Subject: Important Update from Guitars Not Guns
Dear Sponsors, Partners, Vendors, Family and Friends,
We are writing to address some recent developments concerning the Guitars Not Guns organization,
particularly regarding the closure of four chapters whose leadership refused to contribute to
administrative costs critical to fulfilling Guitars Not Guns’ mission.
First, we would like to take a moment to highlight that the Guitars Not Guns organization has
proudly operated as a volunteer program without any paid staff for the past 25 years. Our
founder, the late Ray Nelson, along with his wife, and co-founder, Louise Nelson, have
dedicated the last 25 years to managing this non-profit commitment. Recently, Louise, who has
served as both administrator and treasurer throughout this time, has announced her plans to
retire. In this transition, we are taking steps to outsource key aspects of her role, which include
the following responsibilities Louise has administered over the past 25 years.
● Annual State corporate filings, including each of the chapters
● Federal 990 tax returns and State tax returns, including in California where each of the
four chapters operated under Guitars Not Guns federal tax id number.
● Background checks for all staff, including at the Chapter levels
● Grant pursuits
● Setting policies & guidelines
● Chapter Filings for state non-profit status and withdrawals
● Files and Archives
● Ensuring we met all compliances and guidelines set forth by all states and federal
regulations
● Managing accounts receivable, accounts payable and quarterly filings for all chapters
● Obtaining insurance and ensuring that insurance guidelines were adhered to
● Administering Training related involvement with children, in accordance with state
regulations and updates.
● Developing training materials, manuals, and booklets for teachers, directors, and
volunteers
● Overseeing advertising efforts, including banners, T-shirts, hats, flyers and purchasing
● Outlining yearly projected budgets
● National chapter start-up’s and withdrawing
Louise single-handedly managed these responsibilities, ensuring that all chapters had the
resources they needed to fulfill their obligations. With her retirement, it became necessary to
outsource many of these tasks to maintain the same level of quality and passion in the
organization’s operations.
In order to absorb the ensuing costs, an Executive board decision was made to share
administrative costs throughout the organization, by having each chapter contribute to the
national organization a share of the funds raised at the Chapter level. After all, the services
provided by the national organization directly benefited the individual chapters and all the
money raised at the Chapter level was raised under the national organization’s auspices. While
most chapters agreed to this cost-sharing arrangement, four chapters refused, apparently
thinking they should be able to enjoy the benefit of all that Guitars Not Guns provides without
bearing any of the associated costs.
We understand these four chapters have expressed concerns regarding the time allocated for
discussion about our new policy. We want to clarify that we provided ample opportunity for
dialogue and feedback, during which we answered more than 20 questions and made
amendments and concessions to the policy in response to some of the feedback we received.
However, nothing we did was enough for these four chapters. At bottom, they wanted a free
ride, leaving the national organization and the other chapters to bear all the administrative costs
of running Guitars Not Guns. Consequently, the board felt it necessary to establish a deadline,
which was communicated clearly along with reminders, to ensure compliance with our
organizational standards. The four chapters’ claim that they did not have an adequate
opportunity to consider and agree to the new policy is simply false. Maintaining a unified
approach to our mission, enhancing music education for our students, which has been our focus
for the past 25 years, is essential to our continued success. The four chapters made clear they
were not interested in a unified approach.
We understand that the closure of these chapters may create unrest, and has led to various
false memes especially on social media. We are committed to addressing these concerns
transparently. Guitars Not Guns is currently undergoing a restructuring process, which is
designed to strengthen the foundation and enhance our ability to serve our communities more
effectively.
We believe that these necessary changes will allow us to continue making a positive impact
while ensuring that all Chapters are complying with our guidelines and contributing to Guitars
Not Guns equally. Your support and dedication to Guitars Not Guns are invaluable during this
transition, and we greatly appreciate your understanding, and the support of the remaining
chapters among our organization.
Thank you for your continued partnership. We look forward to navigating this journey together
and reinforcing our commitment to music education for all, and we wish the other parties
involved the best in their future endeavors.
Warmest regards,
The National Executive Board of
Guitars Not Guns

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS of serving Children in our Communities!

Thank you, Ray & Louise Nelson for giving the gift of Guitars Not Guns to so many deserving Children!!! We appreciate you, and honor you today and always!!

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Oregon Guitars Not Guns chapter takes the Yamaha Cares Upcycle Art Program Challenge 

On the Central Coast of Oregon, GNG chapter partners with youth teams from Neighbors for Kids, who will create artfull masterpieces  using recycled Yamaha guitars as their canvas. Completed projects will  be celebrated and final photos will be uploaded to coincide with the Annual Kids Music Day October 3rd 2025.

A big thank you to Yamaha Cares Music Program.

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Maryland Teen Giving Back

Lucas Stelzner is raising funds for Guitars Not Guns-Maryland Chapter of Allen’s Gift of Music

Way to go Lucas! Guitars Not Guns appreciates your talent, and encouragement to kids in need! We honored Lucas today with this very special post! As a thank you for your support and dedication to helping further our mission! “Hello, I’m Lucas Stelzner and I am raising money for an organization called Guitars Not Guns. I will be giving this money to the Maryland Chapter of this organization, called Allen’s Gift of Music. The goal of Guitars Not Guns is to provide guitar lessons to children whose lives are touched by violence in their community. They provide guitars, lessons, teachers, classroom space, and books to kids from across the U.S. and Canada. The reason I chose Guitars Not Guns is because of my own love of music and guitar. I have been playing guitar since I was 5 and it has been a huge part of my life ever since. I really think that learning music can have a huge impact on a kid’s life, changing it for the better in such amazing ways. I know that whenever I am feeling down and not my best, I can turn to my guitar and playing it brings me to a place of joy. I really want to give this experience to other kids, especially kids who have experienced the horror of gun violence in their lives.”

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Memorial Celebration at NAMM honoring our late founder Ray Nelson

25 Year Milestone Award Presented at the 2025 NAMM Show

Our National Board at the Annual NAMM Convention

Founder’s Ray and Louise Nelson, Pictured Louise Nelson and Dan Del Fiorentino of NAMM

National Board left to right: Richard Salazar, Donna Hammond, Barbara Gorin, Louise Nelson and Dan Del Fiorentino of NAMM,

Pictures from NAMM, National Board members pictured along with Chapter Directors from Oregon, Maryland, Contra Costa, CA and Sonoma, CA

California Artist Guitars Supported a Fundraiser