Poetry Foundation
An American literary foundation that advances poetry through publishing, grants, awards, education, public programs, and a specialized library.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
The Poetry Foundation is a Chicago-based American literary foundation devoted to expanding the audience for poetry and supporting poets, educators, publishers, and poetry organizations. It is the successor to the Modern Poetry Association, the organization formed in 1941 to support Poetry magazine, which had been founded in Chicago in 1912 by Harriet Monroe. The foundation assumed its modern form in 2003 after the Modern Poetry Association received a major bequest from philanthropist Ruth Lilly. The endowment transformed the scale of the organization and enabled it to move beyond magazine publishing into a broad portfolio of cultural, educational, and philanthropic activities. The foundation continues to publish Poetry, one of the longest-running English-language poetry magazines. Its wider work includes awards and fellowships for poets, grants to nonprofit literary-arts organizations, educational initiatives, readings, exhibitions, digital publishing, and a public library specializing in poetry. Its website provides access to poems, essays, interviews, podcasts, educational material, and information about contemporary and historical poets. The organization has also operated Harriet, a literary blog and forum covering poetry, criticism, literary culture, and community discussion. A major institutional landmark is the Poetry Foundation building in Chicago's Near North Side. Designed by architect John Ronan and opened in 2011, the building contains the foundation's library, exhibition and event spaces, and offices for the foundation and Poetry magazine. It was intended to make poetry more accessible through a free, public-facing cultural venue rather than limiting the organization to print publication and grantmaking. The foundation's educational reach includes Poetry Out Loud, a national high-school poetry-recitation program created in 2005 with the National Endowment for the Arts. The program uses memorization and performance to develop students' public-speaking abilities and deepen their engagement with poetry. Other initiatives have included the Harriet Monroe Poetry Institute, launched in 2008 to bring poets, scholars, educators, and arts professionals together to examine issues affecting poetry and literary culture. The foundation administers several prominent prizes. These include the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize for lifetime achievement by a living American poet, the Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships for younger U.S. poets, and Pegasus-branded awards recognizing poetry criticism, service, and children's poetry. In 2025, the foundation and Graywolf Press announced the Pegasus Poetry Book Prize, a periodic award for an unpublished first or second collection by a U.S. poet aged 40 or older, with publication by Graywolf Press. Leadership and institutional priorities have changed substantially since the foundation's creation. John Barr served as its first president, followed by Robert Polito and Henry S. Bienen. In 2020, the organization faced intense criticism over its response to nationwide protests against police violence and racism after the murder of George Floyd. An open letter signed by more than 1,000 poets and supporters called for the resignations of Bienen and board chair Willard Bunn III; both stepped down in June 2020. The foundation subsequently promised organizational change, commissioned or reported on an equity audit, and described internal reforms. Michelle Boone became president in 2021. In 2021 and 2022, the foundation announced a new grantmaking strategy, a three-year commitment of $9 million, and a strategic-planning process. It also changed its tax classification from a private operating foundation to a private nonoperating foundation, emphasizing grantmaking as a larger part of its mission. The foundation is a U.S. 501(c)(3) private nonoperating foundation governed by a board of trustees.
