The Piano Finders Donation Project may be just what you are looking for.
Let’s take a look at some of the pianos that were donated through our project.
This 1952 Steinway D Grand piano was donated through Piano Finders to Building Bridges by Sally and Michael Cahill in honor of their father Peter Cahill. It was in storage and they wanted it to be used and appreciated. Piano Finders found a family trust that bought it and had Piano Finders restore it. It has since become a part of San Francisco Society with stories involving Fantasy Studios, KCSM Jazz, Treasure Island Museum and a continuing provenance.
This 2015 Yamaha Disclavier 5’3″ Grand was donated to the Oakland Symphony during the start of the pandemic, when the owner began to work from home. The location of the piano became an office, but she wanted Piano Finders help to find the best place to donate her piano. The piano was sold to a musician and the net proceeds went to Oakland Symphony. Oakland Symphony commissioned “Break Free on Wings of Music” a new orchestral work.
This 1914 Steinway was in New York City, and the owner’s Executive Assistant made arrangements for it to be donated to Building Bridges. It was in need of restoration. It was moved to SF and a private family trust bought the piano and restored it through the Hands Preserving History Project. It was one of three pianos used by Kendall Ross Bean to compose the music for “Break Free on Wings of Music”.
The Piano Finders Donation Project is a service by Piano Finders for their clients that places fine quality piano donations with non-profit organizations that participate in projects that benefit music, art, dance and society.
If you are considering donating a piano, here is how it works:
Review the criteria for donations accepted. Is your piano a match? Is it in like new condition, or a grand piano of value, worthy of piano restoration? Does it have a significant provenance?
Decide what is important to you from the following choices:
To see the piano in a location where it will be played and appreciated.
To commemorate a special person it belonged to.
To have the piano moved from its current location before a specific time.
To obtain a tax-donation.
Send and email to donations@pianofinders.com or leave a voice message at 925-360-3527 with the details about your piano such as:
Brand of manufacturer
Type of piano: grand or upright?
Condition of piano: Is it almost new, rebuilt/refinished, or in need of rebuilding/refinishing.
Your time deadline.
If we can place the piano, we will call you or email you and begin the conversation to plan the details, based on your desires and situation.
Before the piano is moved from your location to the non-profit, we will have a conversation with you about timing, cost of move, if you want to participate in the Hands Preserving History project and if you have anyone you would like to commemorate with this donation
You will be sent a donation receipt for the piano via email and then the mover will be arranged for I.
The non-profit accepts the donation and then it goes into Piano Finders care for the next path it is on.
If it needs work, then a buyer is sought and a donor for the “Hands Preserving History Project” so that the piano can be refinished and rebuilt, or have minor work done to make it pleasing for pianists.
If it does not need work, then a buyer is sought who appreciates the piano and will care for it and has a plan for musicians to play upon it.
The net proceeds from the sale go to the non-profit organization who it was donated to benefit music and music education.
Sometimes buyers will enter the piano into Piano Finders care to manage its provenance, like the 1952 Steinway D 9′ Concert Grand.
Here are pianos that we cannot accept, although you may find other places for them:
Most upright pianos. Exceptions can be made for 45″ uprights that are in like new condition by American, Austrian and German manufacturers.
Grand pianos in need of refinishing or rebuilding where rebuilding the piano would cost more than the value of the piano after rebuilding.
