Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation
The Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation is a private, company-sponsored foundation based in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Established in 1996 by Christian Frederick Martin IV, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations focused on music, arts, education, environmental action, and human services. The foundation is affiliated with C.F. Martin & Co., which has contributed to the foundation annually (with one exception) since 1998 to support its programs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.8M
+4.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$597K
+22.9% YoY
Grant Count
93
+8.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+13.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports causes aligned with the following priorities:
- Performance, participation, and education in acoustic steel string guitar music
- Community activity in the Nazareth region
- Study and preservation of America's acoustic guitar heritage
- Arts education programs emphasizing acoustic guitar
- Educational institutions in the Lehigh Valley
- Promotion of arts and culture, primarily in the Lehigh Valley
- Assistance for the poor, hungry, sick, and homeless in the Lehigh Valley
- Environmental action related to guitar-making materials and processes
The foundation does not fund political or religious organizations or activities.
Grantmaking
Ready to take the next step with Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, including Nazareth, Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, as well as national organizations focused on acoustic music. Recent grantees span multiple states, including Pennsylvania, New York, and Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $9,791,279 (most recent filing)
Annual Giving: $596,500 (2024)
Revenue: $732,647–$983,300 (varies by reporting year)
Expenses: $545,875–$546,000 (varies by reporting year)
Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,791,279 | $9,343,497 | $9,156,725 |
| Revenue | $1,143,667 | $732,647 | $983,296 |
| Expenses | $695,885 | $545,875 | $548,045 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $634,492 | $501,500 | $484,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $608,328 | $221,956 | $208,216 |
| Distributable Amount | $578,285 | $502,196 | $482,429 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Christian F. Martin IV – President (serves without compensation)
- Diane S. Martin – Vice President (served without compensation; passed away January 4, 2022)
- James F. Dunleavy – Treasurer
The foundation board manages assets conservatively to promote long-term planning.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTIAN F MARTIN IV | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| DIANE S MARTIN | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| JAMES F DUNLEAVY | TREASURER | 0.25 | $5,000 |
| RICHARD BOAK | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $2,000 |
| ROLAND KUSHNER | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $2,000 |
| DEBRA KARLOWITCH | SECRETARY | 0.25 | $2,000 |
| CHARLES PEISCHL | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $1,000 |
| SUSAN KUBIK | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $1,000 |
| MATTHEW KENNEDY | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $1,000 |
| MARICLARE GROLLER | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $1,000 |
| JOHN MCELROY | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $1,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced its 2024 grants in early 2025, marking 30 years of philanthropic giving since its establishment in 1996. The 2024 grant cycle awarded 93 grants totaling $596,500 to local and national nonprofit organizations.
Martin Guitar marks 30 years of giving with $565K in grants - LVBFeatured grantees include Guitars in the Classroom, a 25-year-old nonprofit providing music education training to educators nationwide, and Third Street Alliance, which supports women, children, and families in the Lehigh Valley.
In 2023, the foundation awarded $485,500 across more than 85 nonprofit organizations, with significant support directed to Lehigh Valley institutions including the Allentown Art Museum, Allentown Symphony Association, ArtsQuest, and numerous human services organizations addressing poverty, hunger, and homelessness.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities