International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ISJAC PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT AND ADVANCE THE WORK OF JAZZ COMPOSERS AND ARRANGERS. OUR BIANNUAL FLAGSHIP JAZZ COMPOSERS SYMPOSIUM CONVENES MORE THAN 200 PARTICIPANTS FOR CONCERTS, PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING AT ROTATING HOST INSTITUTIONS. LAUNCHPAD, OFFERED FREE TO MEMBERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 480 ARTS IN ST. PAUL, MN, GIVES COMPOSERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR WORKS PROFESSIONALLY READ AND RECORDED BY A RESIDENT JAZZ ORCHESTRA. OUR PRIZE AND COMMISSION PROGRAM AWARDS BETWEEN $10,000 AND $20,000 ANNUALLY THROUGH TWO MAJOR COMMISSIONS AND FIVE COMPETITIVE PRIZES, ATTRACTING UP TO 150 APPLICANTS EACH CYCLE.
- Income
- $81,601
- Spending
- $116,190
- Reserves
- 3.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 36%
- Highest pay
- $7,430, managing director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending March 31, 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)
- THE ISJAC JAZZ COMPOSERS SYMPOSIUM, AN IMMERSIVE, THREE-DAY IN-PERSON CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING JAZZ ARRANGERS AND COMPOSERS WORLDWIDE, IS THE ORGANIZATION'S FLAGSHIP PROGRAM. PRODUCED BY ISJAC IN COLLABORATION WITH A HOST INSTITUTION, MOST RECENTLY VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. THE SYMPOSIUM BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN 200 REGISTRANTS, INCLUDING OVER 125 COMPOSER/ARRANGERS WHO SHARE THEIR WORK THROUGH CONCERTS, PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS. THE EVENT ALSO FEATURES PUBLIC EVENING PERFORMANCES THAT DRAW ADDITIONAL AUDIENCES FROM THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. RENOWNED FOR ITS ENERGY AND FAMILIAL VIBE, THE SYMPOSIUM SERVES AS THE PREMIER GLOBAL GATHERING FOR JAZZ COMPOSERS AND ARRANGERS TO EXCHANGE IDEAS, BUILD COMMUNITY, AND ADVANCE THE EVOLUTION OF THE ART FORM.
- ISJAC'S LAUNCHPAD PROGRAM PROVIDES JAZZ COMPOSERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THEIR ORIGINAL WORKS PERFORMED AND RECORDED BY A PROFESSIONAL LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE. OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE TO ISJAC MEMBERS, THIS PROGRAM IS PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 480 ARTS IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, AND FEATURES THE ORGANIZATION'S RESIDENT JAZZ ORCHESTRA. LAUNCHPAD SESSIONS SERVE AS A VITAL BRIDGE BETWEEN THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND REAL-WORLD PERFORMANCE, OFFERING COMPOSERS VALUABLE FEEDBACK, HIGH-QUALITY DOCUMENTATION, AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. TO DATE, ISJAC AND 480 ARTS HAVE SUPPORTED 12 COMPOSERS THROUGH THESE READINGS, FOSTERING ARTISTIC GROWTH, COMMUNITY CONNECTION, AND THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF NEW JAZZ REPERTOIRE.
- ISJAC'S PRIZE AND COMMISSION PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF NEW WORKS AND RECOGNIZES EXCELLENCE IN JAZZ COMPOSITION AND ARRANGING. THE PROGRAM CURRENTLY INCLUDES TWO MAJOR COMMISSIONS, THE NEXT DECADE COMMISSION AND THE FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS COMMISSION WHICH ENABLE SELECTED COMPOSERS TO CREATE SUBSTANTIAL NEW WORKS FOR PREMIERE AT ISJAC EVENTS. IN ADDITION, ISJAC OFFERS FIVE COMPETITIVE PRIZE OPPORTUNITIES EACH CYCLE: THE OWEN PRIZE IN JAZZ COMPOSITION, THE ROBERT PRONK PRIZE IN JAZZ COMPOSITION, THE WAYNE SHORTER JAZZ ARRANGING PRIZE, THE PRIZE FOR EMERGING BLACK COMPOSERS, AND THE RULE BEASLEY PRIZE IN JAZZ LEADSHEET WRITING. THESE AWARDS COLLECTIVELY DISTRIBUTE BETWEEN $10,000 AND $20,000 ANNUALLY AND ATTRACT SIGNIFICANT INTEREST FROM THE GLOBAL JAZZ COMMUNITY, WITH 100150 APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED EACH CYCLE.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending March 31, 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 November 6, 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 March 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 February 2016.
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 November 4, 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.