Martin Guitar Foundation Awards Nearly $600K in Grants to Music and Community Organizations

The Martin Guitar Foundation has announced its 2024 grant recipients, awarding $596,500 to over 93 nonprofit organizations dedicated to creating opportunities in Nazareth and the Lehigh Valley, as well as supporting acoustic music organizations nationwide.

These grants align with the foundation’s core mission, focusing on:  Performance, participation, and education in acoustic steel-string guitar music
Community development in the Nazareth region
Preservation of America’s acoustic guitar heritage
Arts education programs emphasizing acoustic guitar
Educational institutions in the Lehigh Valley
Arts & culture promotion, primarily in the Lehigh Valley
Support for underserved communities, including those experiencing poverty, hunger, illness, and homelessness
Environmental action related to sustainable guitar-making

2024 Grant Recipients

Grants ranging from $1,000 to $35,000 were distributed among local and national organizations.

Lehigh Valley & Regional Organizations

Recipients include:

  • Allentown Art Museum
  • ArtsQuest
  • Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering
  • Lehigh Valley Zoological Society
  • Meals on Wheels Greater Lehigh Valley
  • Nazareth Area Food Bank
  • Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
  • WXPN
    (and many more!)

National Organizations with Strong Arts & Guitar Programs

Recipients include:

  • Country Music Hall of Fame (TN)
  • Folk Alliance International (MO)
  • Guitars in the Classroom (CA)
  • Old Town School of Folk Music (IL)
  • Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour (KY)

The foundation will accept proposals for 2025 grants from June 1 to August 31, 2024. For more information, visit www.martinguitar.com/martin-foundation.

Founded in 1996 by C.F. Martin IV, The Martin Guitar Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting music, arts, education, environmental action, and human services. Through strategic grantmaking, the foundation strives to maximize its impact on communities and the arts.

For nearly 200 years, C.F. Martin & Co. has been crafting some of the finest handmade acoustic guitars—played by legendary musicians across genres and generations. Committed to artistic passion, community, and sustainability, Martin continues to inspire pioneers, rebels, and dreamers through music.

The Martin Guitar Foundation remains dedicated to amplifying voices and opportunities through music, culture, and community service.