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New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation reported $61.9 million in revenue and $62.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $95.76 went to program services, $3.69 to management and general costs and $0.55 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 90.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $205,133 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (THRU 12/2024)). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 969% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $62MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $62MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 95.8% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 3.7% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.5% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.22 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 2.5% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.3% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 90.9% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $205,133 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.33% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 9.9 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 24 of 24 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseCultural enrichment: the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and foundation, inc. Has several enrichment programs, including multiple music festivals and concert series highlighting local culture through music, cuisine, and art. These concerts and festival artist performances are also streamed for broader accessibility. The estimated number of attendees at jazz fest and other festival and concerts, streaming viewers, and remaining participants is 520,000. In addition, the foundation provided support to wwoz, a related organization which operates a radio station in New Orleans, la for…
Economic development: the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and foundation, inc. Has several economic development programs benefiting local musicians and culture bearers of the community. These programs include those which provide community grants to support projects in music and the art industry of louisiana. There were approximately 2,055 grant participants
Education: the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and foundation, inc. Has several educational programs, including hands-on musical instruction for kids ages 8-17. Other programs engage adults and children in meaningful dialogue about history, culture, and business. In fye 2025, there were approximately 547 students, teachers, and participants in symposiums and instruction
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (THRU 12/2024) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $188,769 | $0 | $16,364 | $205,133 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & HR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $169,773 | $0 | $16,016 | $185,789 |
| DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $135,583 | $0 | $13,477 | $149,060 |
| DIRECTOR OF MKTG, PROGRAMS & COMMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $120,333 | $0 | $10,435 | $130,768 |
| ACCOUNTANT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $112,018 | $0 | $10,519 | $122,537 |
| ARCHIVIST Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $106,179 | $0 | $14,200 | $120,379 |
| DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $105,354 | $0 | $13,913 | $119,267 |
| DIRECTOR Director/trustee, 4.00 hrs/week | $12,000 | $0 | $0 | $12,000 |
9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $696K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b24 · 24 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 51,043
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,215
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| AEG PRESENTS LLC Producer fees | $12,214,798 |
| CAPS UNIVERSAL Staffing contract/payroll processor | $7,279,891 |
| FESTIVAL PRODUCTIONS INC - NEW ORLEANS Producer fees | $6,215,875 |
| CS TOURING INC Artist | $1,825,000 |
| ZENITH TOURING INC Artist | $1,815,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 65 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
19 private foundations reported grants to New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation totaling $249K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation spent in FY2025, $95.76 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Studio Museum in HarlemNew York, NY · revenue $62M · programs 64.7% · FY2025
- Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing ArtsVienna, VA · revenue $63M · programs 85.3% · 2024
- The Brooklyn Institute of Arts and SciencesBrooklyn, NY · revenue $62M · programs 68.8% · FY2025
- Chautauqua InstitutionChautauqua, NY · revenue $63M · programs 73.9% · 2024
- Walton Arts Center CouncilFayetteville, AR · revenue $60M · programs 86.3% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Louisiana
Questions people ask
How much of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation reported that 95.8% of its $62.2 million in expenses went to program services, 3.7% to management and general and 0.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $205,133, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (THRU 12/2024) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation get its money?
Of $61.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 2.5% came from contributions and grants (including 0.3% from government grants) and 90.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 72-0692744 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, object 202641969349301729 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202521959349300967 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202441939349301634 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202341949349300724 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202201939349301225 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202121909349300837 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 72-0692744: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.