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Scottish Opera

Glasgow, Scotland Reg: SC019787 (Charity Commission) Sign up to see website
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53
Integrity Assessment
Partial transparency
53/100 · methodology

About Scottish Opera

Scottish Opera is Scotland’s national opera company and largest performing arts organisation, founded in 1962 by Sir Alexander Gibson ‘to lay the treasures of opera at the feet of the people of Scotland’. Our repertoire ranges from the earliest operas to newly-commissioned world premieres. We collaborate with the world’s finest singers and creatives, our orchestra and choruses to produce world-class work at every scale and tour across Scotland to ensure performances are within reach of as many of the country’s dispersed population as possible. Our smaller tours visit over 50 venues across the mainland and islands. Our Education & Outreach programme, which celebrates 55 years in 2026, includes a Primary Schools Tour, bringing children the opportunity to perform alongside professional …

Founded
Headquarters
Glasgow, Scotland
Foundation type
Charitable Company

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

Good Fundraising Guarantee since 2026

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 6 similar education in United Kingdom
Program spending This charity: 97%
Peer average: 85%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 53
Peer average: 86

Concerns

· None found
No red flags found
Screened for Charity Commission removal, Open investigations, Governance scandals, Related-party deals, Excessive exec comp.

Where every £1 goes

· FY2025 · oscr (FY2025)
£0.97
Program£0.97
Fundraising£0.03
97% to programs beats the peer average (85%) and beats the Charity Navigator "highly efficient" threshold (75%).

GiveRadar Analysis

Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations

GiveRadar's verified records show Scottish Opera with a substantially complete profile, sourced from OSCR.

  • Established in 1963, it is among the oldest education charities in the United Kingdom GiveRadar tracks. View this cohort
  • By reported annual revenue, it is larger than 98% of the 78,357 education charities in the United Kingdom with financial records on GiveRadar. See the filings
  • Its integrity score of 53 is below most of the 87,708 education charities in the United Kingdom GiveRadar tracks. GiveRadar bases this on limited verified information so far, with little on record for its governance. Explore United Kingdom data
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records (5 filed years)
  • a website
  • a contact email
  • a donation page
Not yet verified by GiveRadar
  • leadership details (present for 78% of comparable organizations)
  • third-party accreditation
  • an owner-submitted profile claim

Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.

Common questions

· Auto-generated from filings + methodology

Scottish Opera is a registered education nonprofit based in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. It was founded in 1963 and has been operating for 63 years. Its registration number is SC019787. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 53/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports £14M in annual revenue.

Scottish Opera's official registration number is SC019787, as recorded in the national registry of United Kingdom.

Scottish Opera has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 53/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 53 ('Partial transparency') means some public data is on file but key signals are missing - worth a closer look before donating. The charity allocates 97% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for education charities in United Kingdom is 86/100.

Scottish Opera is located in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. The organization was established in 1963 and has been active for 63 years.

Based on official tax filings, Scottish Opera has £14M in annual revenue. It allocates 97% of expenses to programs and services. This is above the average of 85% for education charities in United Kingdom. Fundraising costs represent 3%. Its revenue is significantly above the peer average of £994K. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

Scottish Opera is classified as an Education organization, registered in United Kingdom. It operates as a Charitable Company. It has £14M in annual revenue.

According to GiveRadar's records, Scottish Opera is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales and overseen by the Charity Commission. It reports that 97% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 85%). You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.

Scottish Opera is Scotland’s national opera company and largest performing arts organisation, founded in 1962 by Sir Alexander Gibson ‘to lay the treasures of opera at the feet of the people of Scotland’. Our repertoire ranges from the earliest operas to newly-commissioned world premieres. We collaborate with the world’s finest singers and creatives, our orchestra and choruses to produce world-class work at every scale and tour across Scotland to ensure performances are within reach of as many of the country’s dispersed population as possible. Our smaller tours visit over 50 venues across the mainland and islands. Our Education & Outreach programme, which celebrates 55 years in 2026, includes a Primary... Scottish Opera is classified as an education organization registered in United Kingdom. The organization was founded in 1963.

Among education charities registered in United Kingdom: It allocates 97% of expenses to programs, above the peer average of 85%. Its annual revenue of £14M is well above the peer average of £994K.

Scottish Opera is a charitable company limited by guarantee, the most common incorporated form for UK charities. It is registered with both Companies House and the Charity Commission, and must file annual accounts with both regulators. Directors (who are also charity trustees) have limited liability. Its Charity Commission registration number is SC019787.

You can verify Scottish Opera in several ways. First, search the Charity Commission Register at https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/ - every charity registered in England and Wales appears here with its registration number, trustees, governing document, and filed accounts. Because this is a charitable company, you can also check its filings on Companies House (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/). Second, check whether the charity's annual return and accounts are up to date - the Commission flags charities with overdue filings. Third, look for the Fundraising Regulator badge on the charity's website, which signals voluntary compliance with the Code of Fundraising Practice.

You can donate to Scottish Opera directly through its donation page (https://www.scottishopera.org.uk/support-us/). UK charities typically accept online card payments, direct debit, and bank transfer. Many also use platforms such as JustGiving or Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). If you are a UK taxpayer, make sure to tick the Gift Aid box: it lets the charity reclaim 25p from HMRC for every pound you give at no extra cost to you. Higher-rate taxpayers can claim back the difference between basic-rate and their marginal rate through Self Assessment. Payroll Giving (Give As You Earn) lets you donate pre-tax through your employer.

