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American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet

EIN 13-3219847 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SOLICIT FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE PARIS OPERA AND PROMOTE FRENCH-AMERICAN ARTISTIC EXCHANGE. (SEE SCHEDULE O).INADDITION TO UNDERWRITING TOURING AND PRODUCTIONS THAT PROMINENTLY FEATURE THE WORK OF AMERICAN ARTISTS, AFPOB HELPS NURTURE THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCERS, SINGERS AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS THROUGH STUDENT EXCHANGES, SCHOLARSHIPS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
1
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$115,050, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 150% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $2.0 million spent. OUR PRIMARY MISSION IS TO SHARE THE MANY TREASURES OF THE PARIS OPRA DIRECTLY WITH THE AMERICAN AUDIENCES AND FOSTER CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC EXCHANGES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, AFPOB HAS FACILITATED NUMEROUS TOURS BY THE PARIS OPERA, THE OPERA BALLET, AND THE ACADMIE AS WELL AS ARRANGED U.S. APPEARANCES BY ARTISTS AFFILIATED WITH THE PARIS OPERA. CONCURRENTLY, AFPOB HAS BROUGHT MANY WORKS TO PARIS, SHOWCASING AMERICAN ARTISTS SUCH AS JEROME ROBBINS, TRISHA BROWN, WILLIAM CHRISTIE, PETER SELLARS, AND ROBERT WILSON. ADDITIONALLY, AFPOB REGULARLY ORGANIZES TRIPS TO PARIS FOR ITS PATRONS, PROVIDING THEM WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN FRANCE'S CULTURAL RICHNESS, ALONG WITH TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS, SOIRES, AND GALAS.ONE OF OUR CORE OBJECTIVES IS TO BUILD CULTURAL BRIDGES BETWEEN THE PARIS OPERA, AMERICAN AUDIENCES, AND ARTISTS. TODAY, AFPOB EMBODIES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PROMOTING FRANCO-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN THESE TWO COUNTRIES THROUGH THE ARTS. WE ACHIEVE THIS THROUGH A VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC PROGRAM OF ARTISTIC AND EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES, PATRONS' TRIPS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.WE OFFER INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN THE DIVERSE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS OF THE PARIS OPERA, INCLUDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, SUPPORTERS CAN UNDERWRITE OPERA OR CHOREOGRAPHY PRODUCTIONS, CONTRIBUTE TO RENOVATIONS, AND PARTICIPATE IN MAJOR PARIS OPERA EVENTS. AFPOB SUPPORTED THE "FONDS DE DOTATION DE L'OPRA NATIONAL DE PARIS" WITH A DONATION BY THE ELOISE SUSANNA GALE FOUNDATION/AFPOB TRUSTEE AFPOB SUPPORTED THE PROJECT "SALLE MODULABLE IN THE BASTILLE OPERA HOUSE" AFPOB SUPPORTED THE DANCE HEALTH CENTER PROJECT. SPECIAL PRODUCTIONS/PROJECTS & CREATIVITY (AN). PARIS OPERA BALLET SCHOOL SUMMER INTENSIVE, JULY 2021, SCHOLARSHIP TO EU DANCERS PARTICIPATING TO THE SUMMER INTENSIVE IN PARIS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1985.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.