Nashville Jazz Orchestra General Information Contact Information Nonprofit Nashville Jazz Orchestra Address 205 S. 12th Street Nashville, TN 37206 Phone (615) 415-9891 Web Site Web Site Email contact@nashvillejazzorchestra.org At A Glance Year of Incorporation 1995 1
Mission & Impact Statements Mission The mission statement of the Nashville Jazz Orchestra, as stated on its charter is: To preserve, advance and promote big band jazz to our children and our community through live performance, workshops and quality recordings. Background The Nashville Jazz Orchestra has endured and persevered in one form or another, even before its formal charter was filed in 1995. The terms "jazz" and "orchestra" are not often seen in the same sentence, but the "jazz orchestra" has a long and rich history in American music. When most people think of big bands and big band jazz, they think of the golden age of swing bands and popular music of the early- to mid-20th Century. Certainly those bands and their music are an important part of the jazz orchestra tradition. More important, however, is the question of what ensembles are in place to perform--and perform at a high level of artistic quality--the more contemporary music literature for a big jazz band? Where are the expert players who can interpret and present jazz pieces of a wide variety, including the most challenging compositions? And, who can perform quality compositions that are being composed in the modern period? Where can composers of jazz today have their new music performed and heard -- and recorded? Only an ensemble of the caliber of the Nashville Jazz Orchestra can make this possible. The Nashville Jazz Orchestra has been presenting a schedule of public concerts for the past nine years. Looking ahead, the NJO has an ambitious concert season planned for the coming season. Impact The Nashville Jazz Orchestra successfully completed its 2015-16 concert season, with four stellar performances at The City Winery and other locations. The City Winery is a new venue for the NJO, which formally held its concert series at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt. In October '15 the NJO's annual Latin-themed concert was well attended and in December '15 the NJO presented a special Holiday concert featuring local jazz singer Christina Watson. The February '16 concert featured romantic jazz ballads in keeping with its Valentine theme, and the March '16 concert featured local jazz legend and past Grammy nominee Connye Florence. The NJO was able to add an additional concert to the 2015-16 season in June, featuring Christina Watson with some original tunes in addition to jazz standards. In the fall of 2016 NJO was named "Best Jazz Group" by the Nashville Industry Music Awards (NIMA), and in November NJO held its Latin concert with featured vocalist and NIMA winner Dara Tucker and NIMA winner for Best Jazz Instrumentalist saxophonist Rashaan Barber. In December 2016, the NJO held its CD live recording of "An Old Fashioned Christmas," also at The City Winery. Needs The most pressing needs of the Nashville Jazz Orchestra are: 1. Financial stability 2. Long-range planning 3. Board development (business acumen and diversity as goals) 4. Additional educational outreach and partnership opportunities 5. Greater recognition as a first-rate performance organization NJO has made significant progress on these needs in the past several years, most particularly in the area of board development. The NJO has attracted new board members with business acumen and experience, as well as diversity (female, Hispanic, and African American). Considerable progress continues to be made on both programmatic and strategic fronts. Other ways to donate, support, or volunteer Checks may be mailed to the NJO's address, 205 S. 12 St, Nashville, TN 37206 c/o Jeff Ockerman, Grants Coordinator. Service Categories Primary Organization Category Arts,Culture & Humanities / Music Secondary Organization Category Arts,Culture & Humanities / Bands & Ensembles 2
Tertiary Organization Category Arts,Culture & Humanities / Music Areas of Service Areas Served TN - Cheatham TN - Davidson TN - Dickson TN - Robertson TN - Rutherford TN - Sumner TN - Williamson TN - Wilson Board Chair Statement The Nashville Jazz Orchestra took initiatives beginning in 2007-08 to bring a more organized and formal approach to the NJO Board, with each board member taking on a specific area of responsibility. With this emphasis on board member participation, the board now thinks and plans strategically to implement its vision in fulfilling its mission. In particular, the board now looks at a concert season as a whole. Additionally, financial models now reflect the full season as part of a strategic plan for the year. This model has proven useful in allowing the NJO to plan further ahead and build additional financial stability into the plan (in 2014, the NJO released its first new CD effort in several years -- a result of better planning). As one example, the NJO began to expand its board in 2009 to diversify the skill sets and visions of board members, and it continues to add to this skill set diversity. This board is a true working board and the past practice of relying primarily on volunteers with a musical background or connection to the jazz music community limited its ability to move the NJO forward in a city where the competition for one's music entertainment dollar is fierce. The continuing challenge is to continue to develop the board by adding more community members with civic and business acumen while maintaining the connection to the music community. CEO Statement (not applicable) 3
