The Fillmore Jazz Festival Preservation Fund
A 501(c)(3) Dedicated to Protecting the Legacy and Future of Jazz in the Fillmore
For decades, the Fillmore Jazz Festival has brought together generations of music lovers, artists, families, businesses, and visitors in the heart of San Francisco’s historic Fillmore District — once known worldwide as the “Harlem of the West.” More than a music festival, it is a living celebration of culture, history, and community.
The mission of the Fillmore Jazz Festival Preservation Fund is to ensure that this legacy not only survives, but thrives for generations to come.
As a newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Preservation Fund was created to provide long-term financial stability and vision for the Festival and the broader cultural vitality of the Fillmore community. The Fund’s first and most urgent priority is sustaining and strengthening the annual Fillmore Jazz Festival itself — an event that now costs approximately $500,000 annually to produce safely and successfully.
Producing a world-class, free public festival of this scale requires extensive investment in professional stages, sound production, public safety, sanitation, permits, operations, staffing, artist support, marketing, and community infrastructure. Yet despite its tremendous cultural and economic impact, free public arts events face increasing financial pressures each year.
The Preservation Fund seeks to change that reality by building a permanent foundation of support.
Core Goals of the Preservation Fund
Sustain the Annual Fillmore Jazz Festival
Ensure the long-term financial health and continuity of one of the nation’s largest free jazz festivals, preserving free public access to live music, arts, and culture in San Francisco.
Support and Elevate Musicians
Increase compensation for performers and create opportunities to attract nationally recognized jazz artists while continuing to invest deeply in Bay Area-based musicians, emerging talent, and local cultural traditions. The Fund believes artists deserve fair pay, professional support, and a prominent platform.
Preserve the Legacy of Jazz in the Fillmore
Honor and protect the Fillmore District’s extraordinary role in American jazz history. The Preservation Fund supports cultural storytelling, historical preservation, educational outreach, and programming that keeps the spirit and heritage of Fillmore jazz alive.
Invest in the Fillmore Community
The Festival generates meaningful economic activity and visibility for neighborhood businesses, artists, nonprofits, vendors, and residents. The Fund aims to strengthen the surrounding community through cultural investment, partnerships, and opportunities that reflect the district’s historic identity and future potential.
Build Long-Term Financial Equity
The Preservation Fund seeks to responsibly build and maintain capital reserves and long-term investments that generate ongoing interest and sustainable funding. The goal is to create financial equity over time so the Festival and its mission are protected well into the future.
Why Donor Support Matters
The Fillmore Jazz Festival has always been powered by community belief, civic pride, and a shared understanding that culture matters. Donor support helps preserve a beloved San Francisco tradition while investing in musicians, arts access, neighborhood vitality, and cultural heritage.
Every contribution helps ensure that future generations will continue to experience live jazz in the streets of the historic Fillmore — free, accessible, vibrant, and deeply rooted in community.
Together, we can preserve the music, protect the legacy, and build a lasting future for jazz in the Fillmore.
