Private foundation · Chicago, IL

The Poetry Foundation

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Typical grant size
$200 $500 $8K
25th · median · 75th percentile
Unique recipients
393
Repeat grantees
167
funded 2+ years

Application procedures · from 2024 990-PF

DeadlinesGUIDELINES AND DEADLINES ARE AVAILABLE ON THE FND'S WEBSITE AT WWW.POETRYFOUNDATION.ORG/GRANTS
ContactMICHELLE T BOONE PRESIDENT · 3127998072
MaterialsTHE FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANTS TO US-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MULTIPLE INITIATIVES INCLUDING EQUITY IN VERSE AND POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND INNOVATION. USING A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS, GRANTS ARE AWARDED IN THE FORM OF GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR POETRY-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND IN THE FORM OF PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR POETRY PROGRAMS AT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
RestrictionsCONTACT THE ORGANIZATION

Leadership · from 2024 990-PF

Michelle Boone
PRESIDENT
$423K
Jennifer Casteller
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
$272K
Stuart Miller
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIR
Angel Ysaguirre
EQUITY COMM CHAIR
John Bracken
TRUSTEE
Cecilia Conrad
TRUSTEE-THRU APRIL 2024
Gwendolyn Perry Davis
BOARD CHAIR
Fabiola Delgado
TRUSTEE
Michael Fassnacht
TRUSTEE
Deborah Gillespie
TRUSTEE
Marguerite Griffin
TRUSTEE
Parneshia Jones
TRUSTEE
Marc Bamuthi Joseph
TRUSTEE
Lindsey Peckinpaugh
TRUSTEE
Lynne Thompson
TRUSTEE
Joe Brocato
TRUSTEE-STARTED SEPT 2024

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part VII. Officers, directors, and trustees as reported by the foundation.

Payout rate · TY 2024
1.3%
grants paid ÷ assets · ~5% IRS minimum
'17
'18
'19
'20
'21
'22
'23
'24
2,934
Total grants awarded
$23.3M
Total amount
$8K
Average grant
$500K
Largest grant

Giving by year

2024
$4.2M
179 grants
2023
$3.5M
163 grants
2022
$4.3M
414 grants
2021
$2.0M
280 grants
2020
$1.3M
38 grants
2019
$1.3M
272 grants
2018
$1.4M
265 grants
2017
$1.2M
267 grants
2016
$937K
254 grants
2015
$1.2M
265 grants
2014
$1.0M
278 grants
2013
$959K
259 grants

Top recipients

Weta
6 grants · VA
$1.2M
59 grants · WY
$851K
American Public Media
7 grants · MN
$732K
10 grants · NE · ✓ Exact match
$584K
2 grants · MD · ✓ Exact match
$502K
5 grants · MA · ✓ Exact match
$360K
4 grants · IL · ✓ Exact match
$330K
9 grants · WI · ✓ Exact match
$325K
13 grants · IL · ≈ likely match
$295K
2 grants · DC · ✓ Exact match
$275K

Recipient names are as reported on the 990-PF. ✓ Exact match = EIN matched to IRS records by exact name + state; ≈ likely match = EIN inferred from a closely similar name. The recipient EIN is never stated on the form — it is DoubleNine’s match.

Recent grants · most recent filings first

Mid Atlantic Arts
GRANT FOR POETRY OUT LOUD
MD · TY 2024
$500K
RECITATION PRIZES
IL · TY 2024
$114K
University of Nebraska Foundation
SPECIAL PROJECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES GRANT FOR AFRICAN POETRY BOOK FUND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
NE · TY 2024
$106K
RUTH LILLY POETRY PRIZE
IL · TY 2024
$100K
Community of Literary Magazines and Presses
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
NY · TY 2024
$60K
Cave Canem
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
NY · TY 2024
$55K
Third World Press Foundation Inc
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
IL · TY 2024
$50K
Woodland Pattern Inc
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT FOR IN-NA-PO, INDIGENOUS NATIONS POETS
WI · TY 2024
$50K
Poets House Inc
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
NY · TY 2024
$50K
Ideas Xlab
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES GRANT
KY · TY 2024
$50K
Poetry Center of Chicago
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
IL · TY 2024
$50K
Board of Trustees at Illinois State University
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT FOR OBSIDIAN: LITERATURE & ARTS IN THE AFRICAN DIASPORA
IL · TY 2024
$50K
Community Literature Initiative
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
CA · TY 2024
$50K
Young Chicago Authors
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
IL · TY 2024
$45K
Woodland Pattern Inc
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
WI · TY 2024
$45K
Taller Comunidad LA Goyco Inc
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
PR · TY 2024
$45K
Guild Complex
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
IL · TY 2024
$40K
Radical Reversal
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
NJ · TY 2024
$40K
Poetic Justice Incorporated
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
OK · TY 2024
$40K
Academy of American Poets Inc
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
NY · TY 2024
$40K
Citylit Project Inc
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
MD · TY 2024
$40K
Kuumba Lynx
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
IL · TY 2024
$40K
Split This Rock
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
DC · TY 2024
$40K
Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
MN · TY 2024
$40K
James Madison University Foundation
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT FOR FURIOUS FLOWER POETRY CENTER
VA · TY 2024
$40K
O Miami Inc
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
FL · TY 2024
$40K
Youth Speaks Inc
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
CA · TY 2024
$40K
Noemi Press
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
AZ · TY 2024
$40K
Mass Poetry
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
MA · TY 2024
$40K
Torch Literary Arts
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
TX · TY 2024
$40K
Cardboard House Press
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
RI · TY 2024
$40K
Letras Latinas at University of Notre Dames Institute for Latino Studies
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
IN · TY 2024
$35K
Reading Between the Lines
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
IL · TY 2024
$35K
World Poetry Books
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
NY · TY 2024
$35K
Bamboo Ridge Press
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
HI · TY 2024
$35K
O Miami Inc
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
FL · TY 2024
$35K
Words of the People
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
OK · TY 2024
$35K
The Care Center
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
MA · TY 2024
$35K
Contextos Nfp
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
IL · TY 2024
$30K
American Poetry Museum
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
DC · TY 2024
$30K
Nightboat Books Inc
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
NY · TY 2024
$30K
Street Poets Inc
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
CA · TY 2024
$30K
Alice James Poetry Cooperative Inc
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
ME · TY 2024
$30K
The Beautiful Project
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
NC · TY 2024
$30K
Hub City Writers Project
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
SC · TY 2024
$30K
Words Beats and Life Inc
POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT
DC · TY 2024
$30K
Insideout Literary Arts
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
MI · TY 2024
$30K
Teachers and Writers Collaborative
EQUITY IN VERSE GRANT
NY · TY 2024
$30K
LILLY-ROSENBERG FELLOW
KY · TY 2024
$27K
LILLY-ROSENBERG FELLOW
CA · TY 2024
$27K

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV. Up to 50 most recent grants shown.