Programs Programs To perform big band jazz for our community Description The mission of the Nashville Jazz Orchestra is to preserve, advance and promote big band jazz to our children and to our community through live performance, workshops and quality recordings. We fulfill this mission through live performances at The City Winery and occasionally at Metro Schools and Metro facilities (most recently, the Public Library). Budget $20,000 Category Population Served Short Term Success Long term Success Program Success Monitored By Examples of Program Success Arts, Culture & Humanities, General/Other Music General/Unspecified, Aging, Elderly, Senior Citizens, Hispanic, Latino Heritage Short-term successes will be the holding of at least 4 Big Band Jazz performances in the community annually. Long-term success will be the continuation of Big Band Jazz performances in the community. NJO Board members count and measure attendance at each performance. NJO has experienced stable numbers of attendees, and a small increase in a younger audience. To educate students about big band jazz Description The mission of the Nashville Jazz Orchestra is to preserve, advance and promote big band jazz to our children and to our community through live performance, workshops and quality recordings. One key part of our mission is fulfilled when we arrange outreach into the schools, invite students to observe our open rehearsals and concerts, and serve as resources to music educators. And, in 2010 we successfully developed a new program for middle- and high-school students on Jazz History, a program combining narration, visuals, live performance, and a study guide. This program has now been performed for the W.O. Smith Community Music School summer music camp, the Hume Fogg High School band camp, and John Overton High School. NJO also has appointed a five-member educational advisory committee of current and retired public school music teachers. This panel has provided valuable guidance and feedback to help NJO strengthen the Jazz History program and to broaden our educational outreach. Population Served,, To preserve big band music Description The mission of the Nashville Jazz Orchestra is to preserve, advance and promote big band jazz to our children and to our community through live performance, workshops and quality recordings. We help to advance big band jazz through performance of new music and preserve it through live and studio recordings that in turn are produced as CDs. Population Served,, 4
NJO Concert Series Description NJO this past year successfully entered into an arrangement with The City Winery to perform Big Band Jazz on a regular basis. Budget 5000-20000 Category Population Served Arts, Culture & Humanities, General/Other Musical Performances Adults, Aging, Elderly, Senior Citizens, Adolescents Only (13-19 years) Short Term Success x Program Success Monitored By x Examples of Program Success x CEO Comments We are seeking funding for the History of Jazz program for more performances in the community and in schools. 5
Governance Board Chair Board Chair Mr. Ed Bigler Company Affiliation Natchez Trace Records Term Jan 2017 to Dec 2017 Email edcb06@comcast.net Board Members Name Affiliation Status Mr. Ed Bigler Natchez Trace Records Voting Mr. Davis Jonethis Artist Development Group, Inc. Voting Mr. David Sandoval UPS Voting Ms. Donna Vernardi community volunteer Voting Ms. Micki Yearwood Tennessee General Assembly Voting Board Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black 0 Asian American/Pacific Islander 0 Caucasian 4 Hispanic/Latino 1 Native American/American Indian 0 Other 0 Board Demographics - Gender Male 3 Female 2 Unspecified 0 Governance Board Term Lengths 1 Board Term Limits 7 Board Meeting Attendance % 100% Written Board Selection Criteria? Written Conflict of Interest Policy? No Under Development Percentage Making Monetary Contributions 50% Percentage Making In-Kind Contributions 100% Constituency Includes Client Representation Yes 6
