POETRY SOCIETY OF AMERICA

EIN: 136019220 501(c)(3) Arts, Culture & Humanities

NEW YORK, NY

Total Revenue
$1,192,427
Total Expenses
$896,904
Total Assets
$6,606,338
Net Assets
$6,183,315
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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1910
Legal Domicile
NY
Principal Officer
MATT BROGAN
Phone
2122549628
Tