EL PASO OPERA FOUNDATION
Cite this
Plain text EL PASO OPERA FOUNDATION. furp.org, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2010–2018. https://furp.org/org/el-paso-opera-foundation-742901653. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
APA furp.org. (n.d.). EL PASO OPERA FOUNDATION [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2010–2018]. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://furp.org/org/el-paso-opera-foundation-742901653
MLA “EL PASO OPERA FOUNDATION.” furp.org, tax years 2010–2018, https://furp.org/org/el-paso-opera-foundation-742901653. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.
Retrieved 2026-10-22; covers tax years 2010–2018. Data: furp.org, CC BY 4.0.
2018 · Form 990EZ · revenue $0 · expenses $37K · assets $946
- EIN
- 74-2901653
- Address
- PO BOX 5106, EL PASO, TX 79953-5106
- Website
- WWW.EPOPERA.ORG
- NTEE code
- T110
- Exempt type
- 501(c)(3): charitable, religious, educational, scientific or literary (corporation)
- Ruling date
- June 1999 (when the IRS recognized its exemption)
- IRS status
- Exempt (unconditional) (IRS Business Master File) IRS data ↗
- Tax-deductible donations
- Yes: listed in IRS Publication 78 (supporting organization) Pub 78 ↗
- Foundation status
- Supporting organization, 509(a)(3)
- Principal officer
- MICHAEL WHITE (its 2025 Form 990-N)
- Form 990-N e-postcards
- 1 filed, 2025 (organizations with gross receipts normally $50,000 or less file this instead of a full Form 990) IRS data ↗
- Cross-check
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Mission
MISSION IS TO BRING PROFESSIONAL OPERA PRODUCTIONS THAT ARE UNDERSTANDABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND ENJOYABLE TO ALL THE RESIDENTS OF EL PASO, TEXAS AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES; AND TO SPONSOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WILL INTRODUCE BOTH YOUTH AND ADULT POPULATIONS TO THE WORLD OF GREAT VOCAL MUSIC.
Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).
People paid by the organization
None of the 11 people listed on these returns reported compensation from the organization. They are listed below.
Officers and directors, no compensation reported
11 people listed on the returns with $0 (or no amount) in every compensation column: current people first. Hours are as filed on the latest return each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Hrs/wk (latest) | Compensation | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael White | VICE PRESIDENT | 2010-2018 | 1 | $0 reported | 2 |
| Ernesto Herrera | PRESIDENT | 2011-2018 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Wilma Salzman | TREASURER | 2010-2018 | 1 | $0 reported | 2 |
| Jennifer Cedillo | BOARD MEMBER | 2010-2018 | 1 | $0 reported | 2 |
| Ricardo Fernandez | BOARD MEMBER | 2012-2018 | 1 | $0 reported | 2 |
| Chris Kleberg (former) | MEMBER | 2012-2014 | 1 | $0 reported | 2 |
| Lesley Gosling (former) | SECRETARY | 2010-2014 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Miguel Murguia (former) | TREASURER | 2010 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Terrie Sirious (former) | MEMBER | 2010 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Ernie Herrera (former) | MEMBER | 2010 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| David Grabarkewitz (former) | GENERAL DIRECTOR | 2010 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
People by year
2018 · 5 people listed · none paid
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERNESTO HERRERA | PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| MICHAEL WHITE | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| WILMA SALZMAN | TREASURER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| JENNIFER CEDILLO | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| RICARDO FERNANDEZ | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
2016 · 5 people listed · none paid
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERNESTO HERRERA | PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 1 |
| MICHAEL J WHITE | VICE PRESIDE | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 2 |
| WILMA SALZMAN | TREASURER | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 2 |
| RICARDO FERNANDEZ | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 2 |
| JENNIFER CEDILLO | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 2 |
2015 · 5 people listed · none paid
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERNESTO HERRERA | PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 1 |
| MICHAEL J WHITE | VICE PRESIDE | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 2 |
| WILMA SALZMAN | TREASURER | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 2 |
| RICARDO FERNANDEZ | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 2 |
| JENNIFER CEDILLO | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 2 |
2014 · 7 people listed · none paid
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERNESTO HERRERA | PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 1 |
| MICHAEL J WHITE | VICE PRESIDE | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 2 |
| LESLEY GOSLING | SECRETARY | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 1 |
| WILMA SALZMAN | TREASURER | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 2 |
| JENNIFER CEDILLO | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 2 |
| RICARDO FERNANDEZ | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 2 |
| CHRIS KLEBERG | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | - | $0 | 2 |
2013 · 7 people listed · none paid
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERNESTO HERRERA | PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| MICHAEL J WHITE | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| LESLEY GOSLING | SECRETARY | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| WILMA SALZMAN | TREASURER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| JENNIFER CEDILLO | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| RICARDO FERNANDEZ | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| CHRIS KLEBERG | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
2012 · 7 people listed · none paid
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERNESTO HERRERA | PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| MICHAEL J WHITE | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| LESLEY GOSLING | SECRETARY | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| WILMA SALZMAN | TREASURER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| JENNIFER CEDILLO | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| RICARDO FERNANDEZ | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| CHRIS KLEBERG | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
2011 · 5 people listed · none paid
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL J WHITE | PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| LESLEY GOSLING | SECRETARY | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| WILMA SALZMAN | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| JENNIFER CEDILLO | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| ERNESTO HERRERA | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
2010 · 8 people listed · none paid
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL J WHITE | PRESIDENT | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| MIGUEL MURGUIA | TREASURER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| LESLEY GOSLING | SECRETARY | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| TERRIE SIRIOUS | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| WILMA SALZMAN | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| JENNIFER CEDILLO | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 2 |
| ERNIE HERRERA | MEMBER | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| DAVID GRABARKEWITZ | GENERAL DIRECTOR | 1 | $0 | - | $0 | $0 | 1 |
Highest-paid independent contractors
No independent contractors reported.
