Jazz at Lincoln Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER, INC. IS TO ENTERTAIN, ENRICH AND EXPAND A GLOBAL COMMUNITY FOR JAZZ THROUGH PERFORMANCE, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY. JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER, FOSTERS APPRECIATION OF JAZZ AS AN ART FORM, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)... AND OF DRAMA, DANCE, FILM AND OTHER MUSICAL AND PERFORMING ARTS THROUGH LIVE CONCERTS, PERFORMANCES, SHOWS, LECTURES, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND COLLABORATIONS.
- Income
- $41.5 million
- Spending
- $53.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 52%
- Employees
- 534
- Volunteers
- 39
- Highest pay
- $2.7 million, managing & artistic 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2545 of 46 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
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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 (4)
- $14.5 million spent. PERFORMANCE PRESENTATIONS:THE 2024-2025 SEASON FEATURED PERFORMANCES OF THE JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS, OTHER ENSEMBLES AND GUEST ARTISTS AT FREDERICK P. ROSE HALL, HOME OF JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER, INC. AS WELL AS ON TOUR NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
- $7.0 million spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: EDUCATION PROGRAMMING INCLUDES AN ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL BAND COMPETITION AND FESTIVAL, A JAZZ APPRECIATION CURRICULUM FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, STUDENT AND FAMILY CONCERTS, A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND AN INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ ACADEMY, SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS, STUDENT AND EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ADULT EDUCATION COURSES, AND OTHER MUSIC EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES.
- $18.4 million spent. FACILITY OPERATIONS: JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER, INC. OPERATES FREDERICK P. ROSE HALL, A PERFORMANCE, EDUCATION AND BROADCASTING FACILITY DEVOTED TO THE PERFORMING ARTS, INCLUDING A THEATER OF 1,200 SEATS, A CONCERT HALL OF 500 SEATS, AND A JAZZ CLUB OF 140 SEATS, REHEARSAL STUDIOS, CLASSROOMS AND BROADCAST FACILITIES.
- $2.8 million spent. MEDIA AND OTHER PROGRAMS: MEDIA AND OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING JAZZ CONGRESS, AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE DESIGNED TO BRING TOGETHER ARTISTS, MEDIA AND INDUSTRY LEADERS IN THE GLOBAL JAZZ COMMUNITY TO EXCHANGE IDEAS IN ORDER TO NURTURE AND GROW THE JAZZ COMMUNITY, BLUE ENGINE RECORDS WHICH PRODUCES AND DISTRIBUTES JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER'S RECORDINGS, AND "JAZZ LIVE!" A VIDEO STREAMING SERVICE RECORDING AND DISTRIBUTING VIDEOS OF JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER'S
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 October 13, 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 August 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 October 21, 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.