GRAND OPERA HOUSE INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

GRAND OPERA HOUSE INC

EIN 51-0116569 · Arts, Culture & Humanities (A800)

What they do

THE GRAND ENTERTAINS, ENGAGES, and ENRICHES OUR COMMUNITY WITH DIVERSE LIVE PERFORMANCES and EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN A WELCOMING, PATRON-CENTERED ENVIRONMENT. AS PROUD STEWARDS, WE CELEBRATE OUR CHERISHED HISTORIC THEATERS THAT CREATE ECONOMIC VITALITY and LIFT THE HUMAN SPIRIT.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $72.80 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders68 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

97.13%of revenue went to mission work72.8% of expenses · Program services

3.88%of revenue went to fundraising2.9% of expenses

$133.38spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

32.37%of revenue went to management and office costs24.3% of expenses

$1.62in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

17.6%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $2,486,626 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $152,262 for FRANCIS J SKIP PENNELLA (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$7,450,181

Mission workProgram services$7,236,04897.13% of revenue72.8% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$2,411,53232.37% of revenue24.3% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$289,2273.88% of revenue2.9% of expenses

Total expenses$9,936,807133.38% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 72.8% mission · 24.3% management · 2.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 133.38% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 74.0% mission · 23.1% management · 2.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 126.84% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 73.3% mission · 23.1% management · 3.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 126.65% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 68.9% mission · 26.8% management · 4.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 46.93% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 52.5% mission · 41.0% management · 6.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 77.94% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 69.8% mission · 26.0% management · 4.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 109.56% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 71.9% mission · 28.1% management · 0.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 110.92% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 78.4% mission · 18.8% management · 2.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 116.78% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$7,450,181

Expenses$9,936,807

Annual shortfall $2,486,626 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$7,236,048 · 72.8% of expenses

Management and office costs$2,411,532 · 24.3% of expenses

Fundraising$289,227 · 2.9% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$7,450,181

Expenses$9,936,807

Assets$16,059,213

Income$7,963,697

Contributions$1,310,993

Mission work (program services)$7,236,048

Fundraising$289,227

Management and general$2,411,532

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

FRANCIS J SKIP PENNELLAEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $152,262Base $150,833 · Other $1,429

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (68)

FRANCIS J SKIP PENNELLAEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MARCUS HENRYTRUSTEE

RENEE SIMONTONTRUSTEE

RANDALL GBURTONTRUSTEE

NICOLE SANNATRUSTEE

NADIRA ALSTONBOARD MEMBER

MOLLY DIBIANCASECRETARY

MICHAEL CLEMENTTRUSTEE

MELISSA KENNYTRUSTEE

ROBERT VA HARRA JRBOARD MEMBER

MARCIA FERRANTOBOARD MEMBER

LISCHELE G ADAMSBOARD MEMBER

LAVERNE HARMON PHDBOARD MEMBER

LAURA HUGGETTBOARD MEMBER

KIRK GARRATT MD MSCBOARD MEMBER

KELLY FARNANBOARD MEMBER

KATE MAILLOUXTRUSTEE

KARL KADARTRUSTEE

STEVEN KOCHIEBOARD MEMBER

WILLIAM S MONTGOMERYTRUSTEE

WILLIAM FARRELLTRUSTEE

TIMOTHY LYONSTRUSTEE

TIM LITTENTRUSTEE

TIM BOULDENBOARD MEMBER

THEODORE LAUZENTRUSTEE

TATIANA B COPELANDBOARD MEMBER

TARIK HASKINSBOARD MEMBER

KARI GARRATTTRUSTEE

SHAILA KAPURTRUSTEE

SANDRA BIHARY-WALTZTRUSTEE

SAMUEL PONZOBOARD MEMBER

SALVATORE J CHIP ROSSI JRBOARD MEMBER

RON OZERTRUSTEE

RON COHENTRUSTEE

ROGER D KIRTLEYCHAIRPERSON

CARLOS DE LOS RAMOSBOARD MEMBER

DAVID LEY HAMILTON ESQBOARD MEMBER

DAVID NORDHEIMERTRUSTEE

DAVID CROUTTRUSTEE

CLAYTON HILLTRUSTEE

CHARISSE L RODGERSTRUSTEE

CATHERINE DEANTRUSTEE

CAROL MAYHARTTRUSTEE

CARMEN CREWS-HARTTRUSTEE

DAVID PAUL MDTRUSTEE

BRIAN DISABATINOIMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRPERSON

BOB STODDARD JRTRUSTEE

BOB DEWEYTRUSTEE

BILL MEAKEMTRUSTEE

BETH WELLSTRUSTEE

BARBARA STEINTRUSTEE

ANGELA COLATRIANOBOARD MEMBER

ANDREW LUBINTRUSTEE

DENISE NORDHEIMER ESQTRUSTEE

DICK BAUMBARGERTRUSTEE

DILIANA HENRYTRUSTEE

DONALD KIRTLEYTRUSTEE

DREWRY FENNELL ESQBOARD MEMBER

ENID WALLACE-HALEYVICE CHAIRPERSON

FRANK LEVYTRUSTEE

FREDERICK J DAWSONTREASURER

GLEN MAYHARTTRUSTEE

HAYES ROBERTSTRUSTEE

JACQUELINE FAULCONTRUSTEE

JENNIFER RYBICKI CPABOARD MEMBER

JOE WESTCOTTBOARD MEMBER

JOE DEL TUFOTRUSTEE

JULIE TOPKIS-NASONTRUSTEE

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1972
Location: 818 N MARKET STREET, WILMINGTON, DE 19801
County: New Castle
In care of: FRANCIS J PENNELLA
Primary officer: FRANCIS J PENNELLA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(302) 658-7897

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: August 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: SANTORA CPA GROUP
NTEE classification: Arts, Culture & Humanities (A800)