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    THE POETRY FOUNDATION

    Supporting OrganizationIRS data 2022–2024
    CHICAGO, ILEIN 362490808 Website

    Annual Giving

    $4.2M+19% YoY

    Grants

    179

    Median Grant

    $20K

    Organizations Funded

    203

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    Foundation Overview

    Mission

    amplify poetry and celebrate poets by fostering spaces for all to create, experience, and share poetry

    Focus Areas

    poetrypoet awards and prizesliterary awardspoetry programs and partnershipsequity and inclusion in poetrypoetry publishing and book distributionsmall press and literary magazine supportpoetry residencies

    Grant Types

    prizesprogrammatic grantsspecial projects and opportunities grantsrenewal and recovery grantsresidency grantspublishing/distribution grantscapacity-building/small-press bridge grantssponsorships

    Funded Initiatives

    Poetry Programs, Partnerships, and Innovation grants ($10,000-$75,000), Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships ($25,800), Sustainable Futures Grants (multi-year operating grants), COVID-19 Relief and Recovery grants

    How to Apply

    Submissions to Poetry magazine open on February 1. Special Opportunities Grants inquiries accepted January through September, applications by invitation only. Various grant programs with different application processes.

    Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.

    Giving History

    2024+19%

    $4.2M

    Grants

    179

    Median

    $20K

    States

    35

    2023-18%

    $3.5M

    Grants

    163

    Median

    $20K

    States

    41

    2022

    $4.3M

    Grants

    414

    Median

    $500

    States

    55

    Grant Size Distribution

    $20K

    Typical Grant (Median)

    $500

    Smallest

    $6K

    25th Pctile

    $30K

    75th Pctile

    $500K

    Largest

    Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $6K and $30K.

    Largest Recent Grants

    $500K

    2024

    MID ATLANTIC ARTS

    MD · GRANT FOR POETRY OUT LOUD

    $114K

    2024

    RECITATION PRIZES - DETAIL UPON REQ

    IL · RECITATION PRIZES

    $106K

    2024

    UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION

    NE · SPECIAL PROJECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES GRANT FOR AFRICAN POETRY BOOK FUND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA

    $100K

    2024

    LI-YOUNG LEE

    IL · RUTH LILLY POETRY PRIZE

    $60K

    2024

    COMMUNITY OF LITERARY MAGAZINES AND PRESSES

    NY · POETRY PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATION GRANT

    Geographic Focus

    IL
    $1.0M44 grants
    MD
    $589K5 grants
    NY
    $567K29 grants
    CA
    $308K17 grants
    FL
    $135K5 grants

    Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.

    Financial Overview

    YearTotal AssetsGrants Paid
    2024
    $313.2M
    $4.2M(1.3%)
    2023
    $300.4M
    $3.5M(1.2%)
    2022
    $292.5M
    $4.3M(1.5%)

    Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets

    Network Intelligence

    Funding follows networks, not keywords

    SciRise maps 4.8M+ grants across 16,000+ foundations to identify which ones are most likely to fund organizations like yours — based on who they already fund, not just what they say they fund.

    Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.

    Questions?