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Jazz Arts Group of Columbus

EIN 31-0852944 · Columbus, OH

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE THE AWARENESS OF JAZZ MUSIC THROUGH ITS OWN PROFESSIONAL JAZZ REPERTORY ORCHESTRA.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
55%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
43
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$155,465, chief exec.

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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    55% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $864,171 spent. PERFORMANCE SERIES: THE COLUMBUS JAZZ ORCHESTRA (CJO) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1973 AND PRESENTS TWO SUBSCRIPTION SERIES FOR 900 SEASON SUBSCRIBERS AT THE SOUTHERN THEATRE AND LINCOLN THEATRE. THE CJO IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S FINEST JAZZ ORCHESTRAS AND IS CONDUCTED BY BYRON STRIPLING. OUR "JAZZ AT THE LINCOLN" SERIES IS PRESENTED AT THE LINCOLN THEATRE IN THE KING LINCOLN DISTRICT OF COLUMBUS AND PROMOTES SMALLER ENSEMBLES TO DEVELOP NEW AUDIENCES FOR MORE MODERN MUSIC.
  2. $299,374 spent. EDUCATION -- JAZZ ACADEMY (JAZZ IN THE COMMUNITY, JAZZ IN THE SCHOOLS): THE JAZZ ACADEMY CONSISTS OF TWO CATEGORIES, COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS AND SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS, BOTH PROGRAM CATEGORIES ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE CHILDREN TO SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE ART OF JAZZ. LIVE PERFORMANCES ARE CONDUCTED IN CENTRAL OHIO SCHOOLS AND INSTRUCTIONAL SESSIONS ARE CONDUCTED AT MUSIC STUDIOS OPERATED BY JAG. JAZZ ACADEMY PROGRAMS TARGET ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED YOUTH WITH IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. JAZZ ACADEMY PROGRAMS ARE ALSO DESIGNED TO PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL DEVEOPMENT OF PUBLIC AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOL TEACHERS TO ENHANCE THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL SKILLS.
  3. AFFILIATE MUSICIANS/OUTREACH: PART OF THE PURPOSE OF THE JAZZ ARTS GROUP (JAG) IS TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CORE OF COLUMBUS'S JAZZ MUSICIANS. AFFILIATE MUSICIANS LINK PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS WITH CONSUMERS FOR LIVE MUSIC. THE COLUMBUS JAZZ ORCHESTRA AND OTHER ENSEMBLES ALSO PRESENT PROGRAMS IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND REGION THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

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

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1974.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 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.