The Poetry Foundation recognizes the transformative power of words. Its mission is to amplify poetry and celebrate poets by creating spaces for all people to create, experience, and share poetry. This commitment has established the foundation as a key bastion in the literary world, fostering the appreciation of poetry in all its forms.

History of the Foundation

The Poetry Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) exempt foundation located in Chicago, Illinois. It was established in 2003 through a major gift from philanthropist Ruth Lilly. The foundation evolved from the Modern Poetry Association, a literary organization founded in 1941 for the purpose of supporting the publication of Poetry magazine. This generous gift allowed the Foundation to expand and strengthen the presence of poetry in the United States, establishing an endowment that funds poetry in perpetuity.

How We Fulfill Our Mission

Amplifying the Voice of Poetry

One of the Foundation’s core pillars is its grants program, which reflects its commitment to equitable and transparent support for the literary arts. This grants program, established in 2022 when the Foundation shifted its focus from being an operating to a non-operating foundation, is designed to support nonprofit organizations whose core mission is the promotion of poetry and the literary arts. In this way, the Foundation ensures that poetry continues to flourish and reach new audiences.

Poetry Magazine

Founded in Chicago by Harriet Monroe in 1912, Poetry is the oldest monthly magazine devoted to poetry in the English-speaking world. Harriet Monroe’s “Open Door” policy, established in the magazine’s first issue, remains the clearest reflection of the magazine’s mission: to publish the best poetry written today, regardless of style, genre, or approach. In recent years, nearly half of the poets published in Poetry have been first-time contributors, demonstrating the Foundation’s commitment to the diversity of poetic voices and styles.

The Poetry Foundation, through its programs and magazine, continues to promote poetry as a universal means of expression, ensuring that the art of the word remains a powerful tool for transforming lives and connecting people.