Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation

What Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation does

Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa and headquartered in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Its mission is to conserve music education in schools by donating instruments, sheet music, supplies, and recording equipment to under-resourced K-12 music programs on a weekly cadence, supplemented by the Fueling Musicians Program, which distributes emergency financial grants to professional musicians and music industry workers in crisis. The foundation also supports music therapy initiatives (e.g., St. Jude Children's Research Hospital) and operates a weekly music lesson program at the Ali Cultural Arts facility in Pompano Beach, FL. Beyond core charitable distributions, KTBA runs a content ecosystem including the Artist Spotlight video interview series and the 'Journeys to the Heart of the Blues' educational program in partnership with Global Lighthouse Studios.

The foundation does not develop proprietary technology products; its digital infrastructure consists of a NeonCRM-backed donation platform, the keepingthebluesalive.org website, an online merchandise storefront, and social media channels. Revenue is generated through diversified streams: tax-deductible individual donations (weekly and monthly recurring programs), merchandise sales via shop.keepingthebluesalive.org, an affiliate donation mechanism via Acoustic Coffee Company's KTBA Blues Blend coffee ($1 per purchase), 100% of proceeds from Gallery Vault art and memorabilia auctions, and a 10% profit share from the affiliated Keeping the Blues Alive Records label. Distribution of charitable impact occurs primarily through the Weekly School Donation Program, with schools applying via the website, and through direct grant disbursement under the Fueling Musicians Program. Go-to-market relies almost entirely on Joe Bonamassa's personal brand and social media following as the primary donor acquisition channel, augmented by partner co-marketing with Acoustic Coffee, TrueFire, Gibson Gives, Sweetwater, Spotify, and others, plus sweepstakes-driven giveaways such as concert experiences.

Since founding, KTBA reports over $600,000 in cumulative donations, impact on 110,000+ students and teachers across the United States, 400+ Fueling Musicians grants, and 550+ school projects funded as of August 2022. The organization holds the Candid (GuideStar) Platinum Seal of Transparency, a 2024 GreatNonprofits Top Rated badge, and Blues Foundation recognition awarded in 2022.

Name

Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation

Legal name

Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation Inc.

Website

https://keepingthebluesalive.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 by blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa that donates instruments, sheet music, and supplies weekly to under-resourced U.S. K-12 music programs, provides emergency grants to struggling musicians, and funds music therapy and educational content initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education Nonprofit

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Music Therapy (Educational/Developmental Programs) (EDAMANAK)

Keywords

• Music education nonprofit
• School instrument donations
• Musician financial grants
• Blues music preservation
• Charitable foundation giving

Headquarters

HQ city

Deerfield Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The primary revenue stream consists of individual donations from the public, fans of Joe Bonamassa, and music enthusiasts. The foundation runs a weekly donation program, monthly recurring donor program, and project-specific fundraising campaigns. All donations are tax-deductible given the 501c3 status.
2. Merchandise Sales (Online Store): The foundation operates an official online store (shop.keepingthebluesalive.org) selling branded merchandise such as Coastal T-shirts ($25) and presumably other items. Proceeds support music education programs.
3. Acoustic Coffee Partnership — KTBA Blues Blend: Acoustic Coffee Company donates $1.00 per purchase of the KTBA Blues Blend coffee. Customers can also select KTBA as their charity at sign-up on Acoustic Coffee's platform, generating ongoing per-sale donations.
4. Gallery Vault Art Auctions: The Gallery Vault feature offers rare and collectible fine art photographs, prints, posters, and memorabilia sourced from a donor collection. Auction proceeds (100%) support KTBA's mission and music education programs.
5. Keeping the Blues Alive Records: The affiliated record label (created by Joe Bonamassa and Roy Weisman) donates 10% of any label profits to the KTBA Foundation, supporting music education.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds K-12 music education in the United States by donating instruments, sheet music, supplies, and recording equipment to under-resourced schools on a weekly cadence. It also runs the Fueling Musicians Program, which distributes emergency financial grants to professional musicians, music educators, and music industry professionals experiencing hardship.

