San Francisco, CA

POCKET OPERA INC

EIN 94-2418029

Arts, Culture & Heritage Performing Arts

Mission

Pocket Opera shares the beauty, artistry, and scope of the operatic repertoire sung in English, through performance, outreach, and education.

IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity Contributions are tax-deductible

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About POCKET OPERA INC

Pocket Opera is a Bay Area chamber opera company founded in the 1970s that presents operatic works in singable English translations with minimal props and chamber orchestration, making opera accessible and audience-friendly. ([pocketopera.org](https://pocketopera.org/about/?utm_source=openai))

The company was established and led for decades by founder Donald Pippin, whose translations and artistic leadership built a repertoire of more than 90 libretti; leadership has transitioned to a new general director who is expanding the company’s season and projects while preserving Pippin’s legacy. ([pocketopera.org](https://pocketopera.org/donald-pippin-founder/?utm_source=openai))

Pocket Opera is an active, donor-facing 501(c)(3) based in San Francisco (EIN 94-2418029) with an ongoing season of staged productions and special projects (including a recent NEA- and Opera America–supported production project), regular box-office activity at multiple Bay Area venues, and current-year financial activity reported on recent Form 990 filings. ([pocketopera.org](https://pocketopera.org/donate/?utm_source=openai))

Notable achievements

A Pocket Magic Flute (NEA-supported project)

Developed a high-profile English-language production/film project of Mozart’s The Magic Flute using Pocket Opera’s own Donald Pippin translation; the project received support from the National Endowment for the Arts and Opera America and proceeded into production/filming in the 2024–2025 cycle. ([pocketopera.org](https://pocketopera.org/?utm_source=openai))

Extensive Translation Library

Built a repertory of 80–90+ singable English translations of operatic libretti that have been adopted or used by other U.S. institutions and educational programs, extending Pocket Opera’s artistic influence beyond its own productions. ([pocketopera.org](https://pocketopera.org/about/?utm_source=openai))

Active Recent Season Production

Produced multiple fully staged chamber productions across several Bay Area venues (four staged productions at three venues in the 2023–2024 season) while maintaining community outreach and ticketed season offerings. ([guidestar.org](https://www.guidestar.org/profile/94-2418029?utm_source=openai))

At a glance

Total assets: $176K
Annual revenue: $455K
Tax status: 501(c)(3)Public charity
EIN: 94-2418029
Location: San Francisco, CA
Website: pocketopera.org
On Mahalo since: April 2026

Financial figures from the IRS Business Master File, the IRS’s registry of tax-exempt organizations.

Recognition

Rated a Four-Star charity (90% score) by Charity Navigator for its performance, accountability, and transparency.

Recipient of project support from the National Endowment for the Arts and partnership support from Opera America for recent production work.

Voted 'Best Discovery' in the San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards (2019–2020) and regularly covered/recognized in local arts media for its unique English-language chamber-opera work.

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