The Opera Foundation was originally launched in 1986 as the American Berlin Opera Foundation. Its purpose is to support young American opera singers abroad via scholarships and study grants. The first scholarship program was established in 1986 with the Deutsche Oper Berlin, thanks to the late Professor Götz Friedrich. In 2008, a second scholarship program was established with Teatro Regio Torino, thanks to Maestro Gianandrea Noseda. The Foundation has awarded more than 35 scholarships since inception, including study grants for voice coaching and linguistic purposes.

The idea to establish a scholarship program was the brainchild of Professor Götz Friedrich, the legendary "Intendant" and creative force behind the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Professor Friedrich, along with his American-born wife, the soprano, Karan Armstrong, together with an enthusiastic group of New York-based supporters, envisioned this program for young American singers as a cross-cultural bridge between the United States and Germany.

For the past 20 years, the Foundation's supporters have expanded to include individuals and corporations from all over the world, drawing from the rich cultural and corporate diversity of New York City and its environment. In 2006, the Foundation changed its name to The Opera Foundation, in recognition of its more diverse contributor base and expanding scholarship activities throughout the world.

It is the Opera Foundation’s goal to continue expanding its scholarship activities where it believes it can make a difference in the development of young opera talent.