Product overview

Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded by Joe Bonamassa in 2011 with the mission to conserve the art of music in schools by funding projects, scholarships, and grants that preserve music education. The organization operates primarily as a charitable foundation rather than a technology company, offering a weekly school donation program that provides instruments, sheet music, and supplies to schools in need. Supporting programs include the Fueling Musicians Program (financial relief for struggling musicians), Keeping the Blues Alive Records (a record label co-founded by Joe Bonamassa), KTBA's Gallery Vault (music memorabilia auction), the Artist Spotlight video series, and the Journeys to the Heart of the Blues educational initiative in partnership with Global Lighthouse Studios. The foundation also generates revenue through merchandise sales and the KTBA Blues Blend coffee partnership with Acoustic Coffee Company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fueling Musicians Program: Joe Bonamassa's Relief Program for Musicians, Educators, & Industry Professionals designed to provide financial support for essential living expenses such as food, shelter, and more to help struggling musicians, music educators and industry professionals get back on their feet.
• Keeping the Blues Alive Records
• Keeping The Blues Alive Artist Spotlight
• KTBA's Gallery Vault

Products and services

• Weekly School Donation Program
• Fueling Musicians Program
• Keeping the Blues Alive Records
• KTBA's Gallery Vault
• KTBA Blues Blend Coffee
• Artist Spotlight
• Journeys to the Heart of the Blues
• KTBA Online Store

