John Stites Jazz Artist Organization
The John Stites Jazz Artist Organization is a private foundation based in Marshall, Michigan, that funds jazz-related artistic development and other awards. Its website says the organization was established in accordance with John Stites’s trust to honor his memory and passion for jazz.
John Stites Jazz Artist Organization at a glance
In short: John Stites Jazz Artist Organization gave $198K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $198,170
- -25.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- -11.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $13,211
- -15.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,725
- Total assets
- $1,188,400
- -10.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (74% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to John Stites Jazz Artist Organization
- How to Apply
The 2025 filing describes an application process in which a committee of three professional musicians who are not board members scores applications and provides the scores to the board, which decides how many awards to…
The 2025 filing describes an application process in which a committee of three professional musicians who are not board members scores applications and provides the scores to the board, which decides how many awards to make. Applicants submit an application and supporting materials; the website says applications must include a timeline, budget, at least one letter of recommendation, and a performance tape or file to be scored. The filing also describes a formal process for discretionary award requests, which must be submitted on an applicant’s behalf by a board member and approved by board vote.
- Review Cycle
- The website states that 2026 award applications are closed. The 2025 filing describes two award cycles each year and lists February 15 as the first-cycle deadline; that date has passed for 2026. The filing does not provide the second-cycle deadline.
- Deadline
- The website states that 2026 award applications are closed.
- Contact
Application contact: Johnstitesjazzawardsorg
Mailing address: 343 N Marshall Ave, Marshall, MI 49068
Phone: (269) 967-2347
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John Stites Jazz Artist Organization funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Gilmore ($80K). Together the top 5 received $136K.
Organizations only. It also paid 10 grants to individuals ($62,043), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 63 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The awards page says there are no geographic restrictions on applicants for Artistic Development Awards. In 2025, 74% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan, 11% to New York, 8% to Illinois, 3% to Louisiana, and 3% to Utah.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How John Stites Jazz Artist Organization gives
- Giving fell 26% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 287% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2021) to $269K (2022). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $198K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Gilmore Kalamazoo, MI | Jazz Concerts | $80,000 |
| Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalti Kalamazoo, MI | Jazz Concert Series | $25,000 |
| Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI | Jazz Concert Series | $21,127 |
| 10 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $62,043 |
| Jazz Education Network Chicago, IL | Jazz Educators' Conference | $5,000 |
| Michigan Festival of Sacred Music Kalamazoo, MI | Jazz Concert | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,188,400 | $80,338 | $225,071 | $198,170 | 15 | $203,211 | $62,885 | $70,914 |
| 2024 | $1,330,133 | $66,119 | $295,413 | $265,253 | 17 | $275,960 | $47,108 | $76,925 |
| 2023 | $1,559,427 | $-19,568 | $219,271 | $184,219 | 16 | $198,501 | $31,799 | $79,987 |
| 2022 | $1,789,377 | $714,843 | $288,498 | $269,440 | 11 | $274,727 | $24,461 | $65,835 |
| 2021 | $1,361,065 | $1,437,047 | $73,404 | $50,440 | 4 | — | $45,139 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John Stites Jazz Artist Organization reported a distributable amount of $71K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated values include professional exceptionalism in jazz and expanded public awareness and appreciation of jazz music. Its website describes support for advanced studies and training, such as mentorships, instruction, composition and arranging study, and exploration of influences on jazz. Artistic Development Awards are for personal development projects with defined goals and measurable outcomes, not for jazz events such as concerts, tours, or competitions.
The organization’s website says that, beginning in 2024, it would focus on Artistic Development Awards. Its 2025 filing also describes smaller discretionary awards and contract awards, generally to nationally known nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations. One 2025 grantee, Jazz Education Network, describes its own mission as building the jazz arts community by advancing education, promoting performance, and developing new audiences.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the organization reported 15 grants totaling $198,170. Individual grants ranged from $1,485 to $80,000, with a median of $6,725. The largest listed grants were $80,000 to The Gilmore for jazz concerts, $25,000 to Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition for a jazz concert series, and $21,127 to Western Michigan University for a jazz concert series. Other listed grants included $5,000 to Jazz Education Network for a jazz educators’ conference.
Artistic Development Awards are generally $5,000–$25,000, with no cash or in-kind match required. Applicants must be emerging jazz artists who meet the experience and career-intent criteria described on the awards page, be U.S. citizens or have resident-alien status, and pursue advanced study or a defined personal development project. Nationally known established professional musicians are ineligible. The awards are generally taxable to individual recipients. Awardees must acknowledge the organization’s support and display its logo on a website or social media account.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists F William McCarty as president, Sandra Schaefer as secretary/treasurer, and Scott Cowan, Douglas Decker, and Kenyon Morgan as directors. The organization’s website lists the board as Scott Cowan, Doug Decker, Bill McCarty, Ken Morgan, and Sandy Schaefer.
John Stites Jazz Artist Organization is led by F. William McCarty, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
F. William McCarty
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$300 (2023) → $0 (2025)
Douglas Decker
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenyon Morgan
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Cowan
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Schaefer
Secretary
Treasurer → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Thomas Knific (2021–2022) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $300, to F William McCarty (President).
Frequently asked questions about John Stites Jazz Artist Organization
How much does John Stites Jazz Artist Organization give each year?
John Stites Jazz Artist Organization gave $198K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $265K across 17 grants.
What is John Stites Jazz Artist Organization's typical grant size?
John Stites Jazz Artist Organization's median grant in 2025 was $6,725, and its average grant was $13,211, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does John Stites Jazz Artist Organization give grants?
John Stites Jazz Artist Organization gives mostly in Michigan: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (11%) and Illinois (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kalamazoo, MI (4 grants).
Does John Stites Jazz Artist Organization give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on John Stites Jazz Artist Organization's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are John Stites Jazz Artist Organization's largest grantees?
John Stites Jazz Artist Organization's largest 2025 grantees include The Gilmore ($80,000), Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalti ($25,000) and Western Michigan University ($21,127), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 10 grants to individuals ($62,043), which are not listed by name. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John Stites Jazz Artist Organization?
John Stites Jazz Artist Organization reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $203K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $71K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John Stites Jazz Artist Organization fund?
The organization’s stated values include professional exceptionalism in jazz and expanded public awareness and appreciation of jazz music. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John Stites Jazz Artist Organization?
The 2025 filing describes an application process in which a committee of three professional musicians who are not board members scores applications and provides the scores to the board, which decides how many awards to… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John Stites Jazz Artist Organization's EIN?
John Stites Jazz Artist Organization's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-4459237. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 29, 2025)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John Stites Jazz Artist Organization funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-stites-jazz-artist-organization-morg_f7eb5542908b4bd69bb8edd4f80c5227
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_824459237_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John Stites Jazz Artist Organization funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-stites-jazz-artist-organization-morg_f7eb5542908b4bd69bb8edd4f80c5227},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from John Stites Jazz Artist Organization's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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