Jazz Foundation of America

What it reported doing in 2024

Musicians' Emergency Fund/Housing and Emergency Assistance: Preventing homelessness and evictions for musicians in need and assisting with rent, mortgages, transportation, utilities and other essential living expenses. Most musicians have no savings, they rarely get paid properly, and they live gig to gig. For example, if someone cant work because theyve had an accident and are now behind in their rent, we pay their rent and/or utilities to keep them from eviction. We also make sure there is enough food on the table and] even go to the hospital with them for treatment if they are alone. In other crisis situations, we are needed to repair or replace instruments so that musicians can keep working. Whatever the situation calls for, we address the need through compassion and counseling from our social work team. JFA looks at the whole person and sees the long- and short-term challenges. This can include making home visits to an elderly person who is alone and even connecting them with younger musicians they can mentor who check in and help care for them. We also make calls after business hours to let them know they are not forgotten. Sometimes we uncover the root of someones depression or help reconnect them with estranged family members. Every case is special and needs more than what it first presents. Whatever the situation, we heal it as best we can with love, a helping hand, and some creativity. JFA assisted in 1,180 unique cases through the Musicians' Emergency Fund in 2024.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 82.1%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $10.91 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 96.4%; rating input score 96; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 23.9%; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 12.22; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 19%; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.4% per year; rating input score 100; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 14.4% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 22.6% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings