SFJAZZ

What SFJAZZ does

SFJAZZ (legal name: San Francisco Jazz Organization) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 in San Francisco, specializing in jazz creation, presentation, and education. The organization operates the SFJAZZ Center, a 35,000-square-foot purpose-built performance venue opened in January 2013 featuring the 700-seat Robert N. Miner Auditorium (equipped with Meyer sound, Sam Berkow acoustics, and an Immersive Media System) and the 100-seat Joe Henderson Lab. SFJAZZ serves more than 250,000 people annually through 450+ live concerts, digital streaming, and education programs, supported by a community of over 20,000 members across six annual membership tiers ($85-$1,500).

The organization monetizes through a diversified revenue portfolio: tax-deductible membership dues, individual concert ticket sales ($45-$135), the SFJAZZ At Home digital subscription platform ($75/year or $7.50/month, awarded Apple's App of the Day), corporate sponsorships and matching gifts, venue rentals for private events, the Artist Fund (80% of contributions flow directly to performing artists), foundation grants, and on-site food and beverage at B-Side Restaurant. Distribution channels include a physical box office, e-commerce storefront with Apple/Google Wallet integration, a dedicated group sales team, and multi-platform streaming via SFJAZZ At Home across iOS, tvOS, Android, Roku, and Fire TV. The education vertical delivers 25,000+ instructional hours annually to K-12 students in SFUSD and Oakland schools, alongside pre-professional programs like the High School All-Stars.

SFJAZZ is led by CEO Gabrielle Armand and Executive Artistic Director Terence Blanchard (six-time GRAMMY winner), with strategic partnerships spanning the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, and multiple community organizations. The organization does not have venture capital or private equity backing; it is governed by a Board of Trustees and funded through earned revenue, philanthropic contributions, and institutional arts grants.

Name

SFJAZZ

Legal name

San Francisco Jazz Organization

Website

https://sfjazz.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SFJAZZ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 that presents, creates, and educates around jazz from its 700-seat San Francisco performance venue and a global streaming platform, serving 250,000+ people and 20,000+ members annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership program with multiple tiers (Supporter $100, Contributor $250, Benefactor $500, Patron $1,000, Presenter $1,500, Senior $85). All memberships are tax-deductible donations to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Over 20,000 members. Provides priority ticketing access, discounts, and exclusive benefits.
2. Concert Ticket Sales: Individual concert tickets ranging from $45-$135 depending on artist and seating. Season packages with 10% savings on flexible 'Take 5' concert bundles. Group discounts of 10-15% for orders of 10+ tickets.
3. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations supporting artistic and education programs. Accepts one-time and recurring gifts, stock transfers, IRA qualified charitable distributions, donor-advised fund contributions, and wire transfers.
4. Digital Subscription (SFJAZZ At Home): Annual membership at $75/year or $7.50/month providing access to on-demand library of 100+ concerts, weekly Fridays Live livestreams, SFJAZZ Magazine, and digital shorts. Includes 7-day free trial.
5. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate partners and sponsors supporting various programs and events. Companies like Google, Adobe, Apple, Chevron, Microsoft participate through matching gift programs and direct sponsorship.
6. Venue Rentals: SFJAZZ Center available for private events including conferences, performances, screenings, and receptions. Spaces include 700-seat Miner Auditorium, 100-seat Joe Henderson Lab, and lobby spaces. Professional audio/video recording and livestreaming services available.
7. Artist Fund Donations: Designated donations to support performing artists. 80% of contributions go directly to artists performing on Fridays Live; 20% supports SFJAZZ At Home platform operations. Nearly $1M raised for artists since 2020.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

SFJAZZ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that presents live jazz concerts at its purpose-built SFJAZZ Center (700-seat Miner Auditorium and 100-seat Joe Henderson Lab), operates the SFJAZZ At Home digital streaming platform delivering livestreams and on-demand concerts globally, and runs K-12 and adult jazz education programs serving over 25,000 hours of instruction annually. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, tiered memberships, streaming subscriptions, individual and corporate donations, and venue rentals.

