The National Jazz Museum in Harlem
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL JAZZ MUSEUM IN HARLEM IS TO PRESERVE, PROMOTE, AND PRESENT JAZZ BY INSPIRING KNOWLEDGE, APPRECIATION, AND THE CELEBRATION OF JAZZ LOCALLY, NATIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 52%
- Reserves
- -2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $91,356, interim exec director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 111% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1552% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $610,469 spent. OUR MAIN PUBLIC PROGRAMS ARE: JAZZ FOR CURIOUS LISTENERS, HARLEM SPEAKS, AND OUR LIVE MUSIC SERIES. HARLEM SPEAKS IS THE MUSEUM'S ORAL HISTORY INITIATIVE THAT CONSISTS OF AN INTERVIEW SERIES WITH MUSICIANS, AUTHORS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO REFELECT ON HARLEM'S RICH HISTORY OF JAZZ. IT IS PRESENTED 46 TIMES A YEAR AND IS FREE TO THE AUDIENCE. JAZZ FOR CURIOUS LISTENERS IS A WEEKLY EVENING PROGRAM THAT TAKES AN INDEPTH LOOK AT JAZZ THROUGH CONVERSATIONS, LECTURE-DEMONSTRATIONS, INTERVIEWS, AND LIVE MUSIC. OUR LIVE MUSIC PROGRAMMING LINCLUDES OUR DUKE'S KEYS PIANO SERIES WHERE PIANISTS PERFORM ON DUKE ELLINGTON'S PIANO, NEW SOUNDS WHICH FEATURES NEW AND EMERGING ARTISTS, WEEKEND JAM SESSIONS, INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY CONCERT, HAVANA HARLEM CULTURAL EXCHANGE CONCERT AND OTHER EXHIBITION THEMED CONCERTS. "BORN IN HARLEM" IS THE CORE EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR TEENS AND ADULTS THAT LOOKS AT THE MUSICAL AND CULTRAL INNOVATIONS CREATED IN HARLEM DURING THE FRIST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY. "OOM BOP SH'BAM" IS AN INTRODUCTION TO JAZZ FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES K-7. SPECIALIZED WORKSHOPS CONNECT WITH GRADE SPECIFIC CURRICULA INCLUDING "CHANGES IN SOCIETY" WHICH LOOKS AT POST WWI AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE "JAZZ AMBASSADORS" WHICH LOOKS AT THE COLD WAR AND THE ROLE OF JAZZ AS A PROPAGANDA TOOL DURING THE TURBULENTS CIVIL RIGHT ERA AND "JAZZ HANDS" A PROGRAM DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR VISITORS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND/OR LEARNING DISABILITIES. THE MUSEUM'S EXHITBITS PROVIDE VISITORS WITH AN INDEPTH LOOK AT HARLEM, A CULTURAL EPICENTER OF JAZZ AND AFRICAN AMERICAN ART AND CULTURE. EXHIBITS DRAW FROM THE MUSUM'S UNIQUE COLLECTIONS TO SHOWCASE ARTIFACTS, IMAGES AND MULTIMEDIA THECHNOLOGY THAT ENABLE VISITORS TO EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATION OF JAZZ AND THE HARLEM COMMUNITY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1996.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.