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Houston Grand Opera Association
Houston Grand Opera Association reported $34.7 million in revenue and $35.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $80.99 went to program services, $7.44 to management and general costs and $11.57 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 80.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $563,126 (Artistic & Music Director). 24 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 42% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $35MFor 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 July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $35M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$80.11 $28M
- Program service revenue$19.30 $6.7M
- Investment income$0.59 $208K
Other revenue was negative: −$234K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 81.0% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.4% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.6% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.15 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 80.6% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 19.4% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $563,126 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.59% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 24 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 4.6 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 42 of 43 | 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 expenseOpera Productions: Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is one of the largest, most innovative, and most highly acclaimed opera companies in the United States. In fulfilling its mission to enrich our diverse community through the art of operas by creating, curating, exploring, and producing outstanding experiences centered around the human voice, HGO has led the field in commissioning new works (76 world premieres to date) and in training and nurturing promising young artists and administrators. The company builds its repertoire with the community in mind, striving to create profoundly enriching…
The Sarah & Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio is one of the most respected young artist programs in the country. For more than thirty years it has served young singers and pianist/coaches, providing a bridge between full-time training and full-fledged operatic careers. Each year after an exhaustive international search, a hand-selected group of talented individuals is brought to Houston to work alongside the best in the business at Houston Grand Opera. In main-stage productions and at other less traditional venues, these artists hone their craft as singing actors. During a residency of…
The Community & Learning program connects creative resources with our diverse and vibrant community through collaborative programming in the Houston area - in schools, parks, community landmarks, alternative performance spaces, as well as at the Wortham Theater Center, providing the opportunity to seek, engage, and learn through opera. The nationally recognized Song of Houston initiative commissions new chamber operas and song projects that resonate with contemporary life in Houston and develops community projects that foster collaborations with many Houston-area organizations. Continued on…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artistic & Music Director Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $534,604 | $0 | $28,522 | $563,126 |
| General Director & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $491,561 | $0 | $28,127 | $519,688 |
| Director of Artistic Planning Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $341,751 | $0 | $15,454 | $357,205 |
| Managing Dir. of Strategic Campaigns Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $324,645 | $0 | $30,524 | $355,169 |
| Chief Marketing & Experience Officer Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $296,497 | $0 | $14,034 | $310,531 |
| Chief Philanthropy Officer Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $239,788 | $0 | $17,414 | $257,202 |
| CFO Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $227,557 | $0 | $12,210 | $239,767 |
| Chief Operating Officer Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $193,390 | $0 | $25,775 | $219,165 |
24 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Houston Grand Opera Association (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.5M (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–1b43 · 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 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5853
- Volunteers Part I, line 6150
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Theatre Royal Plymouth Ltd Construction | $798,965 |
| Hierarchy Advertising LLC Marketing services | $675,369 |
| Strike Marketing Group Marketing services | $325,484 |
| Datavox Inc IT services | $323,931 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 18 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
47 private foundations reported grants to Houston Grand Opera Association totaling $3.4M 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 Houston Grand Opera Association's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Houston Grand Opera Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Houston Grand Opera Association spent in FY2025, $80.99 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Cincinnati Museum CenterCincinnati, OH · revenue $34M · programs 65.0% · FY2025
- Bethel Woods Center for the ArtsLiberty, NY · revenue $35M · programs 87.3% · 2024
- French-American School of New YorkMamaroneck, NY · revenue $34M · programs 79.6% · FY2025
- Providence Performing Arts CenterProvidence, RI · revenue $35M · programs 81.1% · FY2025
- Interlochen Center for the ArtsInterlochen, MI · revenue $34M · programs 53.7% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Texas
Questions people ask
How much of Houston Grand Opera Association's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, Houston Grand Opera Association reported that 81.0% of its $35.3 million in expenses went to program services, 7.4% to management and general and 11.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Houston Grand Opera Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Houston Grand Opera Association reported for one person in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 was $563,126, for the role of Artistic & Music Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Houston Grand Opera Association get its money?
Of $34.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, 80.6% came from contributions and grants and 19.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Houston Grand Opera Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 74-6016764 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 July 31, 2025, object 202611669349300646 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2024, object 202511669349300156 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2023, object 202401699349301120 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2022, object 202321649349301412 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2021, object 202231669349300118 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2020, object 202111279349301821 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 74-6016764: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.