irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $150KAFPOB SUPPORTED THE 2022 PARIS OPERA BALLET TOUR IN LOS ANGELES WITH A PLEDGED DONATION OF $150,000 FROM THE GROW @ ANNENBERG FOUNDATION
- #2 $100KAFPOB SUPPORTED THE IN HOUSE DANCE HEALTH CENTER PROJECT WITH A TOTAL PLEDGED DONATION OF $300,000 BY MS. DENISE LITTLEFIELD SOBEL OVER THREE YEARS ($100,000 A YEAR SECOND TRANCHE IN 2022)
named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
3e SCENE
Digital initiative launched in 2015 offering free original works online that explore music and dance through digital technology, expanding global access to the Paris Opera’s artistic heritage.
En Pointes!
Fundraising initiative to support the purchase of pointe shoes for Paris Opera Ballet dancers, with donors receiving signed pairs as recognition.
Name a Seat
Campaign allowing donors to sponsor and name seats in the Palais Garnier; funds support youth outreach and education programs at the Paris Opera.
Paris Opera & Ballet US Tours
Supports the Paris Opera Ballet’s tours in the United States, including performances at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and Harris Theater, enhancing cultural exchange.
Scholarships to Young Artists
Exchange program providing scholarships for young dancers from the Paris Opera Ballet School to attend summer programs in the U.S., including at San Francisco Ballet School and Boston Ballet School.
Support American Artists & Companies at the Paris Opera
Program underwriting productions at the Paris Opera that feature American artists or companies, such as Jerome Robbins, Martha Graham Dance Company, and American Ballet Theatre.
Young Artists Relief Fund
Emergency fund created during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide $2,500 grants to 24 young dancers and singers facing financial hardship, helping them continue training or transition to professional careers.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Performing Arts Production Support 2 activities
- Funding Paris Opera & Ballet productions and development projectsFunds major productions, development initiatives, and educational outreach programs at the Paris Opera & Ballet through donations of $1,000 to over $150,000, including underwriting at least one ballet and one lyric production each season featuring American artists.
- Funding performance broadcasts and digital contentSupports the international broadcast of Paris Opera productions and funds digital initiatives such as free streaming of 23 performances during the pandemic and the 3e Scène platform, which has produced over 60 original digital works.
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Cultural Exchange and Mutual Understanding Programs 1 activity
- Facilitating artistic exchange and partnershipsFosters collaborations between the Paris Opera & Ballet and U.S. artists, directors, ballet companies, and schools to strengthen transatlantic artistic ties and promote joint creative projects.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Funding artist relief and emergency support initiativesEstablished and funded the Young Artists Relief Fund during the pandemic, awarding $2,500 grants to 24 emerging artists and supporting those transitioning from training to professional careers.
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Dance Program Access and Scholarship Support 1 activity
- Funding educational and training programs for young artistsProvides scholarships and funds training programs for French and American students, including the Summer Intensive Program and the Paris Opera Academy, and supports exchanges between the Paris Opera Ballet School and U.S. institutions.
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Performing Arts Archival Preservation 1 activity
- Producing and distributing cultural mediaFunds and produces DVDs, documentary films, and audio recordings of Paris Opera Ballet performances and key figures, including works from 2011 to 2016 featuring Wagner, Ravel, and Prokofiev.
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Uncategorized 4 activities
- Funding U.S. tours of the Paris Opera & BalletFinances and supports American tours of the Paris Opera & Ballet, including performances in New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, and Orange County, such as the 2022 tour in Los Angeles funded with a $150,000 pledged donation.
- Funding pointe shoes and dancer supportRaises and allocates donations to cover the annual cost of pointe shoes for Paris Opera Ballet dancers, including up to €10,000 per Étoile ballerina, through dedicated fundraising campaigns.
- Funding restoration and infrastructure projects at the Paris OperaFinances restoration efforts including the Belt of Light at the Palais Garnier, raising 1.8 million euros from private donors, and supports long-term projects such as the Dance Health Center with a three-year $300,000 commitment.
- Organizing and supporting U.S. performances and galasCo-chaired and supported high-profile events including the 40th Anniversary Gala in 2024 and the Opening Gala of the 2023–24 season, and organized six U.S. tours between 1987 and 2012 featuring performances in major American cities.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.39M
Contributions & grants$3.13M92%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$61K2%
Other revenue$200K
expenses
Total expenses$2.07M
Program expenses96%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$118K
Grants paid out$1.84M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.84M
Cash$682K
Investments$885K
Liabilities$34K
Net assets$2.81M
Liquid reserves9.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +150.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEANNE REZAI | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 1 | $115K |
board members · 3
- HAL J WITT — SECRETARY AND TREASURER
- OLIVIA TOURNAY FLATTO — CHAIRMAN
- SERENA LESE — VICE CHAIRMAN
relationships · 35
Who they work with
- AIR FRANCE Partner — Partner of the American Friends of the Paris Opera and Ballet in 2019.
