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California Jazz Conservatory Inc

EIN 43-1983168 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak13 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CALIFORNIA JAZZ CONSERVATORY IS AN INSTITUTIONALLY ACCREDITED MUSIC CONSERVATORY PROVIDING A DYNAMIC COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS, ARTISTS, EDUCATORS, SCHOLARS AND AUDIENCES WITH A FORUM TO STUDY, PERFORM, TEACH, RESEARCH, APPRECIATE AND ENJOY JAZZ AND RELATED STYLES OF MUSIC FROM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. COMPRISING TWO DISTINCT EDUCATION PROGRAMS - THE CALIFORNIA JAZZ CONSERVATORY, A POSTSECONDARY DEGREE-GRANTING PROGRAM, AND THE JAZZSCHOOL COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL, A NON-DEGREE-GRANTING COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAM - THE INSTITUTION HONORS THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF PAST MASTERS AND PROMOTES ARTISTIC INNOVATION, BRINGING TOGETHER A DIVERSE MUSIC COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP PRACTICAL SKILLS, ACQUIRE ARTISTIC SENSIBILITY, REALIZE CREATIVE POTENTIAL AND FIND ARTISTIC VOICE.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
-1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 55%
Employees
93
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$214,250, president (start 10/23/23)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 13 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 81% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 25

    12 of 13 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (2)
  1. $624,822 spent. CJC DEGREE PROGRAM - THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM WAS TO EARN A BACHELOR'S OR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE. THERE WERE 16 WEEKS PER SEMESTER, AND TWO SEMESTERS PER YEAR. 24 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM IN 2024.
  2. $1.6 million spent. JCMS PROGRAM - THE PURPOSE WAS TO FURTHER STUDENTS KNOWLEDGE & PERFORMANCE OF JAZZ. THIS WAS A 39-WEEK PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDED WEEKLY SESSIONS AND THREE WEEKS OF CAMPS. 1,100 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED.OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: CONCERTS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 January 2003.

    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.