San Francisco Jazz Organization
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SAN FRANCISCO JAZZ ORGANIZATION (THE ORGANIZATION) IS A RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONAL LEADER IN JAZZ CREATION, PRESENTATION, AND EDUCATION. THE ORGANIZATION EXPLORES THE FULL SPECTRUM OF JAZZ, FROM THE MUSIC'S ORIGINS IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO ITS DIVERSE PRESENT-DAY EXPRESSIONS AROUND THE WORLD. AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, SFJAZZ WORKS TO DEVELOP THE AUDIENCE FOR JAZZ IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA AND BEYOND. THE ORGANIZATION CELEBRATES JAZZ AS A LIVING ART FORM, BUILT ON A CONSTANTLY EVOLVING TRADITION.
- Income
- $18.0 million
- Spending
- $22.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- -0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 51%
- Employees
- 206
- Volunteers
- 322
- Highest pay
- $422,489, ceo (thru 12/31/24)
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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 33% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2528 of 29 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $12.0 million spent. MAIN EVENTS: AS ONE OF THE LARGEST PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATION IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, SFJAZZ IS COMMITTED TO PRESENTING PERFORMANCES THAT INSPIRE MUSIC LOVERS. ALL SFJAZZ PROGRAMS REFLECT A SPIRIT OF ARTISTIC EXPLORATION, EMBRACING THE FULL BREADTH OF JAZZ AND ITS RELATED MUSIC; EMPHASIZE THEMATIC PROGRAMMING, WITH TRIBUTES TO JAZZ MASTERS AND CELEBRATIONS OF PARTICULAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, TRENDS OR STYLES; AND STRIVE TO INSTILL ENTHUSIASM FOR JAZZ AMONG WIDER AUDIENCES.HAILED BY THE LONDON OBSERVER AS "THE BEST JAZZ FESTIVAL IN THE WORLD," THE SAN FRANCISCO JAZZ FESTIVAL IS A CELEBRATION OF TODAY'S BEST MUSIC. EVERY SUMMER THE FESTIVAL PRESENTS A PHENOMENAL ARRAY OF JAZZ CONCERTS, FROM THE CLASSIC TO THE AVANT-GARDE, GATHERING THE LEGENDS OF TODAY AND THE RISING STARS OF TOMORROW.ORIGINALLY THE SAN FRANCISCO JAZZ FESTIVAL WAS A SMALL-SCALE EVENT KNOWN MOSTLY IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, THE ORGANIZATION HAS RISEN TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROMINENCE. FOLLOWING ON THE HEELS OF A SUCCESSFUL EXPANSION IN THE FALL FESTIVAL AND SPRING SEASONS, SFJAZZ LAUNCHED IN 2008, THE WORLD IS LISTENING: CAMPAIGN FOR THE SFJAZZ CENTER. INSPIRED BY AN ANONYMOUS GIFT OF $20 MILLION, THE LARGEST EVER GIVEN TO A JAZZ ORGANIZATION, SFJAZZ CENTER OPENED IN SAN FRANCISCO ON JANUARY 21, 2013. AS THE FIRST CONCERT HALL OF ITS TYPE IN THE WESTERN U.S. BUILT BOTH FOR JAZZ PERFORMANCE AND EDUCATION, THE NEW SFJAZZ CENTER REPRESENTS A MILESTONE FOR THIS AUTHENTIC AMERICAN ART FORM.
