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CHARITY REVIEW
Expires: August 2028

Guitars in the Classroom

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(619) 840-1010
1286 University Ave PMB 389
San Diego, CA, 92103
https://www.guitarsintheclassroom.org/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Guitars in the Classroom meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
Guitars in the Classroom empowers educators and students of all ages and abilities to make music that strengthens learning, belonging, and well-being. Through training in hands-on, inclusive music that enhances teaching any subject, GITC builds caring classrooms where every learner can engage, create, and thrive.

Year, State Incorporated:
2007, CA

GITC's innovative work is based on child development, educational psychology, educational therapy, academic content instruction, and best practices in social-emotional learning. This deep foundation supports every kind of learner to succeed.

To make a difference for children and youth, we begin by training education professionals of every kind, serving from early childhood through high school. Previous musical experience is not required. Everybody develops musical skills together, at an achievable pace, gradually developing confidence and competence. We typically teach in a circle where participants can see and hear each other, encourage one another, and blend their voices, creating a sense of belonging. We de-emphasize the traditional expert-novice model of music instruction in favor of cultivating a sense of belonging, safety, and community that supports individual self-expression, and joyful, shared musical experiences.  

OUR AIM
We are working toward a time when every teacher, specialist, parent, and student has access to learning or teaching through music as a vital and integral part of developing authentic self-expression, approaching everyday learning with joy and creativity, from preschool through high school.

OUR SERVICES
GITC provides instruction for educators, capacity-building classroom teaching artist residencies for teachers with their students, music training for faculties, master classes with accomplished artists, expanded learning after school and in the summers, and specialized training in adaptive music.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE! 
Our work is supported by individual donations, charitable in-kind contributions, corporate and community giving, foundation grants, affiliate partnerships, and participating schools.

For the year ended June 30, 2025, Guitars in the Classroom's program expenses were:

Program services $850,919
Total Program Expenses $850,919

Chief Executive
Jessica Baron, Founder/Executive Director

Chair of the Board
Scott Fischel

Board Size
13

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Grant proposals, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Guitars in the Classroom's IRS Form 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025.

Source of Funds
Contributions and grants $465,663
Program service revenue $216,964
Investment income $10
Total Income $682,637

Programs: 93% Fundraising: 4% Administrative: 3%

Total Income $682,637
Total expenses: $917,319
  Program expenses $850,919
  Fundraising expenses $34,420
  Administrative expenses $31,980
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-234,682
Beginning Net Assets $614,470
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $379,788
Total Liabilities $18,638
Total Assets $398,426

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

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RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest