Preservation Hall Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PRESERVATION HALL FOUNDATION PROTECTS, PRESERVES, AND PERPETUATES NEW ORLEANS MUSIC THROUGH ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING MUSICIANS; PROVIDING SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO ELDER MEMBERS OF OUR COLLECTIVE; CONSERVING AND SHARING JAZZ MUSIC ARCHIVES AND SPACES; PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC; AND GRANTMAKING TO RECOGNIZE MERIT AND/OR ALLEVIATE NEED.
- Income
- $3.3 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 54%
- Reserves
- -5.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 42
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $155,436, development director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 5% 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
5 of 20It owes 51% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1554% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 11 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
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 December 31, 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)
- $594,048 spent. EDUCATION: PRIMARY ACTIVITY OF FOUNDATION IS DEVELOPING AND PRODUCING EDUCATON ACTIVITIES AND CONTENT FOCUSED ON TRADITIONAL NEW ORLEANS JAZZ. THE TWO MAIN EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE KIDS IN THE HALL, A LIVE FIELD TRIP EXPERIENCE, AND PRES HALL LESSONS, OUR FREE ONLINE RESOURCE WITH ORIGINAL LESSON PLANS FOR K-12 TEACHERS.
- $252,261 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: EXTENDS TRADITIONAL JAZZ MUSIC AND CULTURE OUTSIDE OF NEW ORLEANS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FREE PERFORMANCES AT SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES AND OTHER PUBLIC SPACES AS WELL AS LECTURES AND MASTER CLASSES IN ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SETTINGS. THE LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE LARGER BODY OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE THAT PROTECTS THE TRANSMISSION OF LOCAL CULTURAL TRADITIONS WORLDWIDE.
- $497,528 spent. LEGACY: PROGRAM TO SUPPORT ELDER MUSICIANS (60 YEARS AND OLDER) THAT ARE REGULAR PERFORMERS AND EDUCATORS AT PRESERVATION HALL. DURING COVID AND AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE IDA, THE LEGACY PROGRAM EXPANDED TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANTS AND OTHER SUPPORT TO NEARLY 100 INDIVIDUALS, TRADITIONAL BANDS, AND ORGANIZATIONS.
- $358,019 spent. ARCHIVES: THE FOUNDATION MAINTAINS AND BUILDS A LIVING ARCHIVE AND COLLECTION THAT DOCUMENTS THE STORY OF THE PRESERVATION HALL VENUE, COMMUNITY AND LIVES OF ITS MUSICIANS. A LARGE PART OF THE ARCHIVES PROGRAM IS TO CREATE NEW DIGITAL CONTENT IN THE FORM OF VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDINGS TO CAPTURE THE VIBRANT PRESENT ERA OF THE INSTITUTION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 2021.
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.