History
The Poetry Foundation's institutional history is rooted in Poetry magazine, founded in Chicago in 1912 by Harriet Monroe. Monroe served as the magazine's first editor and publisher until her death in 1936. In 1941, the Modern Poetry Association was established to support the publication and long-term development of Poetry. That association became the direct predecessor of the Poetry Foundation. The foundation's present structure emerged from a bequest by philanthropist Ruth Lilly. The Modern Poetry Association learned in 2001 that it would receive the gift and spent approximately a year reorganizing its governing board before the bequest was publicly announced. The gift, which later grew to roughly $200 million according to published accounts, gave the organization resources to expand substantially beyond the magazine. In 2003, the Modern Poetry Association was reorganized as the Poetry Foundation. Joseph Parisi, who had edited Poetry for approximately two decades, initially moved into a leadership role at the new foundation and selected Christian Wiman as his successor at the magazine. Parisi resigned after several months, and the board recruited John Barr as president. Barr led the foundation from 2003 until 2013. Robert Polito, a poet, critic, and founder of the graduate writing program at The New School, succeeded him and served until 2015. Henry S. Bienen, president emeritus of Northwestern University, became president in December 2015. The organization developed a wider public presence during this period. It expanded digital publishing and online access to poetry, maintained the Poetry magazine editorial operation, introduced the Harriet blog in 2007, and launched the Harriet Monroe Poetry Institute in 2008. Poetry Out Loud, a national recitation competition for high-school students, was created in 2005 in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The foundation also increased its awards, fellowships, public events, library services, and support for literary organizations. Part of the Lilly bequest financed a dedicated building in Chicago's Near North Side. Designed by John Ronan, the building opened in 2011. Its public library, reading areas, exhibition facilities, and event spaces were designed to make poetry available in a free and accessible cultural setting. The site also houses offices for the foundation and Poetry magazine. A major governance crisis occurred in 2020. After George Floyd was murdered and protests against police violence and racism spread across the United States, the foundation's public response drew criticism from poets and supporters. An open letter signed by more than 1,000 people demanded the resignations of Bienen and board chair Willard Bunn III. Both resigned on June 10, 2020. The foundation then issued commitments concerning organizational change and later discussed an equity audit and internal reforms. In April 2021, Michelle Boone was appointed president. During 2021 and 2022, the foundation announced a new grantmaking approach involving a $9 million, three-year commitment and began what it described as its first strategic-planning process since 2006. Its 2022 strategic plan also described a shift from private operating foundation status to private nonoperating foundation status, allowing grantmaking to become a more central component of its activities. Today, the Poetry Foundation operates as a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) private nonoperating foundation. Its work combines publication of Poetry, digital and editorial programming, awards and fellowships, grants, public events, library services, and educational initiatives. The organization remains governed by a board of trustees and presents itself as a national institution with international digital reach rather than as a commercial consumer brand.
- 2025
Pegasus Poetry Book Prize announced
[1]The foundation and Graywolf Press announce a new periodic prize for eligible U.S. poets with unpublished first or second collections.
- 2022
Grantmaking and tax-status strategy expands
[1]The foundation announces a three-year grant commitment of $9 million and describes its transition to private nonoperating foundation status.
- 2021
Michelle Boone becomes president
[1]Michelle Boone takes over as president during a period of institutional reform and strategic reassessment.
- 2020
Leadership resignations follow public criticism
[1]President Henry S. Bienen and board chair Willard Bunn III resign amid criticism of the foundation's response to racial-justice protests.
- 2011
Chicago building opens
[1]The John Ronan-designed Poetry Foundation building opens with a public library, event areas, exhibition space, and organizational offices.
- 2008
Harriet Monroe Poetry Institute launches
[1]The institute begins convening poets, scholars, and other literary-arts participants around issues affecting poetry.
- 2007
Harriet blog is introduced
[1]The foundation launches Harriet as a group blog that develops into a broader forum for poetry news, criticism, and community discussion.
- 2005
Poetry Out Loud launches
[1]The foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts create a national poetry-recitation program for high-school students.
- 2003
Poetry Foundation is created
[1]The Modern Poetry Association is reorganized after receiving Ruth Lilly's major bequest.
- 1941
Modern Poetry Association is established
[1]The Modern Poetry Association is formed to support the publication of Poetry and serves as the foundation's predecessor.
Products and positioning
A major U.S. nonprofit literary institution combining magazine publishing, public cultural programming, poetry education, digital access, philanthropy, and support for poets.
Literary magazine · 1912
Poetry
The foundation's flagship publication is Poetry magazine, founded in Chicago in 1912 by Harriet Monroe. It publishes contemporary poems alongside criticism, essays, interviews, and related editorial material. The magazine predates the foundation and remains the core publishing program inherited from the Modern Poetry Association.
Digital publishing platform
Poetry Foundation website
The foundation's website provides broad public access to poems, poet biographies, essays, interviews, podcasts, educational resources, news, award information, and organizational programming. It extends the institution's reach beyond its Chicago premises and print magazine.
Library and archive · 2011
Poetry Foundation Library
Located in the Chicago headquarters, the public poetry library and associated exhibition areas provide access to poetry books and literary materials while supporting visits, research, and public engagement. The facility is part of the foundation's effort to make poetry available through a free cultural venue.
Literary blog · 2007
Harriet
Harriet began in 2007 as a group blog and evolved into a forum for poetry commentary, criticism, news, and community discussion. Its contributors have included poets and writers working across different generations, styles, and literary communities.
Poetry education program · 2005
Poetry Out Loud
Created with the National Endowment for the Arts in 2005, Poetry Out Loud is a national high-school recitation competition. Students memorize and perform poems, using the activity to build public-speaking skills and develop knowledge of poetry.
