Long Beach Opera

What it reported doing in 2024

In fy25, lbo offered a truly distinctive series of performances based on the improvisational operas of queer latina composer pauline oliveros. Building on the success of bye bye butterfly, which premiered in july 2024, we launched our new season in december 2024 with earth ears, an hour-long scripted improvisational piece for instrumentalists and two singers that was performed in and around the angels gate cultural center in san pedro. Our second production, el relicario de los animales, featured a cast of performers who both sang and played instruments or conducted. Again, the piece was improvised, and featured a major opera star, jamie barton, in her conducting debut. The central production was preceded by a series of smaller performances presented simultaneously in the houses and (continued on sch. O) gardens of heritage square in glassell park in february 2025. Our final production of the season was library of maps, an improvisation created by three composer-performers and a team of additional singers and actors. Performed on the queen mary in april 2025, these shows took place in a cabaret-like setting, and offered audiences a chance to interact with the performers and ask questions following the performance. Each opening night performance included a free reception sponsored by the port of long beach. Lbo sold out all performances for the season and received critical acclaim in the la times, sf classical voice and other outlets for the daring and originality of our work. Because our productions were presented at smaller and informal or unconventional performance venues with limited seating, our ticket income declined, continuing a trend begun in fy24. To ensure accessibility, lbo offered moderately priced and pay-what-you-will tickets, which grew our paying audience and reduced the number of comps we offered, but ultimately hurt our bottom line.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 53.8%; rating input score 54
• Program expense ratio: 70.6%; rating input score 71
• Fundraising efficiency: $14.53 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 91.7%; rating input score 92; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 23.7%; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.55; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.27; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.9%; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.4% per year; rating input score 100; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.8% per year; rating input score 100; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings