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Jazz Houston

EIN 81-4016975 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceWeak27 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JAZZ HOUSTON PROMOTES THE CULTIVATION OF JAZZ MUSIC GLOBALLY THROUGH PERFORMANCE, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND HONORS THE HOUSTONIANS AND TEXANS WHO HAVE AND COUNTINUE TO BE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO JAZZ THROUGH THE CELEBRATION OF THEIR LEGACIES

Income
$481,055
Spending
$302,482
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
11.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$50,000, director

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 27 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 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 (3)
  1. $64,849 spent. ESSENTIALLY ELLINGTON FESTIVAL-PROVIDES HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BANKS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A FULL DAY OF CLINICS AND REHEARSALS (THE MUSIC OF DUKE ELLINGTON IS HIGHLIGHTED) ENDING WITH A FULL PERFORMANCE CONCERT.
  2. EDUCATIONAL CONCERTS - ORCHESTRA MEMBERS PERFORM AND PROVIDE LECTURE AND G&A AROUND JAZZ MUSIC RELATED TOPICS, ARTIST OR HISTORY. ADULT BIG BAND ORCHESTRA OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS' PREMIER MUSICIANS PERFORMS LARGE FORMAT CONCERTS. SMALL GROUP PERFORMANCES ARE ALSO SCHEDULED AS NEEDED. SELECT OUTSIDE GROUPS ARE PRESENTED UNDER OUR SUPERVISION.
  3. $127,395 spent. GENERAL ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCES (WITH GUEST ARTISTS) - JAZZ HOUSTON YOUTH ORCHESTRA, AN AUDITION ONLY ORCHESTRA OF 20 OF HOUSTON'S BEST YOUNG MUSICIANS PERFORMING MUSIC FROM THROUGHOUT JAZZ HISTORY. THE ORCHESTRA YEAR CULMINATES IN A TRIP TO A MAJOR JAZZ CITY TO PERFORM AND TAKE MASTER CLASSES WITH THE PREMIER JAZZ EDUCATORS.

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

  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 November 6, 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 June 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 September 2017.

    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 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.