Who We Are: The Guitar Center Music Foundation believes that music participation is an essential element in the fabric of an enduring society. The organization aims to keep music education alive and available in our nation’s schools and communities. Founded in 2005, this public charity has reached over 300,000 people through its grants of instruments to music education programs. These grant recipients, which give more people the opportunity to make music, include school music classrooms and community-based organizations.

Mission Statement: The Guitar Center Music Foundation supports music education programs nationally by providing those in need with instruments and by advocating the benefits of music education.

Guitar Center Foundation is a music charity funded by people who want to strengthen the state of music education, people who believe music is an integral part of society and want to make music more accessible to everyone.

The donations we receive allow us to provide instruments to school music classrooms, after school programs and music therapy programs. We select programs that are in-need, ongoing, sustainable and give more people the opportunity to make music.

Our overhead expenses are covered by sales revenue, including authentic celebrity music memorabilia. Our program expenses are covered by donations large and small.

The Foundation was founded in 2005 by Larry Thomas when he retired as CEO of Guitar Center, now as CEO of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, we continue to give more people of all ages the chance to create, experience, and enjoy everything music has to offer.