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $600,000 donated in instruments, sheet music, and supplies since 2011
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TrueFirecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022TrueFire is a trusted partner since 2022, known for its catalog of over 80,000 online guitar lessons. KTBA values its relationship with TrueFire and looks forward to educational programming collaborations. TrueFire Studios collective (including TrueFire, ArtistWorks, JamPlay, FaderPro) serves over 3 million music students globally.
• SpotifycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Spotify partnered with KTBA to co-sponsor an African djembe donation to McIntyre Elementary School. Spotify matched donations for the project, benefiting approximately 350 students. This represents Spotify's direct involvement in music education philanthropy.
• Acoustic Coffee CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAcoustic Coffee partners with KTBA by donating $1.00 per purchase of the KTBA Blues Blend coffee (a custom-crafted dark chocolate, vanilla, hazelnut blend). Customers can also select KTBA as their charity at sign-up, generating ongoing per-sale donations to support music education.
• Paoletti GuitarsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPaoletti Guitars is a custom guitar manufacturer based in Tuscany, Italy, crafting instruments from chestnut wood since 2008. Partners with KTBA, likely through product donations or promotional support.
• Guitar PillowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGuitar Pillow makes a patent-pending lightweight foam device that attaches to electric, acoustic, and bass guitars for safe leaning. A portion of Guitar Pillow sales goes to KTBA Foundation. It was recognized by NAAM as 'Best In Show.'
• 32 Bar BluesminorGTM or Marketing Partner32 Bar Blues is a men's clothing brand honoring blues, jazz, and roots musicians. Since 2012, they have featured over 90 musicians and partnered with six nonprofit arts organizations. 100% of profits from sales of albums, CDs, books, and special partner items are donated directly to featured artists and arts organizations including KTBA.
• Gibson Gives / Gibson BrandsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGibson Gives is the charitable arm of Gibson Brands (guitar manufacturer). Partners with KTBA on initiatives that support musicians and music education through donated instruments and equipment.
• SweetwaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSweetwater is a leading online retailer of musical instruments and audio equipment. Listed as a current KTBA partner, likely through instrument donations or promotional support.
• Seymour DuncanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeymour Duncan is a manufacturer of guitar pickups and audio electronics. Listed as a current KTBA partner.
• Norman's Rare GuitarsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNorman's Rare Guitars is a renowned guitar shop in Los Angeles. Listed as a current KTBA partner.
• Fender Premium AudiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerFender Premium Audio is a brand under Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Listed as a current KTBA partner.
• ArtistWorksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArtistWorks is an online music education platform with over 160,000 Video Exchanges and 50,000+ video lessons from 35 teachers. KTBA collaborated with ArtistWorks on a Giving Tuesday 2021 streaming event featuring Joe Bonamassa and Fueling Musicians Program recipients. Now part of the TrueFire Studios collective.
• JR Adventures GalleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJR Adventures Gallery is an art/gallery partner, shown in KTBA's partner logos section.
• NCL (National Council on the Arts)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a current KTBA partner.
• Jérôme Brunet PhotographyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAward-winning music photographer Jérôme Brunet offers signed fine art prints of Joe Bonamassa with a portion of sales benefiting KTBA. Based in West Hollywood, his work appears in Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and more.
• Joel Harper / Freedom Three PublishingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoel Harper, author of 'Frankie Finds the Blues' and founder of Freedom Three Publishing, supports KTBA. His award-winning children's picture books incorporate music themes and support cultural and environmental causes.
• Round Up For Music / The DistilleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKTBA and The Distillery restaurant chain in New York ran a 'Round Up For Music' campaign where diners could add a donation to their bill. In 2019, $13,000 was raised and split between music programs in three Rochester-area schools.
• Global Lighthouse StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKTBA partnered with Global Lighthouse Studios for the 'Journeys to the Heart of the Blues' program, which connects qualified teachers and students with podcasts, song recording, lyric writing, and Tiny Desk/Classroom activities to highlight blues history culture in schools.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Musicians On Call: Musicians On Call brings live and recorded music to patients in healthcare facilities. Comparable to KTBA's music-therapy support for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, specifically on the music-in-healthcare philanthropic axis.
• Sweet Relief Musicians Fund: Sweet Relief provides emergency financial assistance to musicians and music-industry professionals facing illness, disability, or hardship. Highly comparable to KTBA's Fueling Musicians Program in target beneficiary (working musicians) and donation-driven grantmaking.
• Fender Music Foundation: The Fender Music Foundation donates Fender and other musical instruments to music-education programs nationwide. Directly comparable to KTBA's instrument-donation model; also relevant given KTBA's listed partnership with Fender Premium Audio.
• Hungry for Music: Hungry for Music collects gently used instruments and distributes them to children in underserved schools and communities. Closely parallel to KTBA's mission of putting instruments into the hands of students who could not otherwise access them.
• Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock): Music Will is a national nonprofit that builds inclusive music education programs in public schools, particularly modern band, for under-served students. Comparable to KTBA in serving under-resourced K-12 music programs with donated instruments and instruction.
• Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation donates musical instruments and equipment to schools and music programs in need. Closely parallel to KTBA's school-instrument-donation mission, with a longer institutional track record.
• VH1 Save The Music Foundation: VH1 Save The Music is a 501(c)(3) that donates musical instruments, equipment, and resources to underfunded K-12 schools nationwide. Directly comparable to KTBA's Weekly School Donation Program in donor-funded instrument grants to Title I and under-resourced schools.
• MusiCares Foundation: MusiCares is the Musician-focused charitable arm of the Recording Academy/Grammy organization; it provides emergency financial assistance, addiction recovery, and human-services support to musicians in need. Directly comparable to KTBA's Fueling Musicians Program on mission, beneficiary type, and donation-funded model.

Broad incumbents

• The Blues Foundation: The Blues Foundation is the international body for the blues genre, hosting the Blues Music Awards and supporting blues artists and education. Comparable to KTBA on blues-genre cultural preservation, while operating as a broader industry trade and recognition body.

Emerging players

• Kids' Orchestra: Kids' Orchestra provides after-school music education programs to under-served elementary students. Comparable to KTBA in target demographic (under-resourced K-12 students) and charitable, instrument-anchored program design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KeepingTheBluesAlive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/keepingthebluesalive
• Instagraminstagram.com/keepingthebluesalive
• Xx.com/ktbaofficial

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation