Gibson Gives Foundation
Accepts applications
Gibson Gives Foundation is a private foundation in Nashville, Tennessee. In tax year 2025 it gave $2.5 million in 316 grants; the typical grant was $4,421 and the largest $214,115. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$2.5 million
- Number of grants316
- Typical grant$4,421
- Largest grant$214,115
- Assets$626,234
- New grantees65%
Giving in 2025 was down from $3.2 million the year before.
65% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3.2 million | 323 | $633,782 |
| 2025 | $2.5 million | 316 | $626,234 |
How to apply
| Contact | Erica Krusen 209 10th Avenue South Suite 460, Nashville, TN 37203 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (615) 871-4500, gibsonfoundation@gibson.com |
| What to submit | Applications can be submitted via gibson.submittable.com/submit |
| Deadlines | Donation requests are reviewed on a monthly basis after the end of each month. |
| Restrictions | Awards benefit those who bring education or healing through music specific programs where guitar is used. |
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What Gibson Gives Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 39 states, the most to Tennessee.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 100 | $674,714 |
| California | 50 | $664,192 |
| New York | 20 | $192,014 |
| Florida | 10 | $97,621 |
| Colorado | 10 | $87,839 |
| Texas | 18 | $78,117 |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | $72,102 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $71,408 |
| Minnesota | 3 | $68,851 |
| Montana | 13 | $50,045 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar Center Music Foundation | Program use & fundraising efforts | $214,115 |
| Musicares | Program use & fundraising efforts | $143,068 |
| Free Guitars 4 Kids | Program use & fundraising efforts | $59,606 |
| Save the Music Foundation | Program use & fundraising efforts | $50,142 |
| Williamson County Board of Education | Program use & fundraising efforts | $49,410 |
| Songbirds Foundation | Program use & fundraising efforts | $42,250 |
| Acm Lifting Lives | Program use & fundraising efforts | $40,241 |
| Save the Music Foundation | Program use & fundraising efforts | $40,000 |
| Women Who Rock | Program use & fundraising efforts | $40,000 |
| Launch Pad Foundation | Program use & fundraising efforts | $35,686 |
| Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation | Program use & fundraising efforts | $33,000 |
| Friends of American Song Archives Inc (In Support of Woody Guthrie Center and Bob | Program use & fundraising efforts | $31,766 |
| Transylvanian Symphony Foundation Inc | Program use & fundraising efforts | $30,243 |
| Musicares Foundation | Program use & fundraising efforts | $27,149 |
| The Midnight Mission | Program use & fundraising efforts | $25,852 |
| Farm Aid | Program use & fundraising efforts | $25,364 |
| Harvest Hands | Program use & fundraising efforts | $20,700 |
| Give A Note Foundation | Program use & fundraising efforts | $20,000 |
| Second Line Arts Collective | Program use & fundraising efforts | $19,419 |
| Music Has Healing Power | Program use & fundraising efforts | $18,641 |
| The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research | Program use & fundraising efforts | $17,500 |
| Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee | Program use & fundraising efforts | $17,246 |
| Leaving A Positive Legacy Inc Via Jazzfest | Program use & fundraising efforts | $16,793 |
| Muscle Shoals Songwriters Foundation | Program use & fundraising efforts | $15,995 |
| Guitars Not Guns | Program use & fundraising efforts | $15,886 |
| Vail Valley Foundation | Program use & fundraising efforts | $15,294 |
| The American Cancer Society | Program use & fundraising efforts | $14,696 |
| Magee-Womens Research Institute & Women Who Rock | Program use & fundraising efforts | $14,672 |
| Blue Sage Center for the Arts | Program use & fundraising efforts | $14,473 |
| Vetsaid | Program use & fundraising efforts | $13,392 |
| Stand Up to Cancer | Program use & fundraising efforts | $13,021 |
| Music for Seniors | Program use & fundraising efforts | $12,997 |
| Musicians Empowerment Collective | Program use & fundraising efforts | $12,996 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Alsac | Program use & fundraising efforts | $12,694 |
| Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation | Program use & fundraising efforts | $12,477 |
| Music Will | Program use & fundraising efforts | $12,295 |
| Purdue for Life Foundation LLC | Program use & fundraising efforts | $12,000 |
| Restring Appalachia | Program use & fundraising efforts | $11,697 |
| Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Center | Program use & fundraising efforts | $11,496 |
| Nashville Symphony | Program use & fundraising efforts | $10,998 |
Officers and trustees
- Cesar Gueikian
- Jessica Johns
- Erica Krusen
- Elizabeth Heidt
- Lowell Goldman
Questions people ask
Does Gibson Gives Foundation accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications, with this on deadlines: Donation requests are reviewed on a monthly basis after the end of each month..
How much does Gibson Gives Foundation give?
$2.5 million in tax year 2025, across 316 grants, with a typical grant of $4,421.
Who runs Gibson Gives Foundation?
Its 2025 filing lists Cesar Gueikian (Pres./Chair), Jessica Johns (Treasurer), Erica Krusen (Global Exec) and Elizabeth Heidt (Director) among 5 officers and trustees.
What does Gibson Gives Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly arts and culture, youth programs and education.