named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Blues Ignition
Youth student band program that gives young musicians the opportunity to perform at the annual festival; includes auditions and performance coaching.
Blues In The Schools
Provides live music performances, songwriting workshops, and classroom discussions on blues history and culture for students in Central New York schools.
KJ James Memorial Scholarship
Annual scholarship awarded to promising young performers in honor of Kelly James, a foundational figure in the Syracuse blues scene.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Music Education and Training Programs 2 activities
- Operates youth music education and development programsDelivers blues music education through school assemblies and classroom workshops across Central New York, reaching over 1,400 students annually. Programs include Blues in the Schools and artist-led workshops with nationally touring performers.
- Runs the Blues Ignition student band programOperates Blues Ignition, a youth development initiative that provides performance opportunities for students aged 19 and under, including a 40-minute performance set at the annual festival. The program supports young performers through mentorship and public performance experience.
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Arts Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Awards the KJ James Memorial Scholarship to young performersAnnually awards the KJ James Memorial Scholarship to promising young blues performers, with recipients recognized publicly. The scholarship is part of the organization’s youth development initiatives.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Hosts an annual, admission-free blues music festivalOrganizes a three-day, admission-free festival at Chevy Court in the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY, featuring local, regional, and national blues artists. The event attracts thousands of attendees annually and includes food and beverage vendors, shaded areas, lawn chair space, and designated dancing areas.
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Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
- Operates an annual guitar raffle to fund youth programsHosts a guitar raffle each year with proceeds benefiting Blues Ignition, the organization’s student band program, to support youth music development initiatives.
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Event and Production Volunteer Coordination 1 activity
- Organizes volunteer engagement for festival operationsRelies on over 100 volunteers annually to support festival logistics, including stage management, setup and teardown, and runner duties. Volunteers receive food tickets, T-shirts, and access to a designated rest area with beverages.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Offers VIP and RV accommodations during the festivalProvides VIP packages with catered meals, preferred seating, and beverages, as well as RV parking with utility hook-ups for multi-night stays at the NYS Fairgrounds during the festival.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$464K
Contributions & grants$195K42%
Program service revenue$267K58%
Investment income$2K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$372K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$132K
Cash$132K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$132K
Liquid reserves4.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +2153.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 10
- ARI MALZMAN — DIRECTOR
- CLIFF MALZMAN — DIRECTOR
- EDGAR PAGAN — DIRECTOR
- EVELYN BURKE — DIRECTOR
- GEORGE HALL — DIRECTOR
- JODY KENNEY — DIRECTOR
- LORI TAPE — DIRECTOR
- MATTHEW DELFUOCO — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT SCHNEIDER — DIRECTOR
- SUE STANZYCK — DIRECTOR
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- Advance Media New York Partner — Partnered on digital and OTT streaming advertising campaigns to promote the festival.
- Beginnings Credit Union Partner — Funds the KJ James Youth Scholarship through sponsorship.
- Beginnings Credit Union Partner — Sponsors the KJ James Memorial Scholarship.
- Gianelli Sausage Partner — Sponsors the Main Stage at the festival.
- Gibson Gives Partner — Partner in annual guitar raffle benefiting the student band program Blues Ignition.
- Gibson Gives Partner — Sponsor of the Blues Ignition program.
- J.J. Lane Construction Partner — Sponsor of the Blues In The Schools program
- JJ Lane Construction Partner — Sponsors the Blues In The Schools program.
- Juan German Photography Partner — Provides photos for the festival's scholarship program.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides grant funding for the festival.
- New York State Fairgrounds Partner — Provides venue cooperation for the festival.
- Onondaga County Government — Provides continued support for the festival.
- ProAct Partner — Sponsors the Blues Club VIP Area at the festival.
- ProAct Blues Club Partner — Collaborates to offer VIP packages for festival attendees.
- Sounds Unite Partner — Provides additional support for the festival.
- The Gifford Foundation Funder — Provides grant funding for the festival.
- United Healthcare Partner — Serves as Blues Partner for the festival.
- Vanessa Collier Partner — Nationally touring artist participating in the 2026 Blues In The Schools program with workshops and performances
- Visit Syracuse Partner — Collaborates on marketing and tourism promotion for the festival.
- Warren Haynes Partner — Sponsor of the Blues Ignition program.
- What's Hot Magazine Partner — Serves as media sponsor for the festival.
strategies · 3
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.
- Arts Education as Cultural Transmissionmethodology: arts-education-through-live-performanceBy integrating live performances, school-based programs, and interactive workshops, we teach youth about the historical and cultural significance of the blues because experiential learning fosters deeper appreciation and continuity of cultural traditions.
- Cultural Preservation Through Free Public Accessmethodology: cultural_preservation_through_free_accessBy providing free public access to blues music performances and education, we preserve and promote blues culture because removing financial barriers increases community engagement and intergenerational transmission of cultural knowledge.
- Volunteer-Powered Community Engagementmethodology: volunteer-ambassador modelBy relying entirely on volunteer labor and ambassador roles, we deepen community ownership and connection to the festival because participatory involvement strengthens local investment in cultural preservation.