When the Festival is over, Our work is just beginning

About Us

In 1970, the Foundation was set up to be the nonprofit owner of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – Jazz Fest (http://www.nojazzfest.com) – with a mission to sow the seeds of our unique culture for generations to come.

In the early days, the festival wasn’t the world-famous event that it is today – one that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to New Orleans and pumps $300 million a year into the local economy. No, it is often said that at the first Jazz Fest there were more performers onstage than people in the audience.

But the founders believed that Jazz Fest would one day grow into a major success. Everyone involved wanted to make sure that the festival’s proceeds would be redistributed into the local community.

So the Foundation, a 501©(3) nonprofit organization, was established with a distinguished board of directors and a full-time staff. It’s mission:

“To promote, preserve, perpetuate and encourage the music, arts, culture and heritage of communities in Louisiana through festivals, programs and other cultural, educational, civic and economic activities.”

To that end, the Foundation has developed numerous programs and assets. Click here to learn more about them, and here to contribute to the Foundation’s efforts.