For some, music may be just a hobby. But for others, music serves as a crucial lifeline – a path to healing, an opportunity to nurture untapped talent, an escape from the grim realities of everyday life, a break from generational trauma, or the start of a social revolution. Thousands of individuals nationwide benefit yearly from the foundation’s grants and other efforts aiding veterans, hospital patients, the unhoused, and those affected by natural disasters, as well as youth in both schools and after-school programs. Learning to play an instrument can have a significant impact on human development. From improving social and academic skills to building confidence, nurturing creativity and relieving stress, the benefits of making music are limitless. Unfortunately, music education is routinely—and mistakenly—undervalued.
Children who study a musical instrument are more likely to excel in all other studies, have enhanced critical thinking skills and pursue higher education.
Schools with music programs have an estimated 90.2% graduation rate, while schools without have an average rate of 72.9%.
Music programs are constantly in danger of being cut, and student participation has experienced the largest decline of any academic subject.
For some, music may be just a hobby. But for others, music serves as a crucial lifeline – a path to healing, an opportunity to nurture untapped talent, an escape from the grim realities of everyday life, a break from generational trauma, or the start of a social revolution. Thousands of individuals nationwide benefit yearly from the foundation’s grants and other efforts aiding veterans, hospital patients, the unhoused, and those affected by natural disasters, as well as youth in both schools and after-school programs. Learning to play an instrument can have a significant impact on human development. From improving social and academic skills to building confidence, nurturing creativity and relieving stress, the benefits of making music are limitless. Unfortunately, music education is routinely—and mistakenly—undervalued.
Children who study a musical instrument are more likely to excel in all other studies, have enhanced critical thinking skills and pursue higher education.
Schools with music programs have an estimated 90.2% graduation rate, while schools without have an average rate of 72.9%.
Music programs are constantly in danger of being cut, and student participation has experienced the largest decline of any academic subject.
The Guitar Center Music Foundation is an independent 501c3 organization dedicated to the healing, transformative power of music. Through instrument grants and donations, we help ensure schools and music education programs get the resources they need to keep music alive and accessible.
We receive over 150 grant requests quarterly and can currently only serve about thirty of those. Our goal is to be able to fulfill every grant request that comes our way. By donating you are allowing us to provide instruments and maximize our efforts.
The Guitar Center Music Foundation is an independent 501c3 organization dedicated to the healing, transformative power of music. Through instrument grants and donations, we help ensure schools and music education programs get the resources they need to keep music alive and accessible.
We receive over 150 grant requests quarterly and can currently only serve about thirty of those. Our goal is to be able to fulfill every grant request that comes our way. By donating you are allowing us to provide instruments and maximize our efforts.
The Guitar Center Music Foundation believes that music participation helps people reach the heights of human potential and is foundational to a healthy society. Founded in 2005, the Foundation has reached over 300,000 people through instrument grants to schools and music therapy programs.
Total revenue raised for in 2025
Music programs supported in 2025
LA Wildfire survivors provided instruments
Expenses in 2025
People impacted through our grants in 2025
The Guitar Center Music Foundation believes that music participation helps people reach the heights of human potential and is foundational to a healthy society. Founded in 2005, the Foundation has reached over 300,000 people through instrument grants to schools and music therapy programs.
