Est. 1976
Supporting local artists, educating the community, and creating spaces where jazz continues to thrive.
Featured Event
Honoring jazz legends and raising vital funds to support our mission.
Celebrating four legendary Indianapolis born jazz artists
Piano
Guitar
Trombone
Trumpet
The Hall of Fame Gala is our primary fundraising event, generating over 60% of our annual operating budget. Your attendance directly supports artist grants, education programs, and cultural preservation initiatives throughout the year.
"The Hall of Fame Gala is more than a celebration, it's a promise to the future that we will never forget the giants upon whose shoulders we stand."
— Marcus Johnson, Foundation Director
Hall of Fame 2026
Performances by Grammy Winners
Induction Ceremony & Film
Funds Support All Programs
The mission of the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation is to preserve our rich legacy and promote the future of jazz music in Indianapolis through education and performance.
For thirty years, the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation has helped shape and strengthen the city’s jazz community. The IJF aligns its programming with the three pillars of the mission: education, performance, and legacy. Through these initiatives, the IJF ensures that jazz remains a vital part of Indiana’s cultural fabric, inspiring new generations of musicians and audiences alike.
Years Strong
Musicians Supported
Attendees Annually
The Indianapolis Jazz Foundation preserves the city’s jazz legacy, nurtures furture artists, and brings live performances to the community.
Honoring the Past
The Indianapolis Jazz Foundation’s legacy initiatives honor the people and stories that have shaped the city’s rich jazz history. At the center of this work is the Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame, established in 1998 to recognize the musicians, educators, bandleaders, composers, and community members whose lasting contributions have defined Indianapolis jazz.
Through oral history projects and legacy concert programming, the Foundation preserves these stories and celebrates the music, ensuring Indianapolis’s jazz legacy continues to inspire future generations.
Inspiring the Future
The Indianapolis Jazz Foundation’s educational initiatives bring jazz to students across Marion County through accessible, low to no-cost school programs.
Through performances, instruction, and engagement with professional musicians, the IJF inspires creativity and connects students with this uniquely American art form.
Bringing the Music to Life
The Indianapolis Jazz Foundation’s year-round performance programming celebrates the rich tradition, creativity, and community spirit of jazz through engaging live experiences.
The IJF also presents Indy Jazz Fest, Indianapolis’s premier celebration of jazz. Featuring world-class performers, emerging voices, and passionate audiences, the festival honors the music that has shaped American culture while celebrating Indianapolis’s rich jazz heritage and connection to the global jazz community.
Listen
A curated selection of jazz classics that inspire our mission
