"Lightning’s pity picks you,
licks a kiss, but what’s left
to wick?
Even direct hits miss—
no amount of flash and hiss
fires you..."
—BY HEID E. ERDRICH
["Girl of Lightning" (2024) from The Poetry Foundation]
(Editor's Note: The Poetry Foundation is a major literary organization based in Chicago that is dedicated to promoting poetry and celebrating poets around the world.
Mission and Purpose
The core mission of the Poetry Foundation is to amplify poetry and celebrate poets by fostering spaces where everyone can create, experience, and share poetry. The Foundation believes in the transformative potential of words and seeks to make poetry accessible to a diverse audience through its digital, print, and in-person initiatives. It aims to inspire both new and lifelong lovers of poetry by providing resources, education, and opportunities for engagement.
History and Origins
Founded in 2003, the Poetry Foundation originated from the Modern Poetry Association (established in 1941), which was created to support the publication of Poetry magazine. The Foundation was established thanks to an unprecedented $200 million gift from philanthropist Ruth Lilly, which created an endowment ensuring the long-term vitality of the Foundation and its programs. Poetry magazine itself was founded in 1912 by Harriet Monroe and remains the oldest monthly English-language journal dedicated exclusively to verse.
Programs and Initiatives
Poetry Magazine: The flagship publication, continually published since 1912, is known for its open-door policy of publishing the best poetry in any style or genre and has brought many significant poets to public attention.
Grants and Awards: The Foundation has a robust grantmaking initiative, especially since 2022, supporting nonprofit organizations dedicated to poetry and the literary arts.
Digital Resources: Poetryfoundation.org hosts a vast database of poems, prose, author biographies, audio and video recordings, articles, and educational resources. The Foundation also promotes poetry through newsletters, podcasts, and active social media engagement.
Events and Public Programs: Regular poetry readings, workshops, lectures, and discussions—often free and open to the public—are held at the Foundation’s building or online. The Foundation is also a partner in Poetry Out Loud, a national recitation contest for high school students.
The Poetry Foundation Building
The Foundation’s home is a modern, purpose-built facility in Chicago’s Near North Side. Designed by architect John Ronan and opened in 2011, the building contains a public garden, a library with more than 30,000 poetry volumes, an exhibition gallery, and spaces for events and Foundation offices.
Cultural Impact
With its resources, grants, and events, the Poetry Foundation has raised the profile of poetry nationally and internationally, ensuring that poetry remains a vibrant part of contemporary culture. Its endowment and proactive programming make it one of the largest and most influential literary foundations in the world.
(LIKE Magazine, October 2025)
(Michael de la Force, LIKE® Magazine, 10.13.2025)
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