Howard and Sarah D. Solomon Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Howard and Sarah D. Solomon Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to the performing arts, particularly opera.

IP TAKE: The foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities.

PROFILE: Established in 2008, the Howard and Sarah D. Solomon Foundation was founded by businessman Howard Solomon and his wife Sarah, who was once second in command at Met Opera. Howard was CEO and President of Forest Laboratories. The foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. According to tax filings, the Howard and Sarah D. Solomon Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to the performing arts, particularly opera.

Howard serves as an honorary director of the Metropolitan Opera, and as a member of the board of the New York City Ballet, where he once served as chairman and CEO. In addition, he is an emeritus of the board of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The couple have given tens of millions to Metropolitan Opera, where Sarah was assistant general manager for artistic affairs— second in command at Met Opera. Sarah worked as an opera administrator for more than four decades, getting her start at the San Francisco Opera. Meanwhile, she worked at Met Opera for 20 years.

Grants range from $4,825 to $120,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $1.3 million. Past grantees include Beth Morrison Projects, a producer of contemporary opera, music-theater and multimedia productions; Chanticleer, a full-time male classical vocal ensemble based in San Francisco; Richard Tucker Music Foundation; Carnegie Hall Society; Institute for Young Dramatic Voices; Philadelphia Orchestra; Santa Fe Opera; Vocal Arts; Canadian Opera Company; Opera Philadelphia; and Opera America.

The foundation keeps a low profile, making it tough to know exactly what the Solomon family looks for in its grantees; the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

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CONTACT:

Howard and Sarah D. Solomon Foundation
c/o 745 Fifth Avenue, No 1702
New York, NY 10151