Gibson Gives Foundation
Gibson Gives Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to introducing, inspiring, and amplifying the power of music through guitar donations and music education support. The foundation operates as the philanthropic arm of Gibson, the legendary guitar manufacturer with 125 years of history in music creation and innovation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$634K
-32.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
+602.6% YoY
Grant Count
323
+1192.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-45.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gibson Gives Foundation reported a distributable amount of $36K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Gibson Gives' primary mission is to provide necessary instruments and inspiration to fuel the next generation with the gift of music. The foundation focuses specifically on:
- Music Education Programs: Supporting institutions and programs that use music education for development and growth
- Guitar Donations: Providing guitars to music education initiatives and scholarship recipients
- Music-Related Scholarships: Funding tuition support for students pursuing higher education in music-related fields including performance, education, business, and wellness
- Healing Through Music: Supporting programs that bring healing through music-specific initiatives where guitar is utilized
As of 2020, the foundation shifted its gifting guidelines to benefit those who bring education or healing through music-specific programs where guitar is used.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Gibson Gives funds music education programs globally, with documented activity in:
- United States (Arkansas, California, and other locations)
- China (Beijing)
- Taiwan (Taipei)
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Historical Giving (Since 2002): Provided thousands of guitars and donations in excess of $30 million
- 2019 Commitment: Pledged to give away one guitar per day over 1,000 days
- Scholarship Program (2022-Present): Over $413,000 in tuition support contributed
- Donation Structure: 100% of all donations go directly to support the foundation's mission
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $633,782 | $934,196 | $920,210 |
| Revenue | $2,899,028 | $3,460,257 | $2,042,819 |
| Expenses | $3,199,442 | $3,659,343 | $2,224,261 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,199,442 | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $35,870 | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Gibson Gives Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Nashville Symphony Association ($94,125), Napa Valley Youth Symphony ($79,125), Musicares Foundation ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN LEBANESE SYRIAN ASSOCIATED CHARITIES INC (ST JUDE) MEMPHIS, TN | FOUNDATION GIVING TO ANOTHER FOUNDATION OR FOR SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,000 |
| ARKANSAS ARTS ACADEMY ROGERS, AZ | FOUNDATION GIVING TO ANOTHER FOUNDATION OR FOR SCHOLARSHIPS | $5,000 |
| ARMENIA FUND INC GLENDALE, CA | FOUNDATION GIVING TO ANOTHER FOUNDATION OR FOR SCHOLARSHIPS | $27,000 |
| BELMONT UNIVERSITY NASHVILLE, TN | FOUNDATION GIVING TO ANOTHER FOUNDATION OR FOR SCHOLARSHIPS | $5,000 |
| COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME NASHVILLE, TN | FOUNDATION GIVING TO ANOTHER FOUNDATION OR FOR SCHOLARSHIPS | $25,000 |
| GUITARS FOR VET'S INC KENOSHA, WI | FOUNDATION GIVING TO ANOTHER FOUNDATION OR FOR SCHOLARSHIPS | $5,000 |
| JAZZ EMPOWERS NASHVILLE, TN | FOUNDATION GIVING TO ANOTHER FOUNDATION OR FOR SCHOLARSHIPS | $1,000 |
| LATIN GRAMMY CULTURAL FOUNDATION MIAMI, FL | FOUNDATION GIVING TO ANOTHER FOUNDATION OR FOR SCHOLARSHIPS | $33,000 |
| LAUNCH PAD FOUNDATION NASHVILLE, TN | FOUNDATION GIVING TO ANOTHER FOUNDATION OR FOR SCHOLARSHIPS | $5,500 |
| MUSEUM OF POP CULTURE - EXPERIENCE LEARNING COMMUNITY SEATTLE, WA | FOUNDATION GIVING TO ANOTHER FOUNDATION OR FOR SCHOLARSHIPS | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Dendy Jarrett - Executive Director, Gibson Foundation (appointed July 2019)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CESAR GUEIKIAN | CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT | 0.25 | — |
| ERICA KRUSEN | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| ELIZABETH HEIDT | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| LOWELL GOLDMAN | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| JESSICA JOHNS | TREASURER | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2024**: Established the third annual Sister Rosetta Tharpe Scholarship, awarded to Luis Melchor at Arkansas Arts Academy in Rogers, Arkansas
**Partnership Expansion**: Gibson Gives partnered with 1500 Sound Academy to deliver five music scholarships and substantial instrument donations across Los Angeles, Beijing, and Taipei
Music Forward and Gibson Gives announce recipients of LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist**LGBTQ+ Support**: Collaborated with Music Forward to announce recipients of LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Award scholarships
Music Forward and Gibson Gives announce recipients of LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist**Record-Breaking Donations**: The foundation has delivered record-breaking years of donations in recent periods, exceeding expectations in its mission to provide guitars and music education support
Gibson Gives delivers record-breaking year of donationsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gibson Gives Foundation fund?
Gibson Gives' primary mission is to provide necessary instruments and inspiration to fuel the next generation with the gift of music. The foundation focuses specifically on: • **Music Education Programs**: Supporting institutions and programs that use music education for development and growth • **Guitar Donations**: Providing guitars to music education initiatives and scholarship recipients • **Music-Related Scholarships**: Funding tuition support for students pursuing higher education in musi…
How do I apply for a grant from Gibson Gives Foundation?
**Application Process:** • Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits • Donation requests are submitted through an online form and reviewed on a monthly basis • Minimum processing time of 4 weeks after receipt of a properly completed request form • Approved recipients must provide images and brief updates documenting results within 30 days of program completion • The foundation reserves the right to substitute guitar models as needed **Recent Grant Activity:** • **Sister Rosetta Tharpe…
Where does Gibson Gives Foundation make grants?
Gibson Gives funds music education programs globally, with documented activity in: • United States (Arkansas, California, and other locations) • China (Beijing) • Taiwan (Taipei)
What size grants does Gibson Gives Foundation award?
In 2024, Gibson Gives Foundation awarded 323 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gibson Gives Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gibson Gives Foundation reported a distributable amount of $36K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gibson Gives Foundation's EIN?
Gibson Gives Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0832563. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gibson Gives Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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