The Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It supports poetry and literary arts through grantmaking and its own programs, publications, events, educational activities, and digital resources.
The Poetry Foundation at a glance
In short: The Poetry Foundation gave $4.2M across 179 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), top state Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,207,326
- +19.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 179
- +9.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $23,505
- +8.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $313,179,597
- +4.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (24% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Poetry Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation says guidelines and deadlines are available on its grants page. Its filing describes a competitive application review process and says restrictions on awards should be confirmed with the organization.
- Contact
Application contact: Michelle T Boone President
Mailing address: 61 W Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: (312) 799-8072
Email: grants@poetryfoundation.org
Website: https://poetryfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Poetry Foundation
Who The Poetry Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mid Atlantic Arts ($500K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 16 grants to individuals ($309,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,074 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,005 grants of 1,074 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The General Operating Support program is for eligible organizations based in the U.S. and U.S. territories. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Illinois (24%), Maryland (14%), New York (13%), California (7%), and Florida (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 179 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Poetry Foundation gives
- 32% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 111% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 116% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2020) to $4.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 179 grants totaling $4.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mid Atlantic Arts Baltimore, MD | Grant for Poetry Out Loud | $500,000 |
| Recitation Prizes - Detail Upon REQ Chicago, IL | Recitation Prizes | $114,204 |
| University of Nebraska Foundation Lincoln, NE | Special projects and opportunities grant for african poetry book fund at the university of Nebraska | $106,122 |
| 3 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $154,000 |
| Community of Literary Magazines and Presses New York, NY | Poetry Programs, Partnerships and Innovation Grant | $60,000 |
| Cave Canem Brooklyn, NY | Equity in Verse Grant | $55,000 |
| Board of Trustees at Illinois State University Normal, IL | Equity in verse grant for obsidian: literature & arts in the african diaspora | $50,000 |
| Community Literature Initiative Los Angeles, CA | Equity in Verse Grant | $50,000 |
| Ideas Xlab Louisville, KY | Special Opportunities Grant | $50,000 |
| Poetry Center of Chicago Chicago, IL | Poetry Programs, Partnerships and Innovation Grant | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Poetry Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $313,179,597 | $13,753,554 | $16,739,498 | $4,207,326 | 179 | $16,144,753 | $13,193,048 | $13,913,595 |
| 2023 | $300,431,923 | $7,644,729 | $18,575,315 | $3,524,622 | 163 | $16,385,855 | $6,228,798 | $13,417,797 |
| 2022 | $292,503,710 | $10,267,155 | $19,264,441 | $4,312,460 | 414 | $16,788,854 | $6,397,060 | $13,783,095 |
| 2021 | $341,014,923 | $70,333,831 | $13,491,798 | $1,997,470 | 280 | $11,239,377 | $67,422,884 | — |
| 2020 | $318,692,609 | $14,478,611 | $11,755,658 | $1,266,603 | 38 | — | $13,496,520 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Poetry Foundation reported a distributable amount of $13.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to “amplify poetry and celebrate poets by fostering spaces for all to create, experience, and share poetry.” Its website describes grants as supporting nonprofit organizations with a core commitment to poetry and the literary arts.
Its General Operating Support program offers unrestricted grants to U.S.-based nonprofit poetry organizations, presses, publications, and select literary arts service and membership organizations. Eligible organizations need a minimum operating budget of $20,000; organizations without 501(c)(3) status may apply with a fiscal sponsor. The program’s grants are $10,000–$75,000 for 12 months. The Foundation also describes invitation-only Sustainable Futures grants for past grantee-partners and limited Special Opportunities support for activities such as national events, Midwest poetry initiatives, fellowships, residencies, laureateships, and collaborative funding initiatives.
Examples of grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Poets House describes itself as a library and meeting place offering poetry resources, events, and education programs. Young Chicago Authors says it cultivates young people’s voices through writing, publication, and performance education. Woodland Pattern describes its work as presenting poetry and the arts, promoting reading and writing, and serving as a regional resource and forum.
In 2024, the Foundation also reported direct activities including free events, library book clubs and writing workshops, a poetry festival in Chicago, a summer institute for poetry teachers, and co-leading Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry recitation competition for high school students. Its website and Poetry magazine are additional parts of its work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation gave 179 grants totaling $4,207,326. Grants ranged from $500 to $500,000, with a median grant of $20,000. Its largest reported awards included $500,000 to an individual recipient for Poetry Out Loud; $114,204 in recitation prizes; and $106,122 to the University of Nebraska Foundation for a special project and opportunities grant for the African Poetry Book Fund at the University of Nebraska. Other awards included $60,000 to the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses for poetry programs, partnerships, and innovation, and $55,000 to Cave Canem for an Equity in Verse grant.
The Foundation says its General Operating Support program uses a competitive application review process. It also describes limited special opportunities and an invitation-only Sustainable Futures program; the 2025–2028 Sustainable Futures grants have been awarded. The filing states that the Foundation awards grants through multiple initiatives, including Equity in Verse and Poetry Programs, Partnerships, and Innovation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michelle Boone as president and Gwendolyn Perry Davis as board chair. Other listed officers and directors include Eugene Lowe and Kary McIlwain, vice chairs; Andrew Jacobs, finance committee chair; Stuart Miller, audit committee chair; Angel Ysaguirre, equity committee chair; and trustees John Bracken, Caren Yanis, and Cecilia Conrad. The filing notes that Yanis, McIlwain, and Conrad served through April 2024.
The Poetry Foundation is led by Michelle Boone, President since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 2 of 22 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michelle Boone
President
President- to → President, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$250K (2021) → $423K (2024)
Angel Ysaguirre
Equity Committee Chair
Trustee → Equity Committee Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stuart Miller
Audit Committee Chair
Trustee → Audit Committee Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gwendolyn Perry Davis
Board Chair
Trustee-Elected March → Trustee, 2022
Trustee → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Jacobs
Finance Committee Chair
Trustee-Elected June → Finance Committee Chair - Elected Sept, 2023
Finance Committee Chair - Elected Sept → Finance Committee Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caren Yanis
Trustee-
Chair → Trustee-, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cecilia Conrad
Trustee-
Equity Committee Chair → Trustee, 2022
Trustee → Trustee-, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fabiola Delgado
Trustee
Trustee-Elected March → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Gillespie
Trustee
Trustee-Elected June → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marc Bamuthi Joseph
Trustee
Trustee-Elected June → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marguerite Griffin
Trustee
Trustee-Elected June → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Parneshia Jones
Trustee
Trustee-Elected June → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Bracken
Trustee
Trustee-Elected September → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lindsey Peckinpaugh
Trustee
Trustee-Elected September → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynne Thompson
Trustee
Trustee-Elected September → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Fassnacht
Trustee
Trustee-Elected September → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deepa Gupta
Trustee-Started Sept
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Thompson
Trustee-Started Sept
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Brocato
Trustee-Started Sept
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Casteller
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$70K (2023) → $272K (2024)
Eugene Lowe
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kary McIlwain
Vice Chair-
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Vice Chair-, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Ally Bulley (2020–2023) — Finance Committee Chair -
- Former: Brian Provost (2020–2023) — Trustee -
- Former: Scott Turow (2020–2023) — Trustee -
- Former: Lynn Jerath (2021–2023) — Finance Committee Chair -
- Former: Lawrence T. Mangan (2022–2023) — Vice President of Finance & Administrator
- Former: Andrea Wishom (2020–2022) — Vice Chair-
- Former: David Ormesher (2020–2022) — Secretary-
- Former: Susan Noyes (2020–2022) — Trustee-
- Former: Blythe McGarvie (2020–2021) — Trustee-
- Former: Kathleen Coughlin (2020–2021) — Cfo-
- Former: Marion Godfrey (2020–2021) — Trustee-
- Former: Ydalmi Noriega (2021) — Vice President of Programs & Engagement
- Former: Caren Skoulas (2020) — CFO
- Former: Henry Bienen (2020) — President-
- Former: Willard Bunn (2020) — Chair-
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $423K, to Michelle Boone (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Poetry Foundation
How much does The Poetry Foundation give each year?
The Poetry Foundation gave $4.2M across 179 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.5M across 163 grants.
What is The Poetry Foundation's typical grant size?
The Poetry Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $23,505, across 179 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Poetry Foundation give grants?
The Poetry Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Maryland (14%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (35 grants), New York, NY (21 grants), San Francisco, CA (7 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (5 grants).
Does The Poetry Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 179 grants with a stated purpose on The Poetry Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Poetry Programs, Partnerships and Innovation Grant" (40 grants), "Equity in Verse Grant" (36 grants) and "Small Press Bridge Grant" (30 grants).
Who are The Poetry Foundation's largest grantees?
The Poetry Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Mid Atlantic Arts ($500,000), Recitation Prizes - Detail Upon REQ ($114,204) and University of Nebraska Foundation ($106,122), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 16 grants to individuals ($309,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Poetry Foundation?
The Poetry Foundation reported $313.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $16.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $13.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Poetry Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to “amplify poetry and celebrate poets by fostering spaces for all to create, experience, and share poetry.” Its website describes grants as supporting nonprofit organizations with a core commitment to poetry and the literary arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Poetry Foundation?
The Foundation says guidelines and deadlines are available on its grants page. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Poetry Foundation's EIN?
The Poetry Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2490808. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Poetry Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Poetry Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-poetry-foundation-morg_aa5eaa4b75b04e49ada84e2062b8eeb4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_362490808_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Poetry Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-poetry-foundation-morg_aa5eaa4b75b04e49ada84e2062b8eeb4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Poetry Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Poetry Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?