Poetry Foundation
Harriet Monroe opened the doors to Poetry magazine in Chicago on the 1st of September 1912. She served as its first editor until her death in 1936. For decades, the Modern Poetry Association published the periodical before reorganizing into a foundation. A quiet transformation occurred when Ruth Lilly died and left a bequest worth over $100 million. The actual amount grew to about $200 million by the time it was distributed. This massive sum arrived after the magazine learned of the gift in 2001. They waited one year to announce the news while restructuring their board. Joseph Parisi had edited the magazine for two decades before volunteering to lead the new entity. Christian Wiman took over the editorship in 2003 shortly after the foundation formed. Parisi resigned from his role within just a few months.
A recruiting agency helped find John Barr to head the newly created organization. He served as the first president from 2003 through 2013. Robert Polito succeeded Barr in 2013 and held the position until 2015. Henry S. Bienen became president in December 2015 following his tenure at Northwestern University. His leadership ended on the 10th of June 2020, after criticism regarding support for marginalized artists. Michelle T. Boone assumed the presidency in April 2021 having previously been Chicago's commissioner for cultural affairs. These transitions marked shifts in how the institution approached its mission. Each leader navigated different challenges while maintaining the core publication. The board sought stability during periods of significant financial change.
Part of the Ruth Lilly bequest funded construction of a headquarters on the Near North Side of Chicago. Architect John Ronan designed the structure that opened in 2011. The facility houses a poetry library alongside reading spaces open to the public. Free events take place within these walls every week. Office and editorial space accommodates staff for both the foundation and Poetry magazine. The building serves as a physical anchor for an organization that once operated without a permanent home. It provides a venue for workshops, readings, and exhibitions available to all visitors. The architecture reflects the dual purpose of preserving history while fostering new work.
The Poetry Out Loud recitation competition launched in 2005 through a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. This program engages high school students in public speaking and literary performance. Schools receive stipends while winners compete for more than $105,000 in prizes annually. The initiative aims to increase awareness of poetry through active participation rather than passive reading. Workshops and discussions complement the competitive aspect by inviting broader community involvement. Events remain free of charge whether held in person or via livestream. The foundation uses these programs to fulfill its mission of amplifying poetry across culture.
A grants program began operations in 2022 with an initial commitment of $9 million over three years. The foundation seeks to support the field of poetry in ways that are equitable and transparent. Five exceptional U.S. poets aged between 21 and 31 receive the Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships. Each fellowship carries a prize value of $27,000. New awards emerged in recent years including the Pegasus Award for Service in Poetry established in 2023. That award includes a cash prize of $25,000 for extraordinary work in administration or advocacy. A joint book prize with Graywolf Press will begin awarding first or second collections from authors aged 40 or older starting in October 2026.
The Pegasus Awards honor poets and poetic forms using imagery from early magazine covers featuring a winged horse. An annual Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize offers $100,000 for lifetime achievement to United States poets. Critics receive the Pegasus Award for Poetry Criticism which provides $10,000 for outstanding book-length works published domestically. The Young People's Poet Laureate appointment lasts two years and includes a $25,000 annual stipend. This role supports projects promoting poetry to families, teachers, and librarians. These prizes bring recognition to diverse contributions within American letters. They function as both financial support and public validation for artistic careers.
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Common questions
When did Harriet Monroe open Poetry magazine in Chicago?
Harriet Monroe opened the doors to Poetry magazine in Chicago on the 1st of September 1912. She served as its first editor until her death in 1936.
How much money did Ruth Lilly leave to the Poetry Foundation after she died?
Ruth Lilly left a bequest worth over $100 million that grew to about $200 million by the time it was distributed. The actual amount arrived after the magazine learned of the gift in 2001 and they waited one year to announce the news while restructuring their board.
Who is the current president of the Poetry Foundation and when did they take office?
Michelle T. Boone assumed the presidency in April 2021 having previously been Chicago's commissioner for cultural affairs. Her leadership follows Henry S. Bienen who ended his tenure on the 10th of June 2020.
Where is the headquarters of the Poetry Foundation located and when did it open?
Part of the Ruth Lilly bequest funded construction of a headquarters on the Near North Side of Chicago designed by architect John Ronan. The structure opened in 2011 and houses a poetry library alongside reading spaces open to the public.
What are the prize amounts for the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize and the Pegasus Award for Service in Poetry?
An annual Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize offers $100,000 for lifetime achievement to United States poets. That award includes a cash prize of $25,000 for extraordinary work in administration or advocacy established in 2023.