The Center Square Foundation has released findings on Los Angeles Opera as part of an ongoing investigation into nonprofit organisations’ use of government funding.

The foundation is reportedly reviewing publicly available Internal Revenue Service filings and audited financial statements to examine whether nonprofits are serving legitimate needs or wasting and misusing taxpayer funds.

The investigation found that LA Opera received $27 million in government grants over the past decade. Its most recently published audited financial statements show that the nonprofit received $2.45 million in public funding during that fiscal year. Meanwhile, LA Opera paid its executives approximately $33 million over the past decade. The investigation also found that another executive received more than $7 million through contracts between LA Opera and a production company he owns, while also receiving housing benefits for personal use and first-class travel.

IRS filings show that Christopher Koelsch, LA Opera’s president and chief executive, received $974,878 in compensation and $26,200 in “other compensation” in the fiscal year ended June 2025, bringing his total reported compensation to just over $1 million. In the preceding fiscal year, Koelsch received more than $1.2 million. LA Opera reported total executive compensation of $3.7 million for that earlier fiscal year and $3 million for the following year.

Tax records also show that John Nuckols, executive vice president and chief strategy officer, received nearly $511,000; Rupert Hemmings, vice president of artistic planning, received more than $353,000; and vice president Diane Rhodes Bergman received nearly $315,000.

LA Opera’s tax filings also disclose that the organisation provided music director James Conlon with first-class travel and a housing allowance or residence for personal use. Although the filings list his direct compensation from the nonprofit as $0, he received approximately $7,283,697 over the past decade through contracts between LA Opera and a music production company. Records also show that director Plácido Domingo continued to receive first-class travel through the 2019 tax year.

The Center Square Foundation said it repeatedly contacted LA Opera’s public relations director, Marlene Meraz, seeking comment on the nonprofit’s receipt of government funding and its substantial compensation packages, but received no response.