Home › Arts, culture & humanities
The Atlanta Opera
The Atlanta Opera reported $52.4 million in revenue and $17.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.30 went to program services, $11.00 to management and general costs and $6.70 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 91.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $582,521 (GENERAL & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 684% 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 $18MFor 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 $52MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.3% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.0% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.7% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.02 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 91.6% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 5.5% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $582,521 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.27% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 50.3 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 42 of 42 | 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 expenseTRANSFORMATIVE PRODUCTIONS: Since 2013, Tomer Zvulun's innovative and artistic vision has fueled a dramatic expansion of The Atlanta Opera's influence. Four powerful mainstage productions at the Cobb Energy Centre, alongside two immersive "Discoveries" operas staged throughout Atlanta, have shattered accessibility barriers and forged a deeper connection with the community resulting in over 48,000 tickets sold in fiscal year 2025
EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT: Reaching over 120,000 students across the Southeast, our Studio Tour offers impactful in-school performances and unique field trip experiences to final dress rehearsals. We strengthen community ties through engaging pre-show talks, stimulating panel discussions, and exciting pop-up concerts. Founded in 2022, our 96-Hour Opera Festival creates vital platforms for emerging composers and librettists fostering their career development
RESIDENT ARTISTS: Since 2016, this program has been a vital springboard for emerging opera talent. We provide rigorous mentorship and expert collaboration, empowering early-career professionals to hone their skills and launch successful careers. Our alumni's achievements speak volumes, with many securing positions at prestigious opera houses worldwide, including The Met and the Paris Opera
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GENERAL & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $474,992 | $0 | $107,529 | $582,521 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $217,522 | $0 | $61,552 | $279,074 |
| DIR OF ADVANCEMENT REVENUE Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $136,131 | $0 | $22,114 | $158,245 |
| MANAGING DIR OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $134,295 | $0 | $15,156 | $149,451 |
| DIR OF ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATION Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $119,527 | $0 | $15,257 | $134,784 |
| DIR OF SALES & MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $115,642 | $0 | $16,784 | $132,426 |
| DIR OF PRODUCTION Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $105,234 | $0 | $19,576 | $124,810 |
9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Atlanta Opera (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $771K (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–1b42 · 42 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 26Yes
- 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5215
- Volunteers Part I, line 660
Private foundation grants it received
28 private foundations reported grants to The Atlanta Opera totaling $3.3M 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 The Atlanta 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 The Atlanta Opera, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Atlanta Opera spent in FY2025, $82.30 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Open Technology FundWashington, DC · revenue $52M · programs 92.3% · FY2025
- WhyyPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $53M · programs 75.0% · FY2025
- Boston BalletBoston, MA · revenue $52M · programs 85.1% · FY2025
- Oregon Shakespeare Festival AssociationAshland, OR · revenue $53M · programs 72.2% · FY2025
- Public Media Group of Southern CaliforniaBurbank, CA · revenue $52M · programs 63.9% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Georgia
Questions people ask
How much of The Atlanta Opera's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Atlanta Opera reported that 82.3% of its $17.8 million in expenses went to program services, 11.0% to management and general and 6.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Atlanta Opera pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Atlanta Opera reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $582,521, for the role of GENERAL & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Atlanta Opera get its money?
Of $52.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 91.6% came from contributions and grants (including 0.4% from government grants) and 5.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Atlanta Opera a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 58-1371843 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 202601329349304900 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501359349310145 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401349349302925 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 (amended), object 202420759349301782 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021 (amended), object 202310309349301076 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111249349302711 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 58-1371843: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.