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Nonprofit · EIN 38-2052726

DETROIT OPERA

Tax-exempt · DETROIT, MI 48226

Financials

$20.8M$21M2022$17M$19.5M2023$15.4M$21M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of DETROIT OPERA by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
June 30, 2025990$15,434,434$21,001,418-$5,566,984$46,843,503$12,204,506$34,638,997
June 30, 2024990$17,012,919$19,517,916-$2,504,997$49,591,867$9,342,013$40,249,854
June 30, 2023990$20,797,237$21,017,080-$219,843$51,718,290$9,174,324$42,543,966
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$7,297,884
of which government grants
$1,633,000
Program service revenue
$2,672,505
Investment income
$121,432
Net gain from sales of assets
-$13,329
Net income from fundraising events
$14,667
Other revenue
$5,342,613

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$637,962
Other salaries and wages
$7,168,641
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$9,296,280
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$3,859
Accounting fees
$366,076
Depreciation
$2,138,251
Program services (functional)
$17,168,015
Management and general (functional)
$2,013,336
Fundraising (functional)
$1,820,067

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$49,591,867
Total assets, end of year
$46,843,503
Total liabilities, end of year
$12,204,506
Net assets, end of year
$34,638,997
Land, buildings and equipment
$38,561,649
Publicly traded securities
$3,500,500
Net assets without donor restrictions
$27,802,917
Net assets with donor restrictions
$6,836,080
Gross unrelated business income
$2,417,161
Gross receipts
$15,451,496
Employees
627
Volunteers
430
Year formed
1971
State of legal domicile
MI

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
MS PATTY ISACSON SABEEPRESIDENT & CEO (SEE SCHEDULE O)
Officer
40$398,443$7,800
YUVAL SHARONDIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION
Key employee
40$225,764$7,800
CHRISTINE HOLLOWAYASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Key employee
40$170,864$8,040
WAYNE BROWNFORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Highest-paid employee
40$147,981$1,000
DANIEL BRINKERGENERAL MANAGER
Highest-paid employee
40$135,935$1,000
PROF NAOMI ANDREDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MR GENE P BOWENSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
MR RICHARD A BRODIEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MR ETHAN D DAVIDSONCHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
MR KEVIN DENNISDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MS LISA M DICHIERADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DR SHAUNA RYDER DIGGSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MR ENRICO DIGIROLAMODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MS MARIA C DUEYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MRS MARIANNE ENDICOTTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
31 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
DR FERN R ESPINODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MR PAUL E EWINGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MRS MARY ANN FONTANADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MR BHARAT C GANDHITREASURER
Trustee or director
2$0
MR JOHN W INGLE IIIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MS MARY L KRAMERVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0
MRS BARBARA KRATCHMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MS DENISE J LEWISVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0
MR ARTHUR C LIEBLERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MR DON MANVELVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
MR DEXTER MASONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MR DONALD MORELOCKDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
DR ALI MOIINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MR ALLAN NACHMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MRS ANN NICHOLSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
PROF SARA POZZIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MRS CARRIE PRYORDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MR PAUL RAGHEBDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MS RUTH RATTNERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
DR IRVIN D REIDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MR EVAN D ROSSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MS NEDDA SHAYOTADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MR TERRY SHEADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MR MATTHEW SIMONCINIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MR RICHARD A SONENKLARDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
DR LORNA THOMASDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MR JESSE VENEGASDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MS BARBARA WALKOWSKIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MR GARY WASSERMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MR R JAMISON WILLIAMSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MS ELLEN HILL ZERINGUEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 50 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
WAYNE BROWNCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Key employee
40$256,308$8,599
YUVAL SHARONDIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION
Key employee
40$219,504$8,040
PATTY ISACSON SABEEPRESIDENT AND CEO
Officer
40$200,000$0
PATRICIA WALKERCHIEF ADMINSTRATIVE OFFICE
Key employee
40$156,918$8,040
CHRISTINE HOLLOWAYASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTO
Highest-paid employee
40$156,878$8,040
R JAMISON WILLIAMS JRDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
NAOMI ANDREDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
GENE P BOWENSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
RICHARD A BRODIEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MARY KRAMERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
LISA M DICHIERAVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
ETHAN DAVIDSONCHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0$0
KEVIN DENNISDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
SHAUNA RYDER DIGGSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ENRICO DIGIROLAMOTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
MARY ANN FONTANADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MARIANNE ENDICOTTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PAUL E EWINGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MARIA C DUEYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DENISE J LEWISDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JOHN W INGLE IIIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
BARBARA KRATCHMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ARTHUR C LIEBLERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ALLAN NACHMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ANN NICHOLSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
CARRIE PRYORDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
NEDDA SHAYOTADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DON MANVELDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ALI MOIINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
SARA POZZIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PAUL RAGHEBDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
BARBARA WALKOWSKIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
TERRY SHEADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MATTHEW SIMONCINIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
RICHARD SONENKLARDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DR LORNA THOMASDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JESSE VENEGASDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ELLEN HILL ZERINGUEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
GARY WASSERMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DEXTER MASONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DR FERN R ESPINODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
BHARAT C GANDHIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DR IRVIN REIDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
EVAN D ROSSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JAMES CIROLIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JOHN HALEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DONALD MORELOCKDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
RUTH RATTNERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PAMELA ROGERSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ANKUR RUNGTADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 53 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
WAYNE S BROWNPRESIDENT AND CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$251,500$7,703
YUVAL SHARONARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Key employee
40$210,877$7,754
PATRICIA WALKERCHIEF ADMINSTRATIVE OFFICER
Key employee
40$173,142$7,754
JULIE KIMDIRECTOR OF PRODUCTIONS
Key employee
40$170,031$7,754
CHRISTINE HOLLOWAYASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTO
Highest-paid employee
40$153,936$7,754
R JAMISON WILLIAMS JRDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
CAMERON B DUNCANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
NAOMI ANDREDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
LEE BARTHELDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
GENE P BOWENSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
RICHARD A BRODIEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ELIZABETH BROOKSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ROBERT BROWNDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JAMES K CIROLIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MARY KRAMERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JOANNE DANTOVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
JULIA DONOVAN DARLOWDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ETHAN DAVIDSONCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0$0
KEVIN DENNISDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
SHAUNA RYDER DIGGSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ENRICO DIGIROLAMOTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
MICHAEL EINHEUSERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MARIANNE ENDICOTTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PAUL E EWINGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DONALD MORELOCKDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DENISE J LEWISDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
RICHARD G GOETZDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JOHN P HALEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DEVON HOOVERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DANIALLE KARMANOSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
BARBARA KRATCHMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
THOMAS M KRIKORIANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ALPHONSE S LUCARELLIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DONALD MANVELDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ALI MOIINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PETER OLEKSIAKVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
SARA POZZIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PAUL RAGHEBDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
RUTH RATTNERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ANKUR RUNGTAVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
TERRY SHEADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MATTHEW SIMONCINIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
RICHARD SONENKLARDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DR LORNA THOMASDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JESSE VENEGASDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ELLEN HILL ZERINGUEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
GARY WASSERMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PAMELA RODGERSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DEXTER MASONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DR FERN ESPINODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
BHARAT C GANDHIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
IRVIN REIDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
EVAN D ROSSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
1526 BROADWAY ST, DETROIT, MI 48226-2115
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
KATHY NAUER, 1526 BROADWAY, DETROIT, MI 48226
Signed the 990
KATHY NAUER, CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER
Phone
(313) 961-3500
Return prepared by
UHY ADVISORS GREAT LAKES INC

