irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $94KLOVE SUPREME SCHOOL OF MUSIC (LSSM): It is our belief that a young person does not have a complete education without the study of music. The LSSM; facilitated by our expert teaching artists, provide free piano, guitar, upright bass, trumpet, saxaphone, drum and vocal lessons to Buffalos inner-city youth (grades K-12) augmented by opportunities for overall musical development including performance experience. During 2024, over 100 school age students received free lessons, attended two Jazz history workshops and showcase their talents at the annual Winter Student Recital. By grooming the next generation of musicians and music appreciators, we help to ensure the longevity of this art form. The LSSM provides lessons at space donated by Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church 641 Masten Avenue Buffalo, NY 14209.
- #2 $62KCELESTIAL JAZZ WELLNESS SERIES: This program series addresses mental health wellness via Jazz by presenting free live jazz concerts throughout the year in the sacred setting of the inner-city church. During 2024, the series presented six free live Jazz concerts featuring international, national and local artists, including the Love Supreme School of Music students and faculty. These events exemplified our mission to support and showcase underrepresented, underserved and under-resourced musicians and communities. We remain committed to making the art form of jazz physically and financially accessible to the entire community. We believe Jazz is more than mere entertainment,and we provide this forum which audience members can experience and benefit from its spiritual, healing, uplifting and therapeutic power.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Celestial Jazz Series
Concert series presenting free live jazz performances in a sacred setting to promote mental wellness and highlight the healing, spiritual, and therapeutic power of jazz.
Legacy in Celebration
Annual events honoring the contributions of iconic jazz artists John Coltrane, Betty Carter, and Alice Coltrane through performances and community gatherings.
Love Supreme School of Music
Free jazz education program offering instrumental instruction (piano, guitar, upright bass, trumpet, saxophone, drums, voice), master classes, performance opportunities, and jazz history study for Buffalo's inner-city youth (grades K-12).
Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Society
Membership program offering patron benefits in exchange for support of jazz education, performances, youth engagement, and cultural programming.
Pappy Martin Legacy – Masten Jazz Festival
Annual free jazz festival held on the grounds of the Buffalo Museum of Science, featuring international, national, and local artists, attracting approximately 3,000 attendees.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
- Annual jazz festival productionOrganizes and presents the Pappy Martin Legacy – Masten Jazz Festival annually at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park and the Buffalo Museum of Science, a tradition ongoing since 1996. The free two-day festival features international, national, and local jazz artists and attracted approximately 3,000 attendees in 2023.
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Celestial Jazz Series concertsProduces the Celestial Jazz Series, a concert series featuring world-class jazz artists that highlights mental wellness and spiritual healing through jazz. In 2024, presented six free live concerts that included performances by students and faculty from its music education program.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Jazz education program for K–12 studentsOffers instrumental instruction, jazz history workshops, and performance opportunities through the Love Supreme School of Music, serving over 100 students annually. In 2024, provided free music lessons and recitals to K–12 students in Buffalo, with enrollment expanding from 65 to 92 students between 2022 and 2024.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Legacy tribute eventsHosts annual events honoring the musical and cultural legacies of John Coltrane, Betty Carter, and Alice Coltrane, promoting jazz appreciation and cultural engagement through live performances and community programming.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Community advocacy through jazz and healingRecognized as a community respite following the 2022 Buffalo mass shooting, with programming and student voices featured on the MSNBC podcast Healing in Buffalo, highlighting the organization’s role in promoting healing and resilience through jazz.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$399K
Contributions & grants$399K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$290K
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$11K
Grants paid out$2K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$159K
Cash$147K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$159K
Liquid reserves6.1 mo
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue +69.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAWN BERRY-WALKER | Executive Director | 40 | $11K |
| ROSLYN OWENS | Treasurer | 8 | $100 |
board members · 5
- BREAUNA CRUMPLER — Director
- CHARLES CAMPBELL — Director
- DEBORAH CAHEE-CHRISTOPHER — Director
- JAY MARTIN — Director
- KENNETH MARTIN Jr — Director
relationships · 4
Who they work with
- Buffalo Museum of Science Partner — Hosts the Pappy Martin Legacy Masten Jazz Festival on its grounds.
- LSSM Partner — Collaborates with LSSM to feature students and teachers in festival performances.
- Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church Partner — Provides donated space for the Love Supreme School of Music music lessons in Buffalo, NY.
- Ralph Wilson Foundation Funder — Provided major funding for the reopening of the Love Supreme School of Music in 2019.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community Access Through Free Public Eventsmethodology: community-access-through-free-public-eventsBy offering free, publicly accessible festivals in central locations, the organization advances cultural equity and inclusion, because removing financial and geographic barriers ensures underserved communities can engage with jazz as a shared cultural resource.
- Cultural Preservation Through Education and Performancemethodology: cultural_preservation_through_education_and_performanceBy combining music education, live performances, and community outreach, the organization preserves and advances the legacy of jazz across generations, because these integrated methods sustain cultural continuity and deepen intergenerational connection.
- Jazz as Activism and Cultural Resistancemethodology: jazz_as_activismBy framing jazz as a form of activism and resistance, the organization strengthens cultural survival and community identity, because this positioning connects musical expression to historical and ongoing struggles for justice and self-determination.
- Jazz for Mental Health and Wellness in Sacred Spacesmethodology: jazz_for_mental_health_and_wellnessBy presenting live jazz concerts in sacred spaces, the organization promotes mental health wellness in underserved communities, because the spiritual and therapeutic qualities of jazz create a healing environment that supports emotional and psychological resilience.
- Spirituality of Jazz as Transformative Practicemethodology: spirituality-of-jazzBy leveraging the spiritual dimension of jazz, the organization fosters individual and communal transformation, because this approach awakens deeper personal and cultural awareness, serving as a catalyst for healing and resilience.