Product overview

SFJAZZ is a nonprofit jazz organization offering a dual product portfolio: (1) Physical venue and live performance operations centered at the SFJAZZ Center (opened 2013) with Miner Auditorium and Joe Henderson Lab, hosting over 350 annual shows; and (2) Digital streaming through SFJAZZ At Home platform featuring Fridays Live livestreams, an On-Demand Concert Library, and the On The Corner magazine. Additional offerings include Education Programs (Classes & Workshops, Digital Lab, Discover Jazz, SFJAM, High School All-Stars), membership tiers with ticketing benefits, venue rentals, B-Side restaurant, and the Artist Fund for artist donations. The SFJAZZ At Home app extends digital access across iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SFJAZZ At Home Digital streaming subscription service providing weekly Fridays Live livestreams, a 100+ on-demand concert library, the On The Corner magazine, and Artist Fund contributions. Available as annual ($75) or monthly ($7.50) subscription with a 7-day free trial.
• SFJAZZ Membership Annual membership program with tiered levels (Supporter $100, Contributor $250, Benefactor $500, Patron $1,000, Presenter $1,500, Senior $85) providing priority ticket access, waived service fees, member discounts, exclusive events, and tax-deductible donation benefits.
• SFJAZZ Education Programs Comprehensive music education offerings including Discover Jazz courses, Digital Lab workshops, SFJAM community jam sessions, School Day Concerts, Family Matinees, and ensemble rehearsals serving K-12 students, educators, and adult learners.
• Venue Rentals Rental of SFJAZZ Center spaces including the 700-seat Robert N. Miner Auditorium, 100-seat Joe Henderson Lab, and lobby areas for corporate events, conferences, screenings, receptions, and private performances, with professional audio/video recording and livestreaming services available.
• B-Side Restaurant & Bar Full-service restaurant and bar located inside SFJAZZ Center, open Thursday-Saturday evenings and Sundays, serving pre- and post-concert dining with bar service.
• Artist Fund Designated donation program supporting performing artists on SFJAZZ stages. 80% of contributions go directly to artists performing on Fridays Live, and 20% supports SFJAZZ At Home platform operations.
• Fridays Live Weekly livestream concert series featuring jazz legends and rising stars performing live from the SFJAZZ Center, broadcast every Friday at 7:30 PM PT with Saturday Encores at 11 AM PT. Includes Members-Only performances and access to past broadcasts.
• On-Demand Concert Library Growing collection of 100+ exclusive SFJAZZ concerts available for streaming anytime, featuring performances from Miner Auditorium and Joe Henderson Lab with new titles added weekly.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1M raised for artists through Artist Fund since 2020
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFJAZZ partners with SFUSD to deliver school programs aligned with the Arts Education Master Plan, making music education accessible to all students. Programs include field trips, in-classroom workshops, and ticket donations serving all San Francisco public and charter middle schools.
• Oakland Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Oakland schools to strengthen existing music instruction programs through Band Director professional development, free concert tickets, in-school performances, and tailored support by Bay Area clinicians.
• Oakland Public Conservatory of Music (OPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPC-SFJAZZ Afterschool Jazz partnership identifies and addresses goals related to ethnic and gender equity and access to jazz education, serving middle and high school musicians of color in the Oakland community.
• San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFJAZZ partners with SFCM's Roots, Jazz & American Music (RJAM) program, linking a world-class conservatory to the SFJAZZ Center and SFJAZZ Collective through collaborative programs and performances.
• 826 ValenciaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBay Area nonprofit partner providing writing and creative programs; collaborates with SFJAZZ on educational outreach and student engagement initiatives.
• Museum of African American History and CultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBay Area cultural institution partner supporting SFJAZZ's educational mission around jazz history and African diaspora contributions to American music.
• Women's Audio MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on women in audio recording; partners with SFJAZZ on education programs and professional development for women in music technology.
• Youth SpeaksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth poetry and spoken word organization; collaborates with SFJAZZ on Jazz in the Middle program sending musicians and poets into middle school classrooms.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Blue Note Entertainment Group: Blue Note operates the Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC and other venues, presenting jazz nightly and curating label-level artist relationships. It is a for-profit direct competitor for headline jazz touring acts and shares SFJAZZ's focus on premium jazz presentation.
• Monterey Jazz Festival: Monterey Jazz Festival is a presenting nonprofit built around an annual jazz festival and year-round education. It shares SFJAZZ's model of festival-presenting plus education programming, and competes for headline jazz artists and Bay Area / national audience attention.
• Apollo Theater Foundation: The Apollo Theater Foundation operates a historic music venue with deep programming and educational programs (Apollo Amateur Night, school partnerships). It is directly comparable as a nonprofit arts presenter with owned venue, education programming, and digital content distribution.
• Jazz at Lincoln Center: Jazz at Lincoln Center is the closest analog: a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that presents jazz via its own purpose-built venue (Frederick P. Rose Hall), runs K-12 and adult education programs, and offers digital streaming content. It competes for the same touring artists, donor dollars, and national jazz audience.
• Jazz St. Louis: Jazz St. Louis is a regional nonprofit jazz presenter with its own venue and education programs. It is structurally similar to SFJAZZ at a smaller scale, sharing the model of venue operation, education, and donor-supported jazz presenting.
• New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Foundation: The Foundation presents Jazz Fest and year-round cultural programming, operating as a nonprofit with mixed membership/donation/ticket revenue. It overlaps with SFJAZZ in presenting marquee jazz acts and stewarding a cultural institution with education programs.

Broad incumbents

• Carnegie Hall: Carnegie Hall is a much larger and broader-scope performing arts presenter, but overlaps with SFJAZZ in artist booking, subscription ticketing, donor cultivation, and venue rental for private events. Its scale represents both an aspirational benchmark and a broader-arts incumbent that draws from the same patron pool.
• John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: The Kennedy Center is a national presenting institution that books jazz across its venues and runs extensive education programs. It is a broad incumbent that competes for jazz programming slots, federal grant funding, and corporate sponsorships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SFJAZZ
• YouTubeyoutube.com/sfjazz
• Facebookfacebook.com/sfjazz
• Instagraminstagram.com/sfjazz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sfjazz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SFJAZZ