Backcountry Concerts Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BACKCOUNTRY JAZZ (BCJAZZ) PRESENTS CONCERTS WITH CELEBRATED JAZZ ARTISTS AND RISING STARS AND EDUCATES AND INSPIRES YOUTH THROUGH MUSIC. BCJAZZ PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY MUSIC PROGRAMS FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH THAT ENGAGE THE CREATIVE SPIRIT, ENCOURAGE SELF EXPRESSION AND STIMULATE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. THROUGH THE PRESENTATION OF OUTSTANDING CONCERTS, MUSIC EDUCATION AND A SUMMER MUSIC CAMP, BACKCOUNTRY JAZZ CELEBRATES, PRESERVES AND EXPANDS THE RICH TRADITION OF AMERICA'S ART FORM, JAZZ.
- Income
- $386,745
- Spending
- $378,450
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $53,600, artistic direct
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
- $185,170 spent. PERFORMANCE PRESENTATIONS, PUBLIC SCHOOL YOUTH CONCERTS, IN-SCHOOL CONCERTS: BACKCOUNTRY JAZZ (BCJAZZ) CREATES AND PRESENTS CONCERTS FOR STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC WITH SOME OF THE FINEST ARTISTS IN JAZZ TODAY. THESE CONCERTS INSTILL ENTHUSIASM AND BUILD A WIDER AUDIENCE FOR THE UNIQUELY AMERICAN ART FORM OF JAZZ. THIS YEAR, IN-SCHOOL CONCERTS WERE PRESENTED TO OVER 1,500 BRIDGEPORT PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. FOCUSED ON THE HISTORY, INSTRUMENTATION, AND THE JOY OF LISTENING TO JAZZ MUSIC, IN-SCHOOL CONCERTS ARE PRESENTED IN A LECTURE DEMONSTRATION STYLE AND ARE OFFERED AS AN INTRODUCTION TO IMPROVISED MUSIC. BCJAZZ PRESENTED THE ANNUAL GREENWICH JAZZ FESTIVAL, A FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES. THE SEASON FEATURED EXTRAORDINARY JAZZ ARTISTS, FROM WORLD-RENOWNED TO YOUNG RISING STARS. NINE CONCERTS FOR A SEASON LONG CELEBRATION OF JAZZ AND COMMUNITY WITH OVER 3,300 ATTENDEES.
- $79,410 spent. BACKCOUNTRY JAZZ SUMMER MUSIC CAMP: BCJAZZ'S SUMMER MUSIC CAMP PROVIDES STUDENTS, AGES 10-20, WITH HIGH QUALITY MUSIC INSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES. PROVIDED AT NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS, CAMP IS OPEN TO STUDENTS FROM BRIDGEPORT AND SURROUNDING AREA SCHOOLS. DUE TO ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, THESE STUDENTS TRADITIONALLY HAVE LIMITED EXPOSURE TO MUSIC ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. INSTRUCTED BY OUR FACULTY OF JAZZ MASTERS, MUSIC PROFESSIONALS AND UNIVERSITY MUSIC PROFESSORS, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A UNIQUE JAZZ IMMERSION EXPERIENCE. INSTRUMENTAL (BRASS, WOODWIND, STRING, PIANO, PERCUSSION ) AND VOCAL STUDENTS RECEIVE INSTRUCTION TO DEVELOP KEY SKILLS AND ENHANCE KNOWLEDGE IN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC, EMPHASIZING LISTENING SKILLS, IMPROVISATION, AND THE ART OF PERFORMANCE. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, MASTERCLASSES, SMALL GROUP ENSEMBLES, JAM SESSIONS, AND INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION. FACULTY ARE SELECTED FOR THEIR LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE AND PROVIDE INSTRUCTION, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND MENTORSHIP THROUGHOUT CAMP. WORKING WITH THESE FINE ARTISTS IS AN INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE THAT IS OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE. STUDENTS BUILD CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE AND DEVELOP IMPORTANT SKILLS FOR COLLEGE, CAREER, AND LIFE SUCCESS. SUMMER MUSIC CAMP RAN FOR FOUR WEEKS IN JULY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK, 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM.
- $42,650 spent. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, INSTRUMENT PROGRAM: PROVIDES PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHO POSSESS A DESIRE TO LEARN AND A PASSION FOR MUSIC, SUSTAINED COMPREHENSIVE JAZZ TRAINING. INSTRUCTION COVERS ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS AND FOCUSES ON HELPING EACH STUDENT IMPROVE THEIR INSTRUMENTAL SKILLS. STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH ENSEMBLE WORKSHOPS AND INDIVIDUAL LESSONS, WEEKLY, DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR. FOR ADVANCED STUDENTS, PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES ARE OFFERED THROUGH OUR ADVANCED PERFORMING ENSEMBLE. STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS IN JAZZ, AS WELL AS INTERACT WITH TEACHERS, PERFORMING ARTISTS, AND PEERS. THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM ENHANCES THE TRAINING OF OUR MOST MOTIVATED STUDENTS WITH PROMINENT WORKING PROFESSIONALS TO ENSURE CONTINUED CREATIVE INPUT AND MUSICAL GROWTH. THE PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS DUE TO THEIR LIMITED FINANCIAL MEANS. STUDENTS WHO DEMONSTRATE TALENT AND COMMITMENT ARE AWARDED FREE INSTRUMENTS. BCJAZZ AIDS WITH INSTRUMENT SUPPLIES, MAINTENANCE COSTS, AND MORE TO ENSURE STUDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.
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 July 2007.
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.
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