Total revenue raised for music programs in 2025
Music programs supported in 2025
LA Wildfire Survivors provided instruments
Expenses in 2025
People impacted through our grants in 2025
States served with instrument grants
Q4 2025 Grantees Announced
785th Military Police Battalion – Fraser, MI
Angela G. Leal Elementary – San Benito, TX
Clark Middle School – Anchorage, AK
Columbia Elementary – Decatur, GA
Falmouth Community Veterans Center – Falmouth, MA
Kelly Miller Middle School – Washington DC
Mildrie’s Road Foundation – Lancaster, CA
Musicians on Call – Los Angeles, CA
NFI North Contoocook School – Contoocook, NH
OmniPeace – Los Angeles, CA
Pioneer Union School District – Somerset, CA
Rae of Light Foundation
Save a Life Recovery Center – Lincoln, ME
Shadow Mountain High School – Phoenix, AZ
South Lincoln School – Fayetteville, TN
St. Mary’s School – Lee, MA
Stone Mountain Middle School – Stone Mountain, GA
Stoneham Central Middle School – Stoneham, MA
Sustainability Academy – Burlington, VT
Tanaina Elementary Behavior Support – Wasilla, AK
The Child Center of NY – Brooklyn, NY
Thornton Middle School – Thornton, CO
Wherever You Go Foundation
DECEMBER 2025
Q3 2025 Grantees Announced
Adelphoi Education Latrobe – Latrobe, PA
Angelica Center for the Arts and Music – Los Angeles, CA
Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School – Charleston, SC
Autism Model Community School – Toledo, OH
Band of Veterans – Massapequa, NY
Bolivar Intermediate School – Bolivar, MO
Bunker R3 School District – Bunker, MO
Children International
Centennial Public Schools – Utica, NE
Dynamo Studios – Chattanooga, TN
Ezel Elem. & Morgan Central – West Liberty, KY
Gorsuch West Elementary – Lancaster, OH
Guitars for Vets
Harrington School District – Harrington, WA
Heart of Los Angeles – LA, CA
Holy Innocents School – Long Beach, CA
Hope for Youth & Families – Springfield, MA
Junior Appalachian Musicians – Independence, VA
Making Music Matters – West Roxbury, MA
Music for Veterans National Association
Orchard Village – Skokie, IL
Pearson Ranch MS Orchestra – Austin, TX
Riveroaks Elementary Choir – Baton Rouge
Roots of Music – New Orleans, LA
Schaumberg Elementary – New Orleans, LA
St. Lucie Elementary – Fort Pierce, FL
Stones River Manor – Murfreesboro, TN
The Excel College – Black Mtn, NC
The Salvation Army – Carson, CA
Valor North Austin – Austin, TX
White House Middle School – White House, TN
Young Women’s Prep Network – El Paso, TX
SEPTEMBER 2025
Q2 2025 Grantees Announced
ASCAP Foundation – New York, NY
Blue Springs City Theatre – Blue Springs, MO
Blueprint Academy – Westlake Village, CA
Canticuum Novum International
Challenge America
Civitan Foundation – Phoenix, AZ
Dunkirk City School District – Dunkirk, NY
Ella White Elementary School – Alpena, MI
Gainesville Chamber Orchestra – Gainseville, FL
Georgetown Middle School – Marquette Heights, IL
Greene Central High School – Snow Hills, NC
Guitarists for Good
Guitars in the Classroom – San Diego, CA
Hands 4 Hope – North Hollywood, CA
Jazz Hands for Autism – Los Angeles, CA
Jazz Power Initiative – New York, NY
Lucille Package Foundation for Children’s Health – Palo Alto, CA
Macks Creek R-V Schools – Macks Creek, MO
Meade High School – Ft. Meade, MD
Michelle Obama STEM Elementary – Hampton, GA
MLSE, Inc. – Altus, OK
Musack – Los Angeles, CA
Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center – Pueblo, CO
Nashville Songwriter’s Association International (NSAI) – Nashville, TN
Ocala Steel Orchestra – Ocala, FL
Partners for Pediatric Vision
Pasadena Unified School District
Renaissance Secondary School – Castle Rock, C)
Ryan Seacrest Foundation – Nashville, TN
She is the Music Foundation
Silver Creek High School – San Jose, CA
Warrensville Heights High School – Cleveland, OH
MARCH 2025
GCMF Partners with Altadena Musicians for Ongoing Fire Relief
Learn more about Altadena Musicians.
AUGUST 2025
LA Schools/Orgs Received Fire Relief
Amazing Music Store (Pacific Palisades)
Alhambra Music Academy (Altadena)
Altadena Elementary School
Deliverance Tabnernacle (Altadena)
Eliot Arts Academy (Altadena)
Jewish Temple of Pasadena
Mary W. Jackson STEAM Academy
Oak Knoll Montesorri
Pacific Youth Theater
Rhythms of the Village (Altadena)
Seven Arrows Elementary (Pacific Palisades)
St. Matthew’s Parish School (Pacific Palisades)
JUNE 2025
GCMF Provides One-Time Grants to Replace Instruments Lost in the LA Wildfires
Guitar Center Music Foundation has helped over 600 musicians in LA to replace musical instruments lost in the LA Wildfires. The foundation received over 1,000 applications. Special thanks to all our vendors and donors who helped us with this incredible undertaking – especially Gibson Gives, Sony Music, and the Sook Family Foundation.
