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Jazz Hands for Autism

EIN 47-1719982 · Culver City, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

JAZZ HANDS FOR AUTISM (JHFA) IS AN INNOVATIVE AND AWARD WINNING SECTION 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT TALENT ADVOCACY GROUP THAT CREATES PATHWAYS FROM EXPRESSION TO EMPLOYMENT FOR MUSICIANS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. WE LEVERAGE MUSIC EDUCATION, MUSIC BASED-VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND (SEE SCH O)

Income
$906,098
Spending
$949,586
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
24
Highest pay
$69,396, founder executive director

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: 40 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 73 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

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

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
  1. $557,860 spent. FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS, JAZZ HANDS FOR AUTISM HAS PREPARED HUNDREDS OF NEURODIVERGENT MUSICIANS FOR ACADEMIC AND CAREER SUCCESS, EVOLVING ITS PROGRAMS BASED ON RICH IN-CLASS AND COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES WITH YOUTH AND ADULTS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. PROGRAMS LIKE THE JAZZ HANDS MUSICIANS ACADEMY AND JUNIOR ACADEMY PRIORITIZE MUSICIANSHIP, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, IMPACTING OVER 200 EMERGING AND ASPIRING MUSICIANS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. THROUGH THE JAZZ HANDS JOBS PROGRAM AND THE JAZZ HANDS MUSIC PLACE LIBRARY, OVER 200 WORK OPPORTUNITIES HAVE BEEN FACILITATED, GENERATING OVER $50,000 IN EARNINGS FOR NEURODIVERGENT MUSICIANS IN SYNC LICENSING AND PERFORMANCES, AND EMPOWERING ARTISTS TO MONETIZE THEIR ORIGINAL WORKS. FINALLY, THE JAZZ HANDS CONCERT SERIES HAS REACHED OVER 22,000 VIEWERS ON YOUTUBE ANS 234,000 IMPRESSIONS, SUPPORTING A GROWING COMMUNITY OF MORE THAN 4,500 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS AND DRAWING GLOBAL INTEREST SPANNING SIX CONTINENTS.

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 June 2015.

    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.