Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation
The Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Established in 1996 by Christian Frederick Martin IV, it supports nonprofit organizations working in music, arts, education, environmental action, and human services.
Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation gave $595K across 99 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $594,750
- -0.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 99
- +6.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,008
- -6.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $10,818,469
- +10.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (14 of 99, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (77% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its published guidelines describe a request of no more than two pages, including an organization overview, mission and budget; a program description, impact, budget and requested amount; and, for prior grantees, a one-page report on the prior grant’s impact and recognition of the foundation. The guidelines also list a 501(c)(3) determination letter, current board members and affiliations, and the first two pages of the organization’s [guidelines]. The foundation does not make grants to individuals or provide Martin Guitar products.
- Review Cycle
- The guidelines say requests are accepted June 1 through August 31 and must be received before September 1 to be considered.
- Deadline
- The guidelines say requests are accepted June 1 through August 31 and must be received before September 1 to be…
- Next open deadline
- August 31, 2027 (The Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation Grant)
- Contact
Mailing address: 510 Sycamore Street, Nazareth, PA 18064
Phone: (610) 759-2837
Website: https://martinguitar.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation
Who Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northampton Community College Foundation ($35K). Together the top 10 received $194K.
Grant Size Distribution
413 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 412 grants of 413 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes support for community activity in the Nazareth region and for education, arts and culture, and human services in the Lehigh Valley. It also supports acoustic music organizations nationally. In 2025, 77% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania; the next largest state shares were California at 6%, Kentucky and New Jersey at 3% each, and Virginia at 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 99 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 14 of 99 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 26% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $355K (2019) to $597K (2024). In 2025 it made 99 grants totaling $595K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northampton Community College Foundation Bethlehem, PA | General Donation | $35,000 |
| United Way of the Greater LV Allentown, PA | General Donation | $35,000 |
| Fox Chase Cancer Center Philadelphia, PA | General Donation | $20,000 |
| National Association of Music Merchants Carlsbad, CA | General Donation | $20,000 |
| Wildlands Conservancy Emmaus, PA | General Donation | $17,500 |
| Moravian Historical Society Nazareth, PA | General Donation | $15,000 |
| Nazareth Area Food Bank Nazareth, PA | General Donation | $15,000 |
| Arts Quest Bethlehem, PA | General Donation | $12,500 |
| Birthplace of Country Music Bristol, VA | General Donation | $12,000 |
| New Bethany Ministries Bethlehem, PA | General Donation | $12,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $10,818,469 | $1,689,442 | $662,252 | $594,750 | 99 | $641,177 | $1,207,281 | $624,760 |
| 2024 | $9,791,279 | $1,143,667 | $695,885 | $596,500 | 93 | $634,492 | $608,328 | $578,285 |
| 2023 | $9,343,497 | $732,647 | $545,875 | $485,500 | 86 | $501,500 | $221,956 | $502,196 |
| 2022 | $9,156,725 | $983,296 | $548,045 | $471,000 | 72 | $484,000 | $208,216 | $482,429 |
| 2021 | $8,721,474 | $2,315,352 | $464,715 | $399,200 | 63 | $411,200 | $1,093,582 | $485,520 |
| 2020 | $6,870,837 | $891,058 | $419,559 | $380,000 | 55 | — | $732,853 | $385,834 |
| 2019 | $6,399,338 | $532,325 | $402,403 | $354,800 | 53 | — | $294,093 | $375,806 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $625K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated priorities include performance, participation, and education in acoustic steel-string guitar music; community activity in the Nazareth region; preserving America’s acoustic guitar heritage; arts education emphasizing acoustic guitar; educational institutions in the Lehigh Valley; arts and culture, mainly in the Lehigh Valley; assistance for people who are poor, hungry, sick, or homeless in the Lehigh Valley; and environmental action related to guitar-making materials and processes.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate several of these areas. Wildlands Conservancy describes its work as protecting and restoring natural areas and waterways and educating the community about a sustainable environment. Nazareth Area Food Bank says it helps people who need food and household products. Moravian Historical Society offers programs promoting Moravian history, while Birthplace of Country Music describes its work as celebrating Bristol’s musical heritage and educating audiences about the 1927 Bristol Sessions. These are the grantees’ own descriptions of their missions.
Grantmaking
The foundation’s 2025 IRS filing reports 99 grants totaling $594,750. The foundation’s website separately reports 103 grants for 2025, with the same total. The 99 grants itemized in the filing ranged from $250 to $35,000, with a median grant of $5,000. Foundation guidelines say grants are typically $1,000 to $10,000.
Among the largest 2025 grants in the filing were $35,000 each to Northampton Community College Foundation and United Way of the Greater LV; $20,000 each to Fox Chase Cancer Center and the National Association of Music Merchants; and $17,500 to Wildlands Conservancy. Other listed awards included $15,000 each to Moravian Historical Society and Nazareth Area Food Bank, and $12,500 to ArtsQuest.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Christian F. Martin IV as president; Diane S. Martin as vice president; James F. Dunleavy as treasurer; and Debra Karlowitch as secretary. Directors listed are Richard Boak, Roland Kushner, Charles Peischl, Susan Kubik, Matthew Kennedy, and Mariclare Groller.
Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation is led by Christian F. Martin IV, President on every filing since 2019; 9 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christian F. Martin IV
President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Charles Peischl
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
$1K (2021) → $1K (2025)
Mariclare Groller
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
$1K (2021) → $1K (2025)
Matthew Kennedy
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
$1K (2021) → $1K (2025)
Richard Boak
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Roland Kushner
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Susan Kubik
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
$1K (2021) → $1K (2025)
John McElroy
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
$1K (2022) → $1K (2025)
James F. Dunleavy
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $5K (2025)
Debra Karlowitch
Secretary
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Diane S. Martin
Vice President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Theresa Rothrock (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: John A. Messer (2019) — Treasurer · Filing note: Retired 2019
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $5K, to James F Dunleavy (Treasurer). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation
How much does Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation give each year?
Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation gave $595K across 99 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $597K across 93 grants.
What is Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,008, across 99 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation give grants?
Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bethlehem, PA (28 grants), Allentown, PA (22 grants), Nazareth, PA (6 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (5 grants).
Does Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (99 of 99) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Northampton Community College Foundation ($35,000), United Way of the Greater LV ($35,000) and Fox Chase Cancer Center ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation?
Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation reported $10.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $641K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $625K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated priorities include performance, participation, and education in acoustic steel-string guitar music; community activity in the Nazareth region; preserving America’s acoustic guitar heritage; arts education emphasizing acoustic guitar; educational institutions in the Lehigh Valley; arts and culture, mainly in the Lehigh Valley; assistance for people who are poor, hungry, sick, or homeless in the Lehigh Valley; and environmental action related to guitar-making materials and processes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1483218. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 1, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 29, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/martin-guitar-charitable-foundation-morg_0ff2590d52f84da0930464ba6f09b750
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311483218_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/martin-guitar-charitable-foundation-morg_0ff2590d52f84da0930464ba6f09b750},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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