MARCH 2025
Q2 2024 Grantees Announced (con’t)
In Tune Music, Inc. in Greensboro, NC
Mariachi La Joya from Las Vegas High School
Mariachi Luz de Oro de Berkeley in Berkeley, CA
Mondays at the Union Rescue Mission in Downtown Los Angeles (pictured above)
Musicians in Action in Los Angeles, CA
Newport Elementary in Newport, CA
NolaKeys in New Orleans, LA
NSAI in Nashville, TN
Orange Vista High School in Perris, CA
Riverside High School in Belle, WV
Second Line Arts in New Orleans, LA
Ted Brown Music in Tacoma, WA
Transit Tech High School in Brooklyn, NY
APRIL 2024
Q2 2024 Grantees Announced
Accent Pontiac in Michigan
Bill Caballero Music in San Diego, CA
Brighton High School in Massachusetts
Centennial High School in Urbana, IL
Community Music School in Allentown
Concerts for Causes in Maryland
Corvallis Orchestras in Corvallis, Montana
Daraja Music Initiative in Tanzania
Environmental Charter School in Pittsburgh, PA
Great Heights Academy (pictured above) in Miami, FL
Greenland Band in Greenland, Arkansas
Guitars and Uses in the Classroom in San Diego
Hellen Caro Elementary in Pensacola, FL
Higher Octave Healing in Tempe, AZ
Hilltop Middle School Mariachi in Ilwaco, WA
Horizon Elementary in Madison, Alabama
APRIL 2024
Black History Month at West Oakland Middle School
GCMF was one of the organizations contributing to a large-scale charitable effort in Oakland spearheaded by superstar actor and singer Zendaya. The project began as an effort to rejuvenate the basketball courts and grew in scope to include the neighboring middle school. The school received a $5,000 grant and a brand new curtain for their auditorium which was revealed for this special Black History performance.
FEBRUARY 2024
“I’m living proof of what … music education can do for an adolescent. Before Upbeat, I didn’t know music was my calling or had the confidence to figure out … investing in something that’s going to help polish the next generation’s future … this program is something I want all children to have access to and be able to have that creative outlet.”
– GCMF Grantee Upbeat Academy
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Jan 9, 2026 A year after the LA wildfires, musicians still face a long road to recoveryNPRLEARN MORE |
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December 24, 2025 Tony Robbins hoping to provide 100 billion meals to the hungryCNNLEARN MORE |
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Sept 29, 2025 Guitar Center Music Foundation raises funds and honors industry legends at 4th Annual GalaCLYNE MEDIALEARN MORE |
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August 31, 2025 Guitar Center Music Foundation Expands EffortsMUSIC INCLEARN MORE |
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March 6, 2025 Nonprofit Spotlight: Guitar Center Music Foundation, Law Rocks Los Angeles Music Matters Grant Recipient (2025)LAW ROCKSLEARN MORE |
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January 14, 2025 Guitar Center Music Foundation Offers Relief Grant for Musicians Impacted by LA WildfiresMUSIC INCLEARN MORE |
A year after the LA wildfires, musicians still face a long road to recovery
NPRLEARN MORE
Tony Robbins hoping to provide 100 billion meals to the hungry
CNNLEARN MORE
Guitar Center Music Foundation raises funds and honors industry legends at 4th Annual Gala
CLYNE MEDIALEARN MORE
Guitar Center Music Foundation Expands Efforts
MUSIC INCLEARN MORE
Nonprofit Spotlight: Guitar Center Music Foundation, Law Rocks Los Angeles Music Matters Grant Recipient (2025)
LAW ROCKSLEARN MORE
Guitar Center Music Foundation Offers Relief Grant for Musicians Impacted by LA Wildfires
MUSIC INCLEARN MORE
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