The Santa Fe Opera

Analysis

The Santa Fe Opera is a registered charity in United States, based in Santa Fe, NM. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in November 2015, 11 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending September 2023, The Santa Fe Opera reported income of $37.3m and spending of $31.0m, spending 83% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2019 to September 2023, income grew from $30.6m to $37.3m (+22%), an average of +5.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to September 2021, when income rose by 139%. Over the whole period it spent 71% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The Santa Fe Opera sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile, and in the 99th percentile within NM. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Crosswater Canyon Inc ($37.3m), Guthrie Theatre Foundation ($37.4m) and Dia Center for the Arts Inc ($37.2m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending September 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 52% and program service revenue 28% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $1.0m (3.3% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $10.9m. At year end it held assets of $168.4m against liabilities of $2.5m, net assets of $165.9m. It reported 672 employees.