Poetry Foundation Awards $1.52 Million in Grants

Poetry Foundation Awards $1.52 Million in Grants

PR Newswire

CHICAGO, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Poetry Foundation awards $1.52 million to 52 nonprofit poetry organizations, poetry presses and magazines, and literary arts service organizations.

Kundiman’s 2023 retreat fellows, faculty, and staff. Photo courtesy of Kundiman.

Fall 2026 grant recipients include service organizations, poetry publishers, and nonprofits across the United States.

“Support for the literary arts, and especially poetry, remains critical at this time of rising costs and a decrease in funding from traditional sources,” said Poetry Foundation president and CEO, Michelle T. Boone. “The Poetry Foundation’s funding to this collective of organizations and publishers helps make it possible for people of all ages to express themselves and engage with poetry and poets.”

Spanning 23 states and United States territories, these grantee-partner organizations support poets of all ages and at every stage of their careers; publish emerging voices; create opportunities for audiences to experience poetry; provide fellowships, residencies, and professional development for poets; and expand access to poetry through translation and archival work.

Alongside the Poetry Foundation’s other philanthropic efforts, these general operating grants bring the Foundation’s total grantmaking funds for 2026 to more than $3.4 million.

Fall 2026 Grantee-Partners

Nonprofit Poetry Organizations

Nonprofit Poetry Presses and Magazines

Nonprofit Literary Arts Service Organizations

These grants build on the Poetry Foundation’s 2026 commitments, which include:

  • Awarding $1,025,000 to the Sustainable Futures grantee-partner cohort
  • Providing $400,000 in special opportunity grants, which includes:
    • Sponsoring national events such as the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Conference, the National Book Awards, and the PEN America World Voices Festival
    • Funding poetry programs across the Midwest, like the Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards and Kalamazoo Poetry Festival
  • Underwriting $250,000 in opportunities for individual poets, including fellowships at MacDowell and United States Artists and supporting the Chicago and Illinois poet laureateships
  • Contributing to the Literary Arts Fund 

About the Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation transforms lives through the power of words. Our work aims to amplify poetry and celebrate poets by fostering spaces for all to create, experience, and share poetry. Follow the Poetry Foundation and Poetry magazine on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Poetry Foundation