Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives
GIBSON GIVES FOUNDATION is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. Its public-facing name is Gibson Gives, which describes its mission as introducing, inspiring, and amplifying the power of music through guitars across generations, genres, and genders. Its donation guidelines prioritize specific programs that bring education or healing through music where guitar is used.
Key facts about Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives
In short: Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives gave $2.5M across 316 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), top state Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 20-0832563
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,483,350
- Grants made (2025)
- 316
- Average grant
- $7,859
- Median grant
- $4,421
- Total assets
- $626,234
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (27% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to apply
- The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its online donation request form. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Requests are reviewed monthly after the end of each month.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$626K
-1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
-21.9% YoY
Grant Count
316
-2.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-20.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives reported a distributable amount of $28K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives gives
- 35% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 64% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
Gibson Gives says it aims to amplify the power of music through guitars. Its donation request guidance focuses on music education or healing programs that use guitar.
The grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Free Guitars 4 Kids says it provides free guitars to students who might otherwise lack the opportunity to own an instrument. Save The Music Foundation says it helps children, schools, and communities reach their potential through making music. Songbirds Foundation says it delivers educational programming, preserves music history, hosts events, and provides resources to emerging artists. ACM Lifting Lives says it funds music health programs and provides emergency relief to music-community members facing unexpected hardship.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 316 grants totaling $2,483,350. Grant amounts ranged from $290 to $214,115, with a median of $4,421.
Review Cycle
Requests are reviewed monthly after the end of each month.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives
Ready to take the next step with Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2025, recipients in Tennessee and California each received 27% of grant dollars; recipients in New York received 8%, while Florida and Colorado each received 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 316 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $373K (2020) to $3.2M (2024). In 2025 it made 316 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Guitar Center Music Foundation ($214K). Together the top 10 received $763K.
Grant Size Distribution
829 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 794 grants of 829 (96%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar Center Music Foundation Westlake Village, CA | Program Use & Fundraising Efforts | $214,115 |
| Musicares Santa Monica, CA | Program Use & Fundraising Efforts | $143,068 |
| Free Guitars 4 Kids St Louis Park, MN | Program Use & Fundraising Efforts | $59,606 |
| Save the Music Foundation New York, NY | Program Use & Fundraising Efforts | $50,142 |
| Williamson County Board of Education Franklin, TN | Program Use & Fundraising Efforts | $49,410 |
| Songbirds Foundation Chattanooga, TN | Program Use & Fundraising Efforts | $42,250 |
| ACM Lifting Lives Nashville, TN | Program Use & Fundraising Efforts | $40,241 |
| Save the Music Foundation New York, NY | Program Use & Fundraising Efforts | $40,000 |
| Women Who Rock Pittsburgh, PA | Program Use & Fundraising Efforts | $40,000 |
| Launch Pad Foundation Nashville, TN | Program Use & Fundraising Efforts | $35,686 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $626,234 | $3,118,218 | $3,125,766 | $2,483,350 |
| 2024 | $633,782 | $2,899,028 | $3,199,442 | $3,181,568 |
| 2023 | $934,196 | $3,460,257 | $3,659,343 | $2,198,370 |
The filing type is Form 990-PF.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $626,234 | $633,782 | $934,196 |
| Revenue | $3,118,218 | $2,899,028 | $3,460,257 |
| Expenses | $3,125,766 | $3,199,442 | $3,659,343 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,125,766 | $3,199,442 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $28,321 | $35,870 | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 27, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 22, 2022)
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cesar Gueikian as president and chair; Jessica Johns as treasurer; Erica Krusen as global executive; and Elizabeth Heidt and Lowell Goldman as directors.
Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives is led by Cesar Gueikian, President & Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cesar Gueikian
President & Chair
Director → Chairman & President, 2024
Chairman & President → President & Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Heidt
Director
Vice President of Entertainment Relations → Vice President of Entertai, 2022
Vice President of Entertai → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lowell Goldman
Director
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erica Krusen
Global Executive
Director → Global Executive, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Johns
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: James Curleigh (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Mark Taylor (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Nat Zilka (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Michael Dendy Jarrett (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Denby Jarrett (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Donna Schacher (2020) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Jordan Carlson (2020) — Executive Coordinator
- Former: Kimberly Matoon (2020) — CFO
- Former: Sonia Ulrick (2020) — Executive Coordinator
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Erica Krusen
Mailing address: 209 10Th Avenue South Suite 460, Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 871-4500
Email: gibsonfoundation@gibson.com
Website: https://gibson.submittable.com
Frequently asked questions about Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives
How much does Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives give each year?
Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives gave $2.5M across 316 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.2M across 323 grants.
What is Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives's typical grant size?
Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives's median grant in 2025 was $4,421, and its average grant was $7,859, across 316 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives give grants?
Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives's top state is Tennessee, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (27%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (59 grants), New York, NY (14 grants), Los Angeles, CA (12 grants) and Bozeman, MT (10 grants).
Does Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 316 grants with a stated purpose on Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Use & Fundraising Efforts" (316 grants).
Who are Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives's largest grantees?
Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives's largest 2025 grantees include Guitar Center Music Foundation ($214,115), Musicares ($143,068) and Save the Music Foundation ($90,142 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives?
Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives reported $626K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $28K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives fund?
Gibson Gives says it aims to amplify the power of music through guitars. Its donation request guidance focuses on music education or healing programs that use guitar. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its online donation request form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives's EIN?
Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0832563. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Gibson Gives Foundation DBA Gibson Gives by hand.
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