Poetry award
Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize
An annual lifetime-achievement prize for a living U.S. poet. The award recognizes a substantial contribution to American poetry and is one of the foundation's best-known honors.
Poetry fellowship
Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships
These fellowships support five U.S. poets each year who are between 21 and 31 years old. They are intended to provide significant early-career support and encourage the development of new poetic work.
Poetry awards
Pegasus Awards
The Pegasus awards family includes honors associated with Poetry and the Poetry Foundation, including awards for poetry criticism, service in poetry, and children's poetry. The Pegasus name reflects the winged-horse symbol long associated with Poetry magazine.
Poetry book prize · 2025
Pegasus Poetry Book Prize
Announced in 2025 with Graywolf Press, this periodic prize recognizes a U.S. poet aged 40 or older for an unpublished first or second poetry collection. The award includes publication by Graywolf Press and a cash prize.
Controversies
2020
Criticism over response to racial-justice protests
Following George Floyd's murder and nationwide protests against police violence and racism, more than 1,000 poets and supporters signed an open letter criticizing the Poetry Foundation's response and calling for the resignations of president Henry S. Bienen and board chair Willard Bunn III. Both resigned on June 10, 2020. The foundation subsequently announced commitments to organizational change and discussed an equity audit and related reforms.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Expanded grantmaking strategy
United States
The foundation announced a new grantmaking strategy with an initial commitment of $9 million over three years for nonprofit literary-arts organizations.
Outcome. The initiative shifted a larger share of institutional activity toward support for external poetry and literary organizations.
- 2007Harriet
United States · International
The foundation introduced Harriet as a group blog to broaden its online editorial and community activity around poetry.
Outcome. Harriet developed into a wider digital forum for poetry news, criticism, and discussion.
- 2005Poetry Out Loud
United States
The Poetry Foundation partnered with the National Endowment for the Arts to establish a nationwide poetry-recitation competition for high-school students.
Outcome. The program became a continuing national educational initiative centered on memorization, interpretation, and public performance.
Brand decisions
2025
Launch Pegasus Poetry Book Prize partnershipProduct launchBackground
The foundation sought to create a new book-focused award for an underrecognized stage of a poet's career.
Action taken
In partnership with Graywolf Press, it announced a periodic prize for an eligible U.S. poet's unpublished first or second collection.
Aftermath
The first award was scheduled for October 2026, with publication by Graywolf Press.
2022
Shift to private nonoperating foundation statusStrategyBackground
The foundation's strategic plan called for grantmaking to represent a larger portion of its work.
Action taken
The organization changed from private operating foundation status to private nonoperating foundation status.
Aftermath
The change aligned the foundation's formal structure with a stronger emphasis on distributing support to external nonprofit literary organizations.
2021
Adopt expanded grantmaking strategyStrategyBackground
The foundation began a new strategic-planning process and reassessed how its resources should serve the wider poetry ecosystem.
Action taken
It announced an initial three-year commitment of $9 million for grants to nonprofit literary-arts organizations.
Aftermath
Grantmaking became a more prominent part of the foundation's public mission and operating model.
Planned grant commitment. $9 million (Three years, announced in 2021)
2020
Change leadership after institutional criticismOtherBackground
The foundation faced sustained criticism over its public response to racial-justice protests and calls for more substantial institutional accountability.
Action taken
President Henry S. Bienen and board chair Willard Bunn III resigned, and the foundation committed to organizational change and internal reform.
Aftermath
The organization conducted or reported on an equity audit, continued reform discussions, and appointed Michelle Boone as president in 2021.
2011
Open dedicated Chicago cultural centerStrategyBackground
The foundation sought a visible public home for its library, editorial work, and programming.
Action taken
It opened a John Ronan-designed building in Chicago's Near North Side with a public library, reading and exhibition areas, event space, and offices.
Aftermath
The building became the foundation's principal public venue for free poetry programs and library access.
2003
Reorganize around Ruth Lilly bequestStrategyBackground
The Modern Poetry Association received a major bequest from philanthropist Ruth Lilly, creating resources far beyond the scale of its earlier magazine-centered operation.
Action taken
The association was reorganized as the Poetry Foundation and expanded its mandate to include public programs, awards, education, grants, and library services.
Aftermath
The organization became a large national literary foundation while continuing to publish Poetry magazine.
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