Nonprofit · EIN 23-7169261
ARIZONA OPERA COMPANY
Tax-exempt · PHOENIX, AZ 85004
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $4,497,801 | $5,875,178 | -$1,377,377 | $16,510,817 | $1,515,177 | $14,995,640 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $6,650,102 | $8,223,670 | -$1,573,568 | $16,278,411 | $1,067,051 | $15,211,360 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $5,527,418 | $8,875,073 | -$3,347,655 | $17,923,049 | $3,242,453 | $14,680,596 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $3,094,110
- of which government grants
- $63,350
- Program service revenue
- $1,197,378
- Investment income
- $257,282
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $126,517
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$54,219
- Net income from gaming
- $3,250
- Other revenue
- -$50,969
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $412,996
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,952,415
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $2,789,726
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $145,009
- Accounting fees
- $75,434
- Occupancy
- $343,978
- Travel
- $319,395
- Depreciation
- $434,719
- Program services (functional)
- $3,687,262
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,422,290
- Fundraising (functional)
- $765,626
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $16,278,411
- Total assets, end of year
- $16,510,817
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,515,177
- Net assets, end of year
- $14,995,640
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $1,860,821
- Publicly traded securities
- $35,363
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,075,702
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $13,919,938
- Gross receipts
- $10,136,772
- Employees
- 429
- Volunteers
- 109
- Year formed
- 1971
- State of legal domicile
- AZ
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.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH SPECTER | PRES. & GENERAL DIRECTOR (THRU 4/25) Officer | 45 | $271,875 | $8,605 |
| JOANN SERRA | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION Officer | 40 | $122,500 | $8,605 |
| DAVID HEAP | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DR STEPHEN MUNK | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KIMBERLY J KAUFFMAN | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ERIK PETERSON | VICE CHAIR (THRU DEC 2024) Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDREA CRANE | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DR JUDITH G WOLF | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| HOWARD H BELL IV | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN ESCO CHANDLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JEAN S COOPER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RICHARD CREATH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MATTHEW ENGLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BARRY FINGERHUT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| NANCY FOSTER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
23 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROSIE GARCIA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| GARY GREENBAUM | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| STEPHEN HARDY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| VIKIE HARITON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DEBORRAH HIMSEL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| GARY JACKSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| SHARON LANDIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| MIRANDA LUMER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| BARBARA MARLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| JENNY AUGER MAW | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| KAY MCDOUGALL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| SHERRY MIDDLEMAS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| CASH NICKERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DR HERSCHEL ROSENZWEIG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| JEANNETTE J SEGEL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| COLONEL RET KIMBERLEY SMITH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| SCOTT STALLARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| HEATHER M STRICKLAND | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| JENNY HOLSMAN TETREAULT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| KAREN WADMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| BRUCE WEBER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| ROMA WITTCOFF | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| BRIAN DEMARIS | PRESDIENT AND GENERAL DIRECTOR Officer | 45 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 31 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOEPH SPECTER | PRESIDENT & GENERAL DIRECTOR Officer | 45 | $296,250 | $12,112 |
| JOANN SERRA | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION AND HUMAN RESO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $122,396 | $8,736 |
| SUSAN ESCO CHANDLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JEAN S COOPER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDREA CRANE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RICHARD CREATH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BARRY FINGERHUT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| NANCY FOSTER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ROSIE GARCIA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GARY GREENBAUM | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANN HAND | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHEN HARDY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GARY JACKSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SHARON LANDIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MIRANDA LUMER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JENNY AUGER MAW | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SHERRY MIDDLEMAS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DR HERSCHEL ROSENZWEIG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JEANNETTE J SEGEL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| COLONEL RET KIMBERLY SMITH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LINDA STAUBITZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| HEATHER M STRICKLAND | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JENNY HOLSMAN TETREAULT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ROMA WITTCOFF | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DR JUDITH G WOLF | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID HEAP | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KIMBERLY J KAUFFMAN | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ERIK PETERSON | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SCOTT STALLARD | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KAY MCDOUGALL | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DR STEPHEN MUNK | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 31 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOEPH SPECTER | PRESIDENT & GENERAL DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $257,892 | $10,527 |
| JOANN SERRA | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION AND HUMAN RESO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $112,704 | $8,865 |
| SUSAN ESCO CHANDLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JEAN S COOPER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDREA CRANE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RICHARD CREATH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ROZA FERDOWSMAKAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BARRY FINGERHUT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| NANCY FOSTER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ROSIE GARCIA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GARY GREENBAUM | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANN HAND | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID HEAP | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GARY JACKSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KIMBERLY J KAUFFMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MIRANDA LUMER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JENNY AUGER MAW | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SHERRY MIDDLEMAS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DR HERSCHEL ROSENZWEIG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JEANNETTE JUNG SEGEL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| COLONEL RET KIMBERLEY SMITH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LINDA STAUBITZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| HEATHER STRICKLAND | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SHOSHANA TANCER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ROMA WITTCOFF | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JUDITH JUDY G WOLF PHD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DR STEPHEN MUNK | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ERIK PETERSON | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SCOTT STALLARD | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KAY MCDOUGALL | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SHARON LANDIS | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1636 N CENTRAL AVE, PHOENIX, AZ 85004-1623
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- BRIAN DEMARIS, 1636 N CENTRAL AVE, PHOENIX, AZ 85004
- Signed the 990
- BRIAN DEMARIS, PRESIDENT & GENERAL DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (602) 266-7464
- Website
- WWW.AZOPERA.ORG
- Return prepared by
- BAKER TILLY ADVISORY GROUP LP
Mission
ARIZONA OPERA ELEVATES THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF STORYTELLING THROUGH MUSIC - CULTIVATING COMMUNITY AND STRENGTHENING A STATE AND PEOPLE AS ADVENTUROUS AND DIVERSE AS THE PLACE THEY CALL HOME.
