Washington National Opera

“Prior to providing the form 990 (return) to members of the wno board of trustees for their review and consideration, a detailed review was performed by the wno's general director and chief financial officer and the john f. Kennedy center for the performing arts' (kennedy center) controller. After the return was finalized, management provided it to each trustee via email/website prior to filing the return with the irs. Questions, if any, were directed to and addressed by the kennedy center's controller. Responses to notable questions were provided to all wno trustees for their information and communicated to the kennedy center's audit committee.”

“The conflict of interest policy (policy) applies to all members of the board of trustees (non-trustee officers are employees of the kennedy center and subject to that organization's conflict of interest policy). The policy covers transactions between the wno and (a) members of the board of trustees, (b) their family members and/or (c) an affiliated entity. To assist the wno in identifying the transactions where there may be an actual or perceived conflict of interest, each trustee shall complete and sign an annual conflict of interest declaration (declaration) and shall, as necessary, update the declaration to reflect any changes during the course of the year. Declarations completed by trustees are reviewed by the kennedy center's general counsel's office. When a trustee becomes aware of the conflict, he or she has the duty to immediately disclose the existence and circumstances of the conflict to the chair of the board of trustees (if a conflict were to involve the chair of the board of trustees, the existence and circumstances of the conflict would be disclosed to the treasurer). The affected individual must (a) refrain from using his or her personal influence to encourage the wno to enter into/not enter into the transaction, and (b) physically excuse himself or herself from participation in any discussions regarding the transaction, except to respond to requests for information. If a conflict is disclosed in a declaration or to the chair of the board of trustees, it will be reviewed by the wno's executive committee. During the executive committee's review, it will consider whether, absent the participation of the affected trustee, any proposed conflict is fair and reasonable to the wno. The executive committee will maintain such documentation as may be necessary and appropriate to document the review of the conflict and will report to the board of trustees on conflicts (whether approved or not). The executive committee may seek advice from the kennedy center's general counsel's office or from outside advisors. Such advice will generally be in connection with either the review of any conflict or with the administration of the policy.”

“The wno has no employees of its own. The salaries of the non-trustee officers, who are employees of the kennedy center, are determined under policies disclosed on the kennedy center's form 990.”

“The organization's governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are not available to the public.”

“The washington national opera (wno) keeps its books and computes its income on the basis of a 52-53 week tax year. The 52-53 week year always ends on a sunday and always on the sunday nearest to the last calendar day in september. The tax year reported herein represents the period september 28, 2020 to october 3, 2021, a 53-week year. The internal revenue service (irs) cannot accept a 52-53 week election for an exempt organization. Accordingly, and to ensure that the irs would accept wno's return, wno changed the dates of its reporting period from the aforementioned dates to the period october 1, 2020 to september 30, 2021.”

“The wno does not have a committee that assumes responsibility for oversight of the audit of its financial statements or selection of an independent accountant. The wno's financial statements are issued on a consolidated basis with the kennedy center. The kennedy center has a committee that assumes oversight of the audit of the consolidated financial statements and assumes responsibility for selection of an independent accountant.”

“The wno was not required to undergo an audit per the single audit act and the uniform guidance due to the level of federal funding it received. However, as the wno is audited on a consolidated basis with related organizations that were required to undergo such an audit, it was audited under the single audit act and the uniform guidance.”