Trailblazers of Hope Quasi-Endowment Fund

Sustaining Camp Access. Strengthening Our Future.

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Since 1984, Jazz Camp West and, since 2008, Jam Camp West have offered immersive music and movement experiences that transform lives. For one full week, youth and adults live inside the creative process, guided by world-class artists, surrounded by nature, and grounded in community. Camp is where confidence grows, leadership emerges, and belonging takes root.

Each year, Living Jazz provides approximately 30% of camp participants with some level of financial support or scholarship assistance, reflecting our deep commitment to access and equity.

These programs are among Living Jazz’s most impactful, and most vulnerable. Grant and public funding rarely cover the full cost of multi-day residential camps, and scholarship support can fluctuate from year to year.

The Trailblazers of Hope Quasi-Endowment Fund was created to change that.

A Strategic Investment in Access

The Trailblazers of Hope Fund is a board-designated quasi-endowment fund invested for long-term growth. The principal remains intact, while a portion of annual earnings supports camp scholarships each year.

This model creates sustainable, renewable funding, protecting access today while building financial strength for the future.

By building this dedicated fund, Living Jazz can:

  • Stabilize scholarship funding even as grants and public support shift

  • Reduce pressure on annual fundraising

  • Plan responsibly for the future

  • Free additional resources to expand in-school and community-based programs across the Bay Area

Unlike a traditional endowment, a quasi-endowment provides flexibility—allowing Living Jazz to remain fiscally responsible while remaining responsive to community needs.

Why It Matters

Camp-based programs are among the hardest to sustain, yet, as we know, they are often the most transformative. For many participants, camp is a turning point, where young people discover their voice, teens step into leadership, and adults reconnect with creativity in powerful ways.

This fund ensures those experiences remain strong, stable, and accessible for generations to come.

An Invitation to Trailblazers

We are building this fund to $1.2 million over five years and invite visionary supporters to become founding Trailblazers. Leadership gifts of $10,000 or more help anchor the fund and inspire others to join.

Together, we can protect what makes camp extraordinary and strengthen Living Jazz’s future.

To learn more about becoming a Trailblazer:

development@livingjazz.org | (510) 858-5313

Living Jazz is a registered 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 94-2963195).