Why not more NFP support for jazz?

There are hundreds of major non-for-profit organizations devoted to classical music, but there are not nearly as many organizations devoted to supporting jazz, a uniquely American art form which is just as deserving of support. Jazz at Lincoln Center, headed by Wynton Marsalis, has done an admirable job in advocating for jazz, and the Chicago Symphony runs an excellent jazz series at Symphony Center, but for the most part, jazz musicians have to fend for themselves, relying on jazz clubs (if they are fortunate enough to live in a city that has one) or other venues to perform their art. There are many smaller NFPs devoted to jazz, particularly in the realm of education, but few of them are able provide the resources needed to sustain high quality performances.

I would love to see more organizations like SF Jazz, a not-for-profit in San Francisco that has supported jazz performances for 30 years and is currently in the process of building a new concert hall specifically intended for jazz. There are many cities across the country that have good jazz scenes that struggle to find audiences, often due to for-profit venues that struggle to find a business model that will provide enough revenue to sustain their operations. Perhaps the development of more performance-focused jazz NFPs across the country might help focus and develop more widespread support for the art form. Of course, one would need to have a large enough base of passionate supporters to get started, but I think it is certainly an avenue worth exploring.

-Taj

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