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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- General
- Donation
- Online Store
- FENDER
- Grant Application
- Other Resources
GENERAL
Q: Does The Fender Music Foundation have any music education programs of its own?
A: At this time, The Fender Music Foundation is strictly a granting organization that selects music education programs from across the United States to receive instruments and equipment.
Q: Is The Fender Music Foundation open to having people or organizations raise money for them?
A: Yes. We are happy to be the beneficiary for many types of events/projects. Please contact us if you are interested before doing so, however.
Q: Other than making a donation, how can I help The Fender Music Foundation?
A: Because we are a granting organization, we primarily need funds via donations or purchases. However, if you are an artist, please refer to our advocacy packet for more information.
Q: Does The Fender Music Foundation offer donations in any form other than a grant?
A: Not at this time. Our grant application helps us to find deserving organizations that fit within the criteria that has been established by our Board of Directors.
Q: Does The Fender Music Foundation work with any organizations that are based outside the United States of America?
A: Though we gratefully receive donations from people and companies around the world, we are not legally set up to award grants to organizations based outside the United States of America. If we award a grant to an international organization, the grant must be used by one of their United States programs.
DONATIONS
Q: Can I make a donation in honor or in memory of someone?
A: Yes. Just supply their name with your check or in the comments section of the online donation form. If you would also like us to mail a letter that person or their family, we would be happy to do so as well; just supply their name(s) and address.
Q: Will you send me a receipt for my tax records if I make a donation?
A: Yes. Your donation is tax deductible.
Q: Can I donate instruments to The Fender Music Foundation?
A: We will accept some instrument donations if the instruments are in "like new" condition and we know of a place that needs them. The foundation would then give you the name and address of the organization where you can ship the instrument(s). If you are in the Westlake Village, CA, area, you may also bring the instrument(s) to our offices with prior consent from the foundation. No instruments can be donated by dropping them off at Fender stores.
ONLINE STORE
Q: Are my purchases from your store tax deductible?
A: A portion of each purchase on The Fender Music Foundation's online memorabilia store is tax deductible. If you would like a letter for your tax records, please let us know.
Q: Are the things you sell in your store really authentic?
A: Yes, all of the items have been signed while in the presence of a Fender Music Foundation representative. We provide a certificate of authenticity with each purchase.
FENDER
Q: How do I get a donation from Fender?
A: Fender, a separate entity from The Fender Music Foundation, awards donations through its Charity Team. They receive requests via fax at 818-735-0239. They do not receive any other form of communication. The Fender Music Foundation cannot supply any further information about or for Fender's Charity Team.
Q: How do I get my sponsorship request to Fender?
A: Please send your requests through their website.
GRANT APPLICATION
Q: What are your deadlines for receiving grant candidate forms and grant applications?
A: The foundation does not have set dates for reviewing grant candidate forms. We recommend that you simply submit the form at your convenience. If your program is selected, you must submit a completed grant application form within one month of receiving it.
Q: Will I be notified if my program is selected or not?
A: Programs that complete the grant candidate form and are not selected will not be notified. Programs that complete the grant candidate form and are selected will be notified, at which time the program has one month to complete the online grant application. All programs that complete the grant application will be notified whether or not they are selected, once a decision is made.
Q: What do you mean by "Please describe the specific program (and curriculum) that would receive the grant"?
A: This is the most important answer in the whole grant application. Your answer should clearly describe exactly how the music program works, what the music program looks like and how the participants are taught how to make music - in detail. If it is necessary, for clarification purposes, you may also use this space to explain what the umbrella organization or school does. Otherwise, this answer should only describe the music program. Please note that only about 40% of the applications we receive supply enough information for this answer.
Q: I am clicking "submit" on the grant application, but nothing is happening. What do I do?
A: If you are trying to submit the application and have not filled it out correctly, the application tells you what was filled out incorrectly with a pop up. Some people have computer settings that restrict these pop-up windows or the number of pop-up windows that can come from a single page. If this is the case, close your Internet browser, reopen it and fill out the application correctly without any mistakes.
Q: My application won't go through online because I am not answering a question or attaching a required document. What do I do?
A: Incomplete applications will not be considered. In order to apply for a grant, every question and attachment must be complete.
Q: We don't have a budget. How do I get around this?
A: You cannot get around it. If you do not have a budget, put one together so that we can see where the program's money/donated items come from and what the funds are spent on. If the organization currently receives no funding at all but does receive donated items, those items should be listed on the budget. If the organization does not receive anything from anybody, it is okay to create a Word document that states, "My program/organization has not received any funds or donated items and does not plan to for the year." (It is very rare that this is the case and usually only applies to school music programs.)
Q: I am trying to submit an online grant application, but I receive an error message that the numbers I've inserted should be positive and not have commas or dollar signs. The numbers I filled in meet these requirements, but I still receive this error message. Do you have any suggestions?
A: The field may still have blank spaces before or after the number. However, if the described fields only have numerical digits, and the error message continues to pop up, close your Internet browser, reopen it and fill out the application correctly without any mistakes.
Q: The application is telling me that my e-mail address is incorrect, but it's not. What do I do?
A: You can use the e-mail address info@fendermusicfoundation.org, but please provide the correct e-mail address in the comments field at the end of the application.
Q: Can I just e-mail, fax or mail the information requested in the grant application and not submit it electronically?
A: No. All grant applications must be submitted through the online application. No part of this application is accepted via e-mail, fax or mail. There are no exceptions.
Q: Should I apply for a grant even though I probably don't qualify?
A: No. Please do not fill out a grant application if you do not fit within the qualifications stated on our "Grants Info" page. Any applications that do not qualify will not be considered. We understand that many different people and organizations need financial assistance, but as a small nonprofit ourselves, we cannot help everybody and must limit our mission to those we can help the most with our resources.
Q: Should I request items that the foundation states it doesn't award?
A: Please do not request items that the foundation explicitly states it does not fund. If nothing is stated one way or the other, you are welcome to e-mail or call the foundation for clarification.
Q: Do you offer scholarships?
A: No. The Fender Music Foundation does not award funds to individuals in any way, including scholarships. The foundation has set parameters for its funding.
Q: Do you sponsor events?
A: No. The Fender Music Foundation is a charity.
Q: How do I send supplemental information that was not requested on the grant application?
A: Please do not send any supplemental information that was not requested. It will not be considered.
Q: Can I reapply for a grant?
A: If your program is selected for and receives a grant, it cannot reapply. If your program was not selected, you can only reapply if the letter you receive from the foundation states so. (This is a policy that took affect in August of 2008 and may change.) Please note that this applies to programs, not umbrella organizations.
Q: If we receive a grant what is required of us?
A: Please refer to our Agreement Form.
OTHER RESOURCES
Q: Who should I contact if I want to start a band program at my school?
A: The Paul Effman Music Service
Q: Who should I contact if I want to bring music into my elementary school?
A: Guitars in the Classroom
Q: Who should I contact if I live in the New England area and need a music scholarship or a sponsor for an event?
A: Music Drives Us
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