Mission: the mission of San Diego Opera is to deliver exceptional performances and exciting, accessible programs to diverse audiences, focusing on community partnerships, and the transformative and expressive power of the human voice. As part of its mission to make Opera accessible to all, San Diego Opera offers extensive Opera education and outreach programs, which serve adults and school children in San Diego county and northern mexico, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged children.vision: the San Diego Opera will be recognized internationally as a leading example of adaptability, innovation, and sustainability, promoting diversity on stage, in our repertoire, and in our staff and leadership, with a commitment to the world.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
73¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 144 volunteers and 324 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $283K a year · 4% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
73%
of spending
Fine: 73% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.1M
to officers and key staff · 12% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 12% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $10.5M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.3 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $147K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.1M
16% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 16% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
21
of 21 voting members
Looks good: 21 of 21 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$7.9M
+19% vs prior year
Spent
$8.6M
To programs
73%
Net assets
$10.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$7.9M
FY2025▲ +19%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$8.1M
FY2021$6.7M
FY2022$9.6M
FY2023$7.2M
FY2024$6.7M
FY2025$7.9M
Expenses
$8.6M
FY2025▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$6.4M
FY2021$6.2M
FY2022$7.8M
FY2023$11.1M
FY2024$7.8M
FY2025$8.6M
Net assets
$10.9M
FY2025▼ -5%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$11.8M
FY2021$14.5M
FY2022$15.6M
FY2023$11.7M
FY2024$11.5M
FY2025$10.9M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Oct 1959.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

73 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 73% · $6.3M Management & general 15% · $1.3M Fundraising 12% · $1.0M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

29 people listed on the 990; $1.1M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
General Dir
$284,484Pt VII · Sec A
$169,445Pt VII · Sec A
FMR CFO/COO
$160,339Pt VII · Sec A
Res. Conductor
$129,247Pt VII · Sec A
Technical Dir
$105,927Pt VII · Sec A
Production Dir
$104,213Pt VII · Sec A
SR Philanthropy
$101,638Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

David Bennett’s $284K as General Dir is at the 96th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3925 $1–10M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
David Bennett$284,484$311,154$300,544$278,569$285,000$237,660
Jeannie Posner$160,339$241,788$233,153$197,443$212,000$140,671
Llewellyn Crain$169,445—————
Rise Walter———$147,088$150,476$157,810
Bruce Stasyna$129,247$149,075$137,647$111,418$119,395$97,425
Matthew Graber—$113,700————
Peter Shavitz$101,638$108,539$109,551$104,936$105,000—
Timothy Wallace$105,927—————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See San Diego Opera Association executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Presents opera performances and offers educational programs for diverse audiences.

Questions for San Diego Opera Association

Tap to ask. San Diego Opera Association sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. San Diego Opera Association answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

2 programs · $6.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

During the year ended june 30, 2025, san diego opera produced three main stage productions each production with three performances at san diego civic theater coupled with one concert at balboa theatre

$6.1Mprogram expense
02

As part of its mission to make opera accessible to all, san diego opera offers extensive opera education and outreach programs, which serve adults and school children in san diego county and northern mexico, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged children.

$195Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$147K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$7.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$846K
Money outPt IX
$8.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$6.3M
Managementcol C$1.3M
Fundraisingcol D$1.0M
Owns and owesPt X
$10.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$937K
Total assetsLn 16$12.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
29
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a21
IndependentVI 1b21
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$416K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$801K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$846K
Gains on assetsLn 7$736K
Total revenueLn 12$7.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$893K
SavingsLn 2$43K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$937K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$10.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$136K
Other assetsLn 15$453K
Total assetsLn 16$12.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.1M
Net assetsLn 32$10.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5324
VolunteersI 6144
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.4M$937K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$9.5M$10.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$131K$136K
Total assetsLn 16$13.5M$12.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.0M$2.1M
Net assetsLn 32$11.5M$10.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$472K$142K$236K$94K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.3M$2.5M$266K$510K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$248K$216K$32K
Payroll taxesLn 10$316K$230K$37K$48K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$22K$22K
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$31K$812$25K$5K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$592K$536K$56K
Office expensesLn 13$45K$8K$27K$9K
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$436K$332K$104K
TravelLn 17$239K$229K$4K$5K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$34K$26K$8K
InsuranceLn 23$370K$181K$153K$37K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$2.5M$1.8M$427K$200K
All other expensesLn 24e$50K$35K$15K
Total functional expensesLn 25$8.6M$6.3M$1.3M$1.0M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $7.9M$8.6M−$654K$10.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $6.7M$7.8M−$1.1M$11.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $7.2M$11.1M−$3.9M$11.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $9.6M$7.8M$1.8M$15.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $6.7M$6.2M$458K$14.5M 990 PDF
FY2020 $8.1M$6.4M$1.7M$11.8M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $7,940,652 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,249,074$5,457,552
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,918,207$2,141,901
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $27,347$846,093
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $464,469−$504,894
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $6,659,097$7,940,652
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $4,131,389$4,319,307
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$22,425
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,675,996$4,252,768
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $7,807,385$8,594,500
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$1,148,288−$653,848
Part VI · Governance 21 of 21 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body21
VI-1b Independent voting members21
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $7,940,652 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for −$330,228 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$800,994
VIII-1e Government grants$416,315
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,240,243
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,457,552
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,141,901$2,141,901
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $110,366$110,366
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $735,727$735,727
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$232,111−$232,111
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $57,445$57,445
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,199,346 · Unrelated business −$330,228 · Excluded from tax $613,982$7,940,652
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $8,594,500 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $141,592 · Management $235,826 · Fundraising $94,393$471,811
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,507,161 · Management $266,245 · Fundraising $510,082$3,283,488
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $216,456 · Fundraising $31,943$248,399
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $230,396 · Management $37,449 · Fundraising $47,764$315,609
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting fees$0
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $22,425$22,425
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $812 · Management $25,420 · Fundraising $5,025$31,257
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $535,965 · Fundraising $56,329$592,294
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $7,817 · Management $27,407 · Fundraising $9,293$44,517
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $331,985 · Management $104,115$436,100
IX-17 TravelPrograms $229,230 · Management $4,068 · Fundraising $5,231$238,529
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $25,643 · Management $8,042$33,685
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $180,624 · Management $152,642 · Fundraising $36,542$369,808
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,830,074 · Management $426,826 · Fundraising $199,925$2,456,825
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $34,534 · Management $15,219$49,753
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $6,272,289 · Management $1,303,259 · Fundraising $1,018,952$8,594,500
Part X · Balance sheet $12,925,995 assets, 21 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,386,083$893,113
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $41,642$43,409
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,121,283$348,899
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $145,332$32,097
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $61,427$64,404
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $437,388$498,901
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $130,573$136,266
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $9,540,519$10,456,009
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $665,394$452,897
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $13,529,641$12,925,995
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $472,392$589,807
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $881,205$992,139
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $686,336$476,700
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,039,933$2,058,646
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,888,814$337,315
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $9,600,894$10,530,034
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $11,489,708$10,867,349
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $13,529,641$12,925,995
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $10,867,349 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$7,940,652
XI-2 Total expenses$8,594,500
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$653,848
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$11,489,708
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$31,489
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$10,867,349

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.