Program accomplishments
- ARIZONA OPERA'S 2024/25 SEASON INCLUDED A REDUCED SEASON FORMAT WITH ONE FULLY STAGED OPERA, ONE SITE-SPECIFIC OPERA, A FAMILY OPERA AND A CONCERT OPERA, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS THAT EXTENDED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. FALL 2024 INCLUDED A FAMILY-ORIENTED PERFORMANCE OF HECTOR ARMIENTA'S COYOTES AND RABBITS WITH PERFORMANCES HAPPENING IN AND AROUND PHOENIX AND TUCSON, ARIZONA, AS WELL AS THE ONE-PERSON OPERA TELLTALE HEART, AS PART OF THE BEYOND DOWNTOWN SERIES. THIS SERIES CONTINUED IN THE SPRING WITH MOZART'S THE SECRET GARDENER WITH PERFORMANCES AT TOHONO CHUL IN TUCSON AND THE MONROE STREET ABBEY IN PHOENIX BOTH PERFORMANCES WERE SOLD OUT. THE COMPANY PRODUCED PUCCINI'S LA BOHEME IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2024, AND IN APRIL PRODUCED GIUSEPPE VERDI'S AIDA IN CONCERT, ACCOMPANIED BY A NEW FILM MADE WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. IN ADDITION, ARIZONA OPERA'S NEXTGEN INITIATIVE CONTINUED ITS FOCUS ON DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF OPERA ARTISTS AND AUDIENCES, INCLUDING A ROBUST SCHEDULE OF K-12 EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR EMERGING PROFESSIONALS. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDED OUR IN-SCHOOL ARLYN M. BREWSTER OPERA UNITY TOUR THAT REACHES OVER 30,000 CHILDREN PER YEAR ACROSS THE STATE AND OUR STUDENT PREVIEW PERFORMANCES IN THEATER; OUR ELITE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG SINGERS AND THEATER TECHNICIANS, INCLUDE THE MARION ROOSE PULLIN STUDIO, WHICH GIVE SINGERS, PIANISTS AND STAGE DIRECTORS THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE THEY NEED TO LAUNCH THEIR CAREERS; AND A WIDE VARIETY OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALLOW US TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN THE MOST FULSOME WAY POSSIBLE, WHETHER ONE BRAND NEW TO OPERA, OR A LIFELONG FAN. IN THE 2024/25 SEASON, ARIZONA OPERA SERVED APPROXIMATELY 12,000 ARIZONANS THROUGH IN-THEATER PERFORMANCES; OVER 35,000 K-12 STUDENTS THROUGH OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS; AND NEARLY 10,000 RESIDENTS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.Expenses $3,687,262 · revenue $1,197,378
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 year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 23-7169261
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1972
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A6A0)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $16,510,817
- Income (IRS master file)
- $10,136,772
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $4,497,801 | $5,875,178 | $16,510,817 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $6,650,102 | $8,223,670 | $16,278,411 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $5,527,418 | $8,875,073 | $17,923,049 | XML |
| 990-T | June 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2022 | $12,029,280 | $7,997,957 | $13,623,494 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 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 23-7169261).
Questions about ARIZONA OPERA COMPANY
- What is the EIN of ARIZONA OPERA COMPANY?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of ARIZONA OPERA COMPANY is 23-7169261.
- Is ARIZONA OPERA COMPANY tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1972.
- Are donations to ARIZONA OPERA COMPANY tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does ARIZONA OPERA COMPANY 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 ARIZONA OPERA COMPANY 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 ARIZONA OPERA COMPANY 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 ARIZONA OPERA COMPANY?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names BRIAN DEMARIS.
- Who are the officers and directors of ARIZONA OPERA COMPANY?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 38 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $271,875 (JOSEPH SPECTER, PRES. & GENERAL DIRECTOR (THRU 4/25)).
- How much revenue does ARIZONA OPERA COMPANY have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $4,497,801, expenses of $5,875,178 and total assets of $16,510,817 at year end.
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