579,828 | $520,699 | $601,961 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
52 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Uk Opera Theatre ($90,000), The Lexington Theatre Company ($70,000), Lexington Center Corporation ($68,728).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BLUEGRASS YOUTH BALLET LEXINGTON, KY | TO SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES | $17,239 |
| CENTRAL KENTUCKY CONCERT BAND LEXINGTON, KY | TO SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES | $3,145 |
| FRIENDS OF THE ARTS SCHOOL (SCAPA) LEXINGTON, KY | TO SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES | $63,470 |
| KENTUCKY BALLET THEATRE LEXINGTON, KY | TO SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES | $60,000 |
| LEXINGTON BALLET COMPANY LEXINGTON, KY | TO SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES | $22,913 |
| LEXINGTON CENTER CORPORATION LEXINGTON, KY | TO SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES | $68,728 |
| LEXINGTON CHILDREN'S THEATRE LEXINGTON, KY | TO SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES | $42,127 |
| LFUCG PARKS & RECREATION LEXINGTON, KY | TO SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES | $13,720 |
| THE KENTUCKIANS CHORUS LEXINGTON, KY | TO SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES | $3,714 |
| THE LEXINGTON SINGERS LEXINGTON, KY | TO SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES | $5,901 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Doug Dean is listed as a contact for the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM T YOUNG JR | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LINDA CAREY | VICE PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 0.2 | — |
| DOUGLAS DEAN | SECRETARY/TREASURER & DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| W JAMES HOST | DIRECTOR | 0.2 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER YOUNG | DIRECTOR | 0.2 | — |
| BURGESS CAREY | DIRECTOR | 0.2 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 100 W Main St Ste 300, Lexington, KY 40507-1867
Phone: 859-255-2341
EIN: 51-0180177
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Opera House Fund Inc fund?
The fund's primary purpose is to support performing arts organizations, with a specific focus on groups that utilize the Lexington Opera House. Their funding priorities include: • Arts, Culture & Humanities • Human Services • Community Improvement & Capacity Building
How do I apply for a grant from Opera House Fund Inc?
**Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $13,160,269 • Total annual giving: $469,548 • Typical grant range: $2,758–$244,000 **Recent Grant Activity:** The fund has demonstrated consistent support for local performing arts organizations: • Kentucky Ballet Theatre: $22,694 (2023) • Lexington Ballet Company: $22,913 (2024)
Where does Opera House Fund Inc make grants?
The fund primarily supports organizations in Kentucky, with particular emphasis on the Lexington area.
What size grants does Opera House Fund Inc award?
In 2024, Opera House Fund Inc awarded 13 grants totaling $470K — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Opera House Fund Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Opera House Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $580K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Opera House Fund Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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