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American Jazz Museum

EIN 73-1650922 · Kansas City, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO CELEBRATE AND EXHIBIT THE EXPERIENCE OF JAZZ AS AN ORIGINAL AMERICAN ART FORM THROUGH FOUR PILLARS OF RESEARCH, EXHIBITION, EDUCATION, AND PERFORMANCE AT ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST JAZZ CROSSROADS - 18TH & VINE IN KANSAS CITY, MO. AS THE ONLY MUSEUM IN THE WORLD SOLELY FOCUSED ON THE PRESERVATION, EXHIBITION, AND ADVANCEMENT OF JAZZ MUSIC, THE AMERICAN JAZZ MUSEUM IS DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE INFLUENCE, AWARENESS, AND APPRECIATION OF JAZZ AMONG THE WIDEST DEMOGRAPHIC OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE KANSAS CITY REGION, AS WELL AS AMONG THOSE BASED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS WORLDWIDE.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 47%
Employees
37
Volunteers
32
Highest pay
$165,000, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 April 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)
  1. $1.2 million spent. MUSEUM - THE AMERICAN JAZZ MUSEUM SERVES AS A REPOSITORY FOR PRICELESS, RARE, AND ONE-OF-A-KIND ARTIFACTS, DOCUMENTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS, FILM AND SOUND RECORDINGS, PUBLISHED BOOKS, SHEET MUSIC, AND VISUAL ART PIECES THAT INFORM OUR UNDERSTANDING OF JAZZ AS A HISTORICAL AND LIVING ART FORM. COMBINED WITH A MERCHANDISE SHOP AND SPECIAL EVENT OPPORTUNITIES, THE AMERICAN JAZZ MUSEUM IS NOT TO BE MISSED.
  2. $136,285 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH - JAZZ IS A CATALYST FOR CULTURAL CHANGE. FROM LEADING THE CREATION OF THE HARMONY ON THE VINE MURAL PROJECT TO HOSTING FILM SCREENINGS THAT CREATE A SPACE FOR DIALOGUE ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT US MOST, THE AMERICAN JAZZ MUSEUM EMBRACES A UNIQUE ROLL IN THE TRADITION FIRST SHEPHERDED BY THE FIRST JAZZ MUSICIANS. EVENTS INCLUDE JAZZ STORYTELLING, MUSEUM TOURS, OUTREACH VISITS, ANDFIRST FRIDAY CELEBRATIONS.
  3. $116,000 spent. BLUE ROOM - NAMED AFTER THE FAMED 1930'S STREET HOTEL CLUB IN THE HISTORIC 18TH & VINE JAZZ DISTRICT, THE BLUE ROOM SIMULTANEOUSLY HONORS THE PAST AND SHOWCASES THE PRESENT NAMES IN JAZZ. A MULTIFACETED EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTING THE COUNTLESS MUSICIANS WHO CRAFTED "KANSAS CITY JAZZ", A SOUND KNOWN ALL OVER THE WORLD, THE BLUE ROOM ALSO PROVIDES A DISTINCTIVE PLATFORM TO PRESENT DYNAMIC PERFORMANCES FROM THE BEST LOCAL AND NATIONAL JAZZ TALENT IN AN INTIMATE SETTING. AS THE ONLY MUSEUM
  4. $95,216 spent. JAZZ ACADEMY - THE AMERICAN JAZZ MUSEUM IS PROUD TO PRESENT ONE OF KANSAS CITY'S PREMIER YOUTH JAZZ EDUCATION PROGRAMS, TAUGHT BY A FACULTY OF ESTEEMED JAZZ MUSICIANS AND JAZZ EDUCATORS. THE JAZZ ACADEMY OFFERS ENSEMBLE INSTRUCTION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND A SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR EARLY ELEMENTARY AND PRESCHOOLERS. WHETHER YOUR CHILD ALREADY PLAYS AN INSTRUMENT, WOULD LIKE TO LEARN AN INSTRUMENT, OR IS INTERESTED IN SINGING--THERE'S A PLACE FOR THEM AT THE JAZZ ACADEMY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending April 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.