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Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts
Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts reported $62.5 million in revenue and $73.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $85.33 went to program services, $6.07 to management and general costs and $8.60 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 54.5% of the total. Government grants made up 6.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $802,235 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 28 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 10% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $74MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $63MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.3% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.1% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.6% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.28 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 36.6% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 6.4% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 54.5% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $802,235 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.09% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 28 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 15.6 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 48 of 49 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe filene center venue is located on federal property and Wolf Trap Foundation for the performing arts and the national park service partner in providing concert and performance programming within the park. The filene center at Wolf Trap is the only national park dedicated to presenting the performing arts. From late may to early september almost 355,000 patrons at 65 performances were in attendance at shows that included pop, rock, musical theater, symphony & film, dance, opera, and more with an average ticket price of $75. The filene center has the second largest theatrical stage in the…
Wolf Trap opera (wto), created in 1971, is a highly regarded residency program for opera singers. It offers emerging artists one of the best training and performing experiences in the nation. Our primary tier of filene artists has completed advanced degrees and are already established singers on the verge of professional careers; studio artists are talented student singers considering a career in the field. Alumni have gone on to careers performing with some of the leading opera companies in the world. Wto provides both career guidance and a chance to polish skills needed to advance to the…
Each year, Wolf Trap education delivers high quality arts-learning experiences to 95,000 children and adults, locally, nationally, and internationally. At the heart of Wolf Trap's education outreach for more than four decades, the Wolf Trap institute for early learning through the arts (institute) is recognized nationally as a model for incorporating the performing arts into early childhood curricula. Conducting early childhood education through arts integration in 26 states and the district of columbia, including 28 Wolf Trap institute affiliate sites across the US and in singapore, the…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT AND CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $768,322 | $0 | $33,913 | $802,235 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $380,002 | $0 | $37,062 | $417,064 |
| VP, DEV & SPECIAL EVENTS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $292,221 | $0 | $37,336 | $329,557 |
| VP, PROGRAM AND PRODUCTION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $260,468 | $0 | $30,559 | $291,027 |
| VP, COMMUNICATIONS & MRKTG Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $223,060 | $0 | $24,395 | $247,455 |
| VP, FINANCE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $211,770 | $0 | $30,934 | $242,704 |
| VP, EDUCATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $177,595 | $0 | $24,696 | $202,291 |
28 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.2M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b49 · 48 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5837
- Volunteers Part I, line 6191
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| LF JENNINGS INC Construction | $17,805,340 |
| JOHN F KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMIN Performing artist | $2,232,463 |
| TISBURY TOURS Performing artist | $2,071,069 |
| ALLIED ADVERTISING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP Advertising | $1,775,847 |
| JOHN LEGEND TOURING INC Performing artist | $1,460,766 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 88 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
51 private foundations reported grants to Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts totaling $2.0M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts spent in 2024, $85.33 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and FoundationNew Orleans, LA · revenue $62M · programs 95.8% · FY2025
- Chautauqua InstitutionChautauqua, NY · revenue $63M · programs 73.9% · 2024
- The Studio Museum in HarlemNew York, NY · revenue $62M · programs 64.7% · FY2025
- The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur MuseumWinterthur, DE · revenue $64M · programs 76.7% · FY2025
- The Brooklyn Institute of Arts and SciencesBrooklyn, NY · revenue $62M · programs 68.8% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Virginia
Questions people ask
How much of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts reported that 85.3% of its $73.8 million in expenses went to program services, 6.1% to management and general and 8.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $802,235, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts get its money?
Of $62.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 36.6% came from contributions and grants (including 6.4% from government grants) and 54.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7011544 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202513149349305191 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202403179349309505 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323149349305292 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223189349309187 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202143159349300334 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013159349302506 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7011544: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.