Jazz Empowers
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 58 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The mission of Jazz Empowers is to transform the lives of youth in underserved schools through jazz education.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 95%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $72,500, executive dir.
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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 68% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 58 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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 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)
- $889,883 spent. Our Charter School Residency Program introduces and operates jazz programs in Title 1 schools with no established instrumental music program. Unfortunately, 61% of all middle and high school public charter schools in the United States do not have such a program. The schools we serve have the desire and need to start a band program for their students, but can't afford the $100,000 typically needed to do so. Jazz Empowers allows schools to overcome these barriers, reducing costs to a more manageable programming fee, and handling all operations of the jazz program. This includes supplying high-quality instructors, instruments, and curriculum resources. The jazz bands we start at these schools meet 2-5 times per week during the school year, and work towards performances at school concerts, assemblies, festivals, and even competitions. For the 24-25 school year, Jazz Empowers operated jazz programs at 28 underserved charter schools. As part of the program Jazz Empowers ran rehearsals 2-5 times a week for the entire school year at each school and provided free instruments for all students in the program. This program served 775 students in total and Jazz Empowers increased the number of schools in the program by 28% from the 23-24 school year. For the 24-25 school year, 75% of students in this program believed that playing in a jazz band has made them a better overall student and 75% of students in this program enjoyed school more because they were in a jazz band. The graduation rate of high school seniors in the program was 100%.
- $34,692 spent. While the Charter School Residency Program targets schools without a jazz program, our Band Director Support Program partners with band directors at underserved schools with existing jazz programs. Jazz Empowers provides these programs with financial support for instruments, sheet music, and other crucial resources to bolster their program. Numerous schools served through this program have competed and won awards at prestigious high school music festivals and competitions.For the 24-25 school year, Jazz Empowers supported band directors with jazz programs at 12 underserved schools serving 300 students. In this program Jazz Empowers used funds to buy instruments, sheet music and other crucial resources for Title 1 jazz programs. Jazz Empowers also supported the school band directors with professional development and administrative tasks.
- $25,680 spent. Our Jazz Band Director Cohort provides free and on-demand resources to band directors across the country. Any band director can get access to monthly live professional development sessions on Zoom, and valuable jazz education tools they can use in their bandroom to teach jazz more effectively and bring their program to the next level.For the 24-25 school year, Jazz Empowers provided online resources and professional development to 250 band directors at underserved schools across the country. These schools served a combined 5,125 students. Jazz Empowers created monthly training sessions for these instructors, and uploaded valuable resources to a free membership website for cohort members.
- $11,674 spent. The Jazz Empowers student advisory council is a highly selective committee of dedicated jazz students from across the country. During the 24-25 school year, the council met on a monthly basis to build community with other jazz students, become better musicians, and provide feedback on how jazz is taught in schools. 8 students participated in the student council. Students in the council received a $500 stipend used to further their education.
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 December 2014.
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.