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Jazz at Aspen-Snowmass

EIN 84-1220222 · Aspen, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF JAZZ ASPEN SNOWMASS IS TO PRESENT AND PRESERVE JAZZ AND RELATED FORMS OF MUSIC THROUGH WORLD-CLASS FESTIVALS, PERFORMANCES AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

Income
$18.0 million
Spending
$15.6 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
134
Volunteers
175
Highest pay
$440,426, president & ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 34 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 September 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. $12.8 million spent. FESTIVALS AND PERFORMACES INCLUDE THE JAS CAFE SERIES, JUNE EXPERIENCE AND LABOR DAY EXPERIENCE. THE JAS CAFE HOSTED 11 NIGHTS OF PERFORMANCES OVER THE WINTER AND SUMMER SERIES. IN A TAKEOVER OF DOWNTOWN ASPEN, THE JAS JUNE EXPERIENCE FEATURED OVER 40 PERFORMANCES ACROSS 12 DIFFERENT VENUES. THE JAS LABOR DAY EXPERIENCE ATTRACTED 27,963 ATTENDEES FOR THE ANNUAL 3 DAY MUSIC FESTIVAL IN SNOWMASS, CO. ALONG WITH PERFORMANCES, THE JAS CAFE SERIES OFFERS MUSIC EDUCATION INCLUDING, THE 'LISTEN UP! PRE-SHOW', A LIVE ARTIST INTERVIEW GIVING AUDIENCES INSIGHTS INTO THE PERFORMER'S MUSICAL EXPERIENCES AND BACKGROUND, AND THE "JAS CAFE CORNER", WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE HISTORY OF JAZZ MUSIC WITH A BLOG AND OTHER PROGRAM ADDITIONS.
  2. $555,362 spent. THE JAS ACADEMY HOSTED 46 COMPETITIVELY SELECTED STUDENTS FROM THE TOP MUSIC SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES OVER TWO SESSIONS FOCUSED ON EITHER BIG BAND OR AFRO-CARIBBEAN BIG BAND. SELECTED STUDENTS WORK WITH FACULTY FROM THE FROST SCHOOL OF MUSIC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, AS WELL AS VISITING PROFESSIONAL JAZZ MUSICIANS. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON IDENTIFYING AND ASSISTING THE MOST TALENTED STUDENT ARTISTS EMBRACING JAZZ FUNDAMENTALLY WHILE EXPLORING MYRIAD RELATED AND UNRELATED FORMS OF MUSIC AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF QUALITY. THE CURRICULUM ALSO FEATURES INSTRUCTION ON THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC, GIVING STUDENTS VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO THE CAREER PATH OF A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN. THE JAS ACADEMY IS A FULL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SUPPORTED ANNUALLY BY A MULTI-YEAR GIFT FROM ED AND SASHA BASS.
  3. $539,193 spent. LOCAL EDUCATION INITIATIVES PROVIDED OVER $255,000 IN SUPPORT TO LOCAL PUBLIC MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, REACHING 15 SCHOOLS AND OVER 1,500 STUDENTS. THIS INCLUDED SUPPORT FOR JAS'S NEWEST EDUCATION PROGRAM, THE JAS STREET HORNS, DESIGNED FOR ADVANCED MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BASED ON THE WESTERN SLOPE INTERESTED IN A HIGH-LEVEL BAND EXPERIENCE. STUDENTS STUDY AND PERFORM WITH OTHER ADVANCED STUDENTS AT A LEVEL THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO RECEIVE IN A SCHOOL SETTING. THE GROUP MEETS MONTHLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR A REHEARSAL AND VARIOUS PERFORMANCES, WORKING WITH LOCAL MUSICIANS, AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS TRAVELING TO THE AREA TO PERFORM FOR JAS. THIS YEAR LONG COMMITMENT INCLUDES AN EXCITING AND EDUCATIONAL SPRING BREAK TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS! ALL EXPENSES FOR STREET HORN PARTICIPATION, INCLUDING THE TRIP, ARE COVERED BY JAS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 March 1993.

    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.