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Detroit Opera
Also known as Detroit Opera Company
Detroit Opera reported $15.4 million in revenue and $21.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $81.75 went to program services, $9.59 to management and general costs and $8.66 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 47.3% of the total. Government grants made up 10.6%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $406,243 (PRESIDENT & CEO (SEE SCHEDULE O)). 11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 23% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $21MFor 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
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $15MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 81.7% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.6% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.7% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.25 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 47.3% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 10.6% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 17.3% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $406,243 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.93% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 11 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 19.8 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 41 of 41 | 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
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseMainstage and community based opera, ballet, and musical theater productions. Annual impact in 2025 through these events included more than 220,000 individuals
Community engagement programs through a wide array of events both in and outside of the Detroit Opera house.educational programs and engagements both in schools, community spaces, and at the Detroit Opera house. Over 15,000 individuals served through outreach and educational activities in 2025, almost 10,000 of those being students
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · 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 & CEO (SEE SCHEDULE O) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $398,443 | $0 | $7,800 | $406,243 |
| DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $225,764 | $0 | $7,800 | $233,564 |
| ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $170,864 | $0 | $8,040 | $178,904 |
| FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $147,981 | $0 | $1,000 | $148,981 |
| GENERAL MANAGER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $135,935 | $0 | $1,000 | $136,935 |
11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Detroit Opera (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $638K (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
FY2025 · 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–1b41 · 41 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5627
- Volunteers Part I, line 6430
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| THE ROY COMPANY Contract services | $875,773 |
| FINANCIAL ONE ACCOUNTING Accounting and financial operations | $538,411 |
| ABM JANITORIAL SERVICES Janitorial services | $334,113 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
25 private foundations reported grants to Detroit Opera totaling $3.5M 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 Detroit Opera's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Detroit Opera, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Detroit Opera spent in FY2025, $81.75 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- South Street Theater CompanyMorristown, NJ · revenue $15M · programs 83.0% · FY2025
- Bric Arts Media BklynBrooklyn, NY · revenue $15M · programs 55.4% · FY2025
- Performing Arts FoundationWausau, WI · revenue $15M · programs 79.5% · FY2025
- Village TheatreIssaquah, WA · revenue $16M · programs 86.6% · FY2025
- Grand Teton Music FestivalJackson, WY · revenue $15M · programs 63.6% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Michigan
Questions people ask
How much of Detroit Opera's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Detroit Opera reported that 81.7% of its $21.0 million in expenses went to program services, 9.6% to management and general and 8.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Detroit Opera pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Detroit Opera reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $406,243, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (SEE SCHEDULE O) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Detroit Opera get its money?
Of $15.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 47.3% came from contributions and grants (including 10.6% from government grants) and 17.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Detroit Opera a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 38-2052726 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), 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
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202611359349311921 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501359349309385 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421299349300817 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341369349301139 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221339349300047 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141359349301714 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 38-2052726: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.