Donations to Scottish Opera are eligible for Gift Aid if you are a UK income-tax or capital-gains-tax payer. Gift Aid adds 25% to your donation at no cost to you (the charity reclaims basic-rate tax from HMRC). Higher-rate and additional-rate taxpayers can also claim back the difference through Self Assessment or by adjusting their PAYE tax code. Gifts of shares, property, or land to charity are free of Capital Gains Tax and can be deducted from your income for Income Tax purposes. Legacy gifts (in your will) reduce the value of your estate for Inheritance Tax and can lower the IHT rate from 40% to 36% if you leave at least 10% to charity.

Scottish Opera is based in Glasgow in Scotland. The Charity Commission for England and Wales (CCEW) is the primary regulator. Scotland has its own regulator (OSCR), and Northern Ireland has the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI). A charity registered with the CCEW may operate across the whole of the UK or internationally.

Scottish Opera was first registered in 1963, making it approximately 63 years old. UK charities must file an annual return with the Charity Commission to remain on the register. A long registration history generally indicates sustained operations and continuous regulatory compliance.

Annual revenue
£10M-£100M
97% to programs
Source: oscr (FY2025) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

5 years on file from oscr (FY2025): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2025, FY2024, FY2023, FY2022, FY2021.
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Taxes

Tax-deductibility for donors

Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United Kingdom under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.

Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.

Staff & volunteers

From filings and published profiles

Employees
164
Still gathering leadership data

We check government filings and charity disclosures quarterly. If you represent this charity, claim this page to add officers directly.

Latest news

From global news sources

No recent news coverage found

News coverage will appear here when articles mention this organization.

Activity timeline

Filings and press mentions, merged

Form filed
£13.9M revenue
FY2025
OSCR
Form filed
£13.4M revenue
FY2024
OSCR
Form filed
£13.7M revenue
FY2023
OSCR
Form filed
£12.0M revenue
FY2022
OSCR
Form filed
£12.8M revenue
FY2021
OSCR

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Cause areas in United Kingdom

How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.

Education this charity 87,646
Health 28,382
Religion 22,146
Arts & Culture 21,802
Community Development 10,738
Environment 5,683
Social Services 4,899
Youth Development 4,637
See all cause areas in United Kingdom

Most common causes in United Kingdom

Causes charities work on most.

Education 54,780
Arts & Culture 17,729
Disability 17,106
Religion 16,671
Health 15,045
Poverty 14,062
Community Development 11,486
Cultural Heritage 8,526

Sources and verification

Registration and legal identity
Charity Commission for England and Wales - Register of Charities
Financial filings
Charity Commission annual returns - Fiscal year 2025 most recent on file.

Data freshness

Last updated
Jun 17, 2026
Registry checked
Jun 17, 2026
Profile completeness
75%

What we know and don't know

Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.

On record · 7
  • Financial data · FY2025 on record
  • Government registration · Registered with an official registry
  • Official website · On record
  • Headquarters address · On file
  • Direct contact · Email or phone published
  • Tax-deductibility · Verified
  • Founding date · 1963
Not available · 4
  • Named leadership
    Board and officer list not yet indexed
  • Executive pay
    Top-officer pay not disclosed
  • Mission statement
    No self-published statement of purpose
  • Programs & activities
    No named programs listed by the charity

Methodology

GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.

Read full methodology

Are you the owner or a board member?

If you represent this organization and want to correct or update its data, you can claim this listing to edit details yourself, or email [email protected] with the correct information. We review every request and respond within 30 days.

Quick facts about Scottish Opera

What is Scottish Opera?
Scottish Opera is a education charitable company based in Glasgow, United Kingdom. Scottish Opera is Scotland’s national opera company and largest performing arts organisation, founded in 1962 by Sir Alexander Gibson ‘to lay the treasures of opera at the feet of the people of Scotland’. Our repertoire ranges from the earliest operas to newly-commissioned world premieres. We collaborate with the world’s finest singers and creatives, our orchestra and choruses to produce world-class work at every scale and tour across Scotland to ensure performances are within reach of as many of the country’s dispersed population as possible. Our smaller tours visit over 50 venues across the mainland and islands. Our Education & Outreach programme, which celebrates 55 years in 2026, includes a Primary Schools Tour, bringing children the opportunity to perform alongside professional singers. Around 120 schools and 120,000 pupils take part each year. We aim to be inclusive and affordable through subsidised and free tickets, audio description and shorter access performances. 'the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science' The advancement of education of the public in Scotland by the creation of opportunities for the people of Scotland to see and hear productions and performances of opera and ballet, music, dance, plaus and drama and of operatic, dramatic and other music.
When was Scottish Opera founded?
Scottish Opera was founded in 1963.
Where is Scottish Opera located?
Headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
What is Scottish Opera's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2025 is approximately £10M-£100M. 97% of expenses go to program services.
Is Scottish Opera trustworthy?
Scottish Opera has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 53 out of 100 (Partial transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
What is Scottish Opera's registration number?
Registration: SC019787 (United Kingdom).
What is Scottish Opera's website?
https://www.scottishopera.org.uk
Are donations to Scottish Opera tax-deductible?
Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United Kingdom under local rules. US donors should check whether the charity has an equivalency-determination letter or a US-based fiscal sponsor before claiming a deduction.