- AROP Partner — Co-manages campaigns such as Name a Seat, En Pointes!, and Ceinture de Lumière.
- BNP PARIBAS Partner — Corporate sponsor of the American Friends of the Paris Opera and Ballet in 2019.
- Boston Ballet School Partner — Hosts young dancers from the Paris Opera Ballet School through an exchange program.
- Boston Ballet School Partner — Partner school in the reciprocal Summer Intensive Program exchange supported by AFPOB.
- CITI Partner — Corporate sponsor of the American Friends of the Paris Opera and Ballet in 2019.
- Denise Littlefield Sobel Funder — Made a three-year, $300,000 pledged donation, with $100,000 allocated in 2022 for the Dance Health Center project.
- French Institute: Alliance Francaise (FIAF) Partner — Partnered to launch the Paris Opera & Ballet HD Screening Series in New York in 2018.
- GROW @ Annenberg Foundation Funder — Provided a $150,000 pledged donation channeled through the organization to support the Paris Opera Ballet tour.
- Harris Theatre Partner — Hosts performances by the Paris Opera & Ballet during U.S. tours supported by AFPOB.
- Houston Ballet School Partner — Hosts young dancers from the Paris Opera Ballet School through an exchange program.
- Houston Ballet School Partner — Partner school in the reciprocal Summer Intensive Program exchange supported by AFPOB.
- Kennedy Center Partner — Hosts performances by the Paris Opera & Ballet during U.S. tours supported by AFPOB.
- Lincoln Center Partner — Hosts performances by the Paris Opera & Ballet during U.S. tours supported by AFPOB.
- Memorial (San Francisco) Partner — Hosts performances by the Paris Opera & Ballet during U.S. tours supported by AFPOB.
- Northwest Pacific School Partner — Hosts young dancers from the Paris Opera Ballet School through an exchange program.
- Northwest Pacific School Partner — Partner school in the reciprocal Summer Intensive Program exchange supported by AFPOB.
- Opera National de Paris Partner — Collaborates with the Paris Opera to support artists and promote its content.
- Opéra National de Paris Partner — Main beneficiary of support, operating Opéra Bastille and Palais Garnier
- Opéra national de Paris Partner — Primary artistic partner; AFPOB supports and fosters cooperation with the Paris Opera & Ballet.
- Orange County Partner — Hosts performances by the Paris Opera & Ballet during U.S. tours supported by AFPOB.
- Paris Opera Partner — Primary beneficiary of fundraising and grantmaking efforts.
- Paris Opera Partner — Primary cultural institution supported through fundraising and program facilitation.
- Paris Opera Partner — Primary institutional partner; AFPOB underwrites lyric and ballet productions at the Paris Opera.
- Paris Opera & Ballet Partner — Collaborates on major initiatives and campaigns including seat naming, pointe shoe funding, and restoration projects.
- Paris Opera & Ballet Partner — Primary artistic and institutional partner for touring, recordings, and broadcasts supported by AFPOB.
- Paris Opera Ballet Partner — Collaborates with the Paris Opera Ballet on major events such as the Opening Gala of the 2023–24 season.
- Paris Opera Ballet Partner — Partner organization supported through funding for ballet productions and artistic commissions.
- Paris Opera Ballet Partner — Recipient of funding for performances, tours, training, and dancer support.
- Paris Opera Ballet School Partner — Collaborates on a scholarship exchange program for young dancers.
+ 5 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Donor-Engaged Cultural Accessmethodology: donor-engaged-naming-for-cultural-accessBy aligning donor passions with cultural programming, we expand access to the arts for underrepresented audiences and sustain institutional missions, because linking philanthropy to identity and values increases giving depth and program sustainability.
- Emergency Support for Emerging Artistsmethodology: emergency-relief-for-emerging-artistsBy providing targeted financial relief during crises, we sustain the pipeline of emerging talent from training to professional careers, because early-career disruptions disproportionately impact long-term artistic viability and diversity in the field.
- Expanded Access Through Audiovisual Disseminationmethodology: multi-platform_broadcast_accessBy broadcasting performances across cinema, streaming, television, radio, and public screenings, we democratize access to elite artistic institutions, because multi-platform diffusion increases public engagement and cultural participation beyond geographic and economic barriers.
- Transatlantic Artistic Exchangemethodology: artistic_exchange_fundraisingBy fostering partnerships between American and French artistic institutions and professionals, we strengthen bilateral cultural collaboration and elevate the global reach of the Paris Opera & Ballet, because shared creative ecosystems enhance artistic innovation and institutional resilience.
- Youth and Audience Diversificationmethodology: audience-diversificationBy designing outreach programs that lower barriers to entry, we cultivate new and younger audiences for opera and ballet, because early exposure and accessible entry points increase long-term cultural engagement and field sustainability.