Who gave
Contributor names are not public for this form type.
Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.
Finances
Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.
| Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Net assets | Contributions | Program revenue | Officer pay | Employees | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $0 | $36,990 | $946 | $946 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2016 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $25,000 | - | $87,932 | $87,932 | $25,000 | - | - | - | - |
| 2015 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $1,000 | $3,157 | $62,932 | $62,932 | $1,000 | - | - | - | - |
| 2014 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $200 | - | $65,089 | $65,089 | $200 | - | - | - | - |
| 2013 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $0 | $0 | $72,809 | $64,889 | $0 | - | - | - | - |
| 2012 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $300 | $0 | $61,889 | $61,889 | $300 | - | - | - | - |
| 2011 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $500 | $0 | $61,589 | $61,589 | $500 | - | - | - | - |
| 2010 · Form 990EZ | ||||||||
| $162 | $0 | $61,089 | $61,089 | - | - | - | - | - |
Connected to
Organizations that list some of the same people on their returns (officers, directors, key employees on this organization’s latest return), and related organizations it lists on Schedule R.
- THE OPERA COMPANY INC El Paso, TX · 4 people in common (Jennifer Cedillo, Michael White, Ricardo Fernandez)
Funders of this organization
1 grantor reported grants to this organization, $10,000 in all, tax years 2018 to 2019. Exact: the grantor wrote this organization's EIN. Fuzzy: the grantor wrote only a name (foundations' 990-PF has no EIN field), matched to the same or a near-identical name in the same state; the name as filed is shown. From the latest return for each grantor and year, so amended returns aren't counted twice. CSV
| Grantor | Type | Match | Years given | Grants | Total | Latest year | Latest year's amount | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SANDERS FOUNDATION | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “EL PASO OPERA FOUNDATION” | 2018-2019 | 2 | $10,000 | 2019 | $5,000 | show |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMPOWER DALLAS FOUNDATION INC | TX | T11 | $0 | $297,118 | PRESIDENT | $532,125 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
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| OBMI FOUNDATION | TX | T11 | $0 | $0 | Secretary | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state, similar name |
| SMITH COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION | TX | T11 | $4 | $175 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| NECOMITT FOUNDATION | TX | T11 | $4,325 | $4,325 | PRISIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| JASON ALEX DAVIS II FOUNDATION | TX | T11 | $2,512 | $4,317 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| ZETA ETA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | TX | T11 | $22,718 | $61,327 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| NORTHAVEN CAMPUS FACILITIES CORPORATION | TX | T11 | $6,054 | $394,628 | BOARD MEMBER | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| MARY HANLEY FOUNDATION TRUST | TX | T11 | $19,056 | $12,298 | TRUSTEE | $3,732 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| FRENCH VAUGHAN FAMILY FOUNDATION | TX | T11 | $22,436 | $30,035 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| RSF ENDOWMENT | TX | T11 | $0 | $264 | BOARD MEMBER/SECRETARY (PART YEAR) | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| ROMAN & SONIA LUBETZKY FOUNDATION | TX | T11 | $21,189 | $21,692 | PRES./SEC. | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| NANCY KAYE MANN MEMORIAL FUND | TX | T11 | $13,287 | $3,620 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| WEST TEXAS HERITAGE HOLDINGS INC | TX | T11 | $121 | $1,825 | Executive Vice President | $475,435 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| GODS TIME HELPING HAND FOUNDATION INC | TX | T11 | $0 | $0 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| CHARITABLE HOLDINGS II | TX | T11 | $4,700 | $5,632 | ASST SECRETARY | $358,570 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| SHAMROCK SMOKRZ | TX | T11 | $1,700 | $1,132 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| KYLE L & KAREN G FULTON IRRV CHARITABLE TRUST | TX | T11 | $1,507 | $595 | TRUSTEE | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| SPOKES FOR FOLKS | TX | T11 | $2,336 | $987 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| ARTHUR D & MARVIS S ROLLAND TR FBO WORTHINGTON COUNCIL ON AGING | TX | T11 | $22,123 | $17,799 | TRUSTEE | $3,449 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| PALESTINE LIBRARY MEMORIAL | TX | T11 | $19,248 | $15,624 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| ARTHUR D & MARVIS S ROLLAND TR FBO WORTHINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT | TX | T11 | $21,755 | $15,144 | TRUSTEE | $3,163 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| MFVEJLANI FAMILY CHARITY | TX | T11 | $6,000 | $16,506 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| RURAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE COLLABORATIVE | TX | T11 | $0 | $205 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
| JUDY LEFTWICH CALDER CHARITABLE TRUST | TX | T11 | $14,715 | $18,023 | TRUSTEE | $0 | Same NTEE code T11, same state |
Who funds organizations like this
Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).
The full list · all similar organizations
Where the money went
Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.
2018 · Form 990EZ · $36,990 spent · pay $0 · grants $36,990 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grants and similar amounts paid | $36,990 | 100.0% | |
| Total | $36,990 | 100% |
2015 · Form 990EZ · $3,157 spent · pay $0 · grants $0 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees to independent contractors | $3,157 | 100.0% | |
| Total | $3,157 | 100% |