Number of Full Board Meetings Annually 10 Standing Committees Communications / Public Relations Community Outreach / Community Relations Development / Fund Raising Education Finance Marketing Additional Board Members Name Mr. Richard Griffin Ms. Carole Grooms Mr. Horton Monroe Mr. Lynn Morelock Dr. Richard Ripani Mr. Steve Smartt Affiliation director of bands, Nashville School of the Arts band director, Freedom Middle School, Franklin retired Metro music teacher retired Metro music teacher Hume Fogg High School, music director Vanderbilt University CEO Comments We are excited about the possibility of new board members representing the business and hospitality industries coming on board in 2017. 7
Management Executive Director/CEO Executive Director Mr. Ed Bigler Term Start Jan 2017 Email ebc06@comcast.net Experience Past experience in managing big band jazz groups, teaching, venues management, and professional trumpeter. Co-CEO Co-CEO N/A Former CEOs Name Term Mr. Ed Bigler Jan 2014 - Dec 0 Jeff Ockerman Jan 2015 - Dec 2015 Staff Full Time Staff 0 Part Time Staff 0 Volunteers 20 Contractors 0 Retention Rate 0% Plans & Policies Does the organization have a documented Fundraising Plan? Yes Does the organization have an approved Strategic Plan? Under Development Number of years Strategic Plan Considers 3 When was Strategic Plan adopted? May 2009 In case of a change in leadership, is a Management Succession plan in place? Yes Does the organization have a Policies and Procedures Plan? No Does the organization have a Nondiscrimination Policy? Yes 8
Does the organization have a Whistle Blower Policy? No Does the organization have a Document Destruction Policy? No Affiliations Affiliation Year Tennesseans for the Arts 2008 Awards Awards Award/Recognition Organization Year MVP Ensemble of 2010 Tennessee Jazz and Blues Society 2010 Best Jazz Performance ArtsNowNashville 2011 Best of Nashville -- House Jazz Band Nashville Scene 2012 Best Jazz Group Nashville Industry Music Awards 2016 Senior Staff Mr. Jim Williamson Title Artistic Director Experience/Biography CEO Comments The board has worked to attract younger and more diverse members -- seen as necessary to begin to attract a younger audience and gain expertise in social media -- and is gradually succeeding with the recent addition of two new under-30 members, one Hispanic, and one African American, with opportunities to attract more. 9
Financials Fiscal Year Fiscal Year Start July 01 2016 Fiscal Year End June 30 2017 Projected Revenue $29,000.00 Projected Expenses $28,000.00 Endowment Value $0.00 Endowment Spending Policy N/A Endowment Spending Percentage (if selected) 0% Detailed Financials Revenue and Expenses Total Revenue $0 -- -- Total Expenses $0 -- -- Revenue Sources Foundation and Corporation $0 -- -- Contributions Government Contributions $0 $0 $0 Federal $0 State $0 Local $0 Unspecified $0 Individual Contributions $0 -- -- Indirect Public Support $0 -- -- Earned Revenue $0 -- -- Investment Income, Net of Losses $0 -- -- Membership Dues $0 -- -- Special Events $0 -- -- Revenue In-Kind $0 -- -- Other $0 -- -- 10
Expense Allocation Program Expense $0 -- -- Administration Expense $0 -- -- Fundraising Expense $0 -- -- Payments to Affiliates $0 -- -- Total Revenue/Total Expenses -- -- -- Program Expense/Total Expenses -- -- -- Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue -- -- -- Assets and Liabilities Total Assets $0 -- -- Current Assets $0 -- -- Long-Term Liabilities $0 -- -- Current Liabilities $0 -- -- Total Net Assets $0 -- -- Short Term Solvency Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current Liabilities -- -- -- Long Term Solvency Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets -- -- -- Top Funding Sources Top Funding Source & Dollar Amount -- -- -- Second Highest Funding Source & Dollar -- -- -- Amount Third Highest Funding Source & Dollar Amount -- -- -- Capital Campaign Is the organization currently conducting a Capital Campaign for an endowment or the purchase of a major asset? No Capital Campaign Goal $0.00 Capital Campaign Raised-to-Date Amount $0.00 as of 0 Capital Campaign Anticipated in Next 5 Years? No State Charitable Solicitations Permit TN Charitable Solicitations Registration Exempt - Expires 0 Registration No 0 Organization Comments The operating budget (and expenditures) will vary based on the success of NJO in garnering external grant support during the course of a given fiscal year. We update this information as grants (and matching gifts) are confirmed and received. Additionally, partnering opportunites with other local non-profits are being developed as a way to grow the NJO's audience and provide financial stability. 11
GivingMatters.com Financial Comments This organization currently files a 990-N form with the IRS, which does not provide specific financial information. Most small tax-exempt organizations whose annual gross receipts are normally $50,000 or less ($25,000 for tax years ending after December 31, 2007 and before December 31, 2010) are required to electronically submit Form 990-N, also known as the e-postcard, unless they choose to file a complete Form 990 or Form 990-EZ instead. Comments provided by Kathryn Bennett 3/14/17. Created 04.13.2019. Copyright 2019 The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee 12