Mission

DETROIT OPERA'S MISSION IS TO PRESENT GROUNDBREAKING, GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED OPERA, DANCE, AND MUSICAL THEATER; EXPAND ACCESS TO THE ARTS THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT; CULTIVATE EMERGING ARTISTS AND YOUNG AUDIENCES THROUGH EDUCATION AND TRAINING; AND SUSTAIN A PERMANENT HOME FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS THROUGH THE PRESERVATION AND OPERATION OF THE HISTORIC DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • MAINSTAGE AND COMMUNITY BASED OPERA, BALLET, AND MUSICAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS. ANNUAL IMPACT IN 2025 THROUGH THESE EVENTS INCLUDED MORE THAN 220,000 INDIVIDUALS.
    Expenses $16,124,664 · revenue $3,757,082
  • 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.
    Expenses $1,043,351 · revenue $110,721

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025June 30, 2026November 16, 2026Not due yet
2024June 30, 2025November 17, 2025990 on file
2023June 30, 2024November 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
38-2052726
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1968
Accounting year ends
June
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$46,843,503
Income (IRS master file)
$15,451,496

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990June 2025$15,434,434$21,001,418$46,843,503IRS
990-TJune 2025–––IRS
990June 2024$17,012,919$19,517,916$49,591,867IRS
990-TJune 2024–––IRS
990June 2023$20,797,237$21,017,080$51,718,290XML
990-TJune 2023–––IRS
990June 2022$20,610,976$18,177,656$51,625,944IRS
990-TJune 2022–––IRS
990June 2021–––IRS
990-TJune 2021–––IRS
990June 2020–––IRS
990June 2019–––IRS
990June 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 38-2052726).

Questions about DETROIT OPERA

What is the EIN of DETROIT OPERA?
The employer identification number (EIN) of DETROIT OPERA is 38-2052726.
Is DETROIT OPERA tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1968.
Are donations to DETROIT OPERA tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does DETROIT OPERA file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of DETROIT OPERA due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did DETROIT OPERA last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
Who is the principal officer of DETROIT OPERA?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names KATHY NAUER.
Who are the officers and directors of DETROIT OPERA?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 46 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $398,443 (MS PATTY ISACSON SABEE, PRESIDENT & CEO (SEE SCHEDULE O)).
How much revenue does DETROIT OPERA have?
On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $15,434,434, expenses of $21,001,418 and total assets of $46,843,503 at year end.

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