Stanford Jazz Workshop (SJW) was founded in 1972 to create an environment conducive to learning, experiencing and appreciating jazz. Today, SJW remains focused on its original mission: bring the best performers and teachers of jazz together with listeners and students of all abilities and backgrounds. The organization’s activities embody this mission and include educational programs that are respected world-wide: Jazz Camp for musicians ages 12–17; Jazz Residency for adults; and the Evening Summer Program (weekday evening classes for general listeners and musicians of all ages and skill levels).

To ensure accessibility to its programs, SJW annually awards more than 100 Jazz Camp tuition scholarships to youth with financial need. Though many of its activities are held on the campus, SJW is neither legally nor financially connected to Stanford University.