- $2.1 million spent. EDUCATION: THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SPONSORS YEAR-ROUND EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS AIMED AT BUILDING THE AUDIENCE FOR JAZZ AND DEEPENING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF JAZZ MUSIC.SFJAZZ EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH ARE THE FOLLOWING:JAZZ IN THE MIDDLE - THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR, SFJAZZ PROVIDES CURRICULUM-BASED RESIDENCIES, LINKING JAZZ AND ACADEMIC SUBJECTS IN THE CLASSROOM. OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE TO SFUSD MIDDLE SCHOOLS, THE PROGRAM FOSTERS THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CLASSROOM CURRICULA AND THE ARTS. THE GOAL OF JAZZ IN THE MIDDLE IS TO BUILD LITERACY SKILLS THROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND CULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF MUSIC, WITH STUDENTS RESPONDING CREATIVELY TO ELEMENTS OF MUSIC AND APPLYING WHAT THEY LEARN TO WRITING AND OTHER SUBJECTS.SFJAZZ HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STARS - THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR, SFJAZZ PROVIDES ADVANCED JAZZ TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TALENTED YOUNG MUSICIANS IN BOTH BIG BAND AND SMALL ENSEMBLE FORMATS, SELECTED ANNUALLY BY COMPETITIVE AUDITION (FREE TO PARTICIPANTS).MEET THE MASTERS - A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS, SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES, OPEN REHEARSALS, SALONS, MASTER CLASSES, MENTORING SESSIONS, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCES BY JAZZ MASTERS, BRING WORLD-CLASS JAZZ ARTISTS.DISCOVER JAZZ HISTORY AND APPRECIATION CLASSES:DISCOVER JAZZ DIVES INTO THE COLORFUL MYTHOLOGY AND HISTORY OF JAZZ, SWINGING RIGHT INTO THE MUSIC'S KEY FIGURES, RECORDINGS, FORMS, AND IDEAS. EACH CLASS HITS UPON ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS THAT, WHEN TAKEN AS A COMPLETE SERIES, GIVE ANY FAN THE ABILITY TO HEAR BETWEEN THE LINES OF GREAT JAZZ PERFORMANCES. IN ADDITION TO THE CLASS CONTENT, THERE WILL BE INTERACTIVE LIVE JAZZ PERFORMANCES, GIVING PARTICIPANTS IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE PROCESS AND PRACTICE OF THE JAZZ MUSICIAN.SFJAZZ ADULT AND FAMILY EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE THE FOLLOWING:DISCOVER JAZZ - WEEKLY EVENING MUSIC APPRECIATION CLASSES FOR ADULTS, OFFERING ENTERTAINING AND INFORMATIVE INSIGHTS INTO JAZZ MUSIC, HISTORY AND CULTURE; PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF SAN FRANCISCO.PRE-CONCERT TALKS - ENLIGHTENING FREE PRE-SHOW DISCUSSIONS FROM THE STAGE IN WHICH JAZZ ARTISTS, SCHOLARS, AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS OFFER INSIGHTS TO ENHANCE AUDIENCE APPRECIATION OF SELECTED CONCERTS AND FILMS.JAZZ LISTENING PARTIES - FREE TO SFJAZZ MEMBERS, THESE POPULAR EVENTS HOSTED BY LEADING JAZZ ARTISTS FEATURE RELAXED DISCUSSION AND GUIDED LISTENING TO RECORDED WORKS.FAMILY MATINEE CONCERTS - CREATED WITH FAMILIES IN MIND, THIS SERIES SHOWCASES LEADING MUSICIANS IN REDUCED-PRICE, HOUR-LONG, AFTERNOON CONCERTS, COMBINING WORLD-CLASS ARTISTRY WITH INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION.
- $1.2 million spent. SFJAZZ DIGITAL: FROM THE GREATEST JAZZ HALL IN THE WORLD STRAIGHT TO YOUR LIVING ROOM, SFJAZZ DIGITAL INITIATIVE INCLUDE FRIDAYS LIVE AND ON-DEMAND PROVIDING EXCLUSIVE ONLINE ACCESS TO THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS AND NEW PERFORMANCES FROM THE SFJAZZ CENTER, WHILE PROVIDING MUCH-NEEDED SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS AND SFJAZZ DURING THIS CHALLENGING TIME. FEATURING MULTI-CAMERA HD VIDEO AND STATE-OF-THE-ART AUDIO, EACH FULLY IMMERSIVE DIGITAL OFFERING CONNECTS YOU TO THE MUSIC, TO THE MUSICIANS, AND TO THE FEELING OF EXPERIENCING LIVE MUSIC AT SFJAZZ.
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
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 October 13, 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 June 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 May 1994.
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 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.