Why We're Pausing This Summer

Seattle JazzED is built on resilience—on the power of community, creativity, and music to carry us through change. We’re sharing an important update about our summer programs, and the intentional steps we’re taking to strengthen our future. 

After careful consideration and deep reflection, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause our summer programming this year—apart from our Second Line Camp, which will continue as planned. 

We’re taking this pause now so that we can move forward stronger—building programs that are sustainable, rooted in community, and built to last. 

Over the past two years, Seattle JazzED has gone through significant internal changes. We’ve welcomed new leadership, adjusted how our team works together, and restructured to better align with our financial reality and the direction we’re headed. 

At the same time, we’ve been navigating the same headwinds affecting many nonprofits: increased demand for financial assistance, shifting philanthropic priorities from donors, and the continued impact of inflation and economic uncertainty on families and organizations alike.  

Even through all this change, one thing has remained steady: our commitment to our teaching artists, students, families, and supporters. 

But the numbers tell a hard truth. We’ve seen a steady decline in tuition revenue. As costs rise and financial assistance requests increase, the gap between revenue and program expenses has become unsustainable. Our fundraising efforts alone can no longer maintain the level of support and quality programming that we strive to provide. 

Rather than risk last-minute disruptions during the school year, we’re choosing to pause during the summer so that we can refocus. Our team will be using this time to strengthen our financial model, refine our program offerings, and expand outreach to increase enrollment this fall.  

At the heart of this decision is our commitment to the long-term health of Seattle JazzED. We are dedicated to ensuring that our programs are not only sustainable but also accessible to all families, no matter their circumstances.  

By taking this step now, we’re making space to do the thoughtful, behind-the-scenes work that will ensure Seattle JazzED remains a thriving home for youth, music, and creativity for years to come. 

For any questions, please reach out to our Executive Director at liz@seattlejazzed.org.