The Blues Foundation INC

About the Organization

Organization category

Public Charity

Country / State

United States / Tennessee

Mission

The Blues Foundation preserves blues heritage, celebrates blues recording and performance, expands worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensures the future of the uniquely American art form.

Programs or services

The Blues Foundation preserves, celebrates, and promotes blues music through a variety of internationally recognized programs and services. Our core programs include the International Blues Challenge, Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame, Blues Hall of Fame Museum, Keeping the Blues Alive Awards, Keeping the Blues Alive Grants Program, Youth Showcase, Pinetop Perkins Foundation Workshops, educational programming, and museum exhibitions. We also provide artist recognition, music education, cultural preservation, professional development opportunities, support for affiliated blues societies, community engagement, and public access to the history and legacy of blues music.

Detailed programs

International Blues Challenge (IBC)

The International Blues Challenge is the world's largest gathering of blues musicians and one of The Blues Foundation's signature programs. Held annually in Memphis, Tennessee, the event brings together hundreds of bands and solo/duo performers representing affiliated blues societies from around the world. The competition provides emerging artists with a unique opportunity to showcase their talents before music industry professionals, media, and blues fans while fostering networking, professional development, and career advancement. The week also includes educational workshops, youth programming, and special events that celebrate the global blues community.

Blues Music Awards (BMA)

The Blues Music Awards are internationally recognized as the highest honor in blues music. Each year, the awards celebrate excellence in recording and performance by recognizing outstanding artists, musicians, producers, and recordings across multiple categories. The program not only honors artistic achievement but also increases public awareness of blues music and supports the continued growth and visibility of the genre.

Blues Hall of Fame

The Blues Hall of Fame honors the individuals, recordings, literature, and organizations that have made lasting contributions to the preservation and advancement of blues music. Through an annual induction ceremony and permanent recognition in the Blues Hall of Fame Museum, the program preserves the legacy of the pioneers and innovators whose work has shaped American music and influenced countless genres around the world.

Blues Hall of Fame Museum

Located in downtown Memphis, the Blues Hall of Fame Museum offers visitors an immersive educational experience through interactive exhibits, multimedia presentations, rare artifacts, photographs, and historical collections. The museum serves as a cultural destination for visitors from around the world while providing educational opportunities for students, researchers, educators, and music enthusiasts seeking to better understand the history and significance of the blues.

Keeping the Blues Alive Awards

The Keeping the Blues Alive Awards recognize individuals and organizations whose work behind the scenes has made an extraordinary impact on preserving, promoting, and supporting blues music. Honorees include educators, journalists, broadcasters, record labels, festival organizers, photographers, producers, historians, and volunteers whose contributions strengthen the blues community and ensure its continued vitality.

Keeping the Blues Alive Grants Program

The Keeping the Blues Alive Grants Program provides financial support to blues societies and nonprofit organizations that develop educational, cultural, and community-based blues initiatives. Grants help fund music education, youth outreach, performances, workshops, festivals, artist residencies, and preservation projects that expand access to blues music while encouragin

Target Audience

The Blues Foundation serves a diverse audience that includes blues musicians, songwriters, recording artists, educators, students, historians, researchers, blues societies, music industry professionals, cultural organizations, museum visitors, donors, members, and blues enthusiasts from around the world. Through its programs and services, the Foundation also engages youth, emerging artists, and communities interested in preserving and celebrating the rich heritage and ongoing evolution of blues music.

Geographic Focus

International

Current projects

The Blues Foundation is actively engaged in several initiatives that advance its mission to preserve blues heritage, celebrate excellence in blues performance and recording, and ensure the future of blues music. Current projects include planning and producing the 42nd International Blues Challenge (January 19–23, 2027), administering submissions and preparations for the 2027 Blues Music Awards, expanding the Blues Hall of Fame Museum through new exhibits and technology enhancements, preserving and digitizing historical archives and collections, and continuing the Keeping the Blues Alive Grants Program and HART (Handy Artists Relief Trust) to provide financial assistance to blues musicians and support community-based blues education.

Additional priorities include expanding educational programming for youth and lifelong learners, increasing international outreach through multilingual museum interpretation and global partnerships, growing membership and donor engagement, strengthening relationships with affiliated blues societies, developing new corporate and foundation partnerships, enhancing digital communications and online educational resources, and preserving blues history through oral histories, artifact conservation, and ongoing research initiatives.

Organization goals

The Blues Foundation's goals are to preserve the rich history and cultural legacy of blues music, recognize excellence in blues performance and recording, support the careers and well-being of blues artists, and inspire future generations through education and outreach. The Foundation is committed to expanding access to blues music by growing its museum, educational programs, and digital resources while increasing engagement with diverse audiences around the world.

Additional organizational goals include strengthening financial sustainability through increased membership, philanthropy, grants, and corporate partnerships; expanding the reach and impact of the International Blues Challenge, Blues Music Awards, and Blues Hall of Fame; enhancing the visitor experience at the Blues Hall of Fame Museum; preserving and digitizing historical collections and archives; providing emergency assistance to blues musicians through the HART Fund; supporting affiliated blues societies and community organizations; and ensuring that the blues continues to thrive as a vital and influential American art form for generations to come.

Leadership

Kimberly Horton – President & Chief Executive Officer
Provides strategic leadership for the organization, overseeing operations, fundraising, programs, financial sustainability, partnerships, and the execution of the Foundation's mission to preserve, celebrate, and promote blues music.

Logenvia Morris – Director of Finance
Oversees the Foundation's financial management, including budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, audits, compliance, payroll, and fiscal stewardship.

Ashley Linsey – Museum Director
Leads the operations of the Blues Hall of Fame Museum, including exhibits, collections management, visitor experience, educational programming, and preservation initiatives.

Christopher Caldwell – Communications Coordinator
Manages the Foundation's communications strategy, including media relations, marketing, digital communications, social media, publications, website content, and public engagement. Christopher supports the promotion of the Foundation's programs, events, initiatives, and fundraising efforts while strengthening awareness of the Foundation's mission and impact.

Together, the leadership team works closely with the Board of Directors and staff to administer the Foundation's signature programs, including the International Blues Challenge, Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame, Blues Hall of Fame Museum, Keeping the Blues Alive Awards, Keeping the Blues Alive Grants Program, and HART (Handy Artists Relief Trust), while advancing the organization's strategic priorities and long-term sustainability.

Funding Needs

Funding needs

The Blues Foundation seeks funding to sustain and expand its programs that preserve, promote, and celebrate blues music while ensuring its legacy for future generations. Key funding priorities include support for the International Blues Challenge, Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame, Blues Hall of Fame Museum, Keeping the Blues Alive Grants Program, HART (Handy Artists Relief Trust), youth education initiatives, and public programming.

Additional funding is needed for museum exhibit enhancements and technology upgrades, preservation and digitization of historical archives and artifacts, educational outreach, artist emergency assistance, collections conservation, operating support, staff capacity, marketing and audience development, and accessibility improvements, including multilingual interpretation and expanded digital resources. The Foundation also seeks funding to strengthen organizational sustainability, increase community engagement, and develop new initiatives that expand access to blues education and cultural preservation on both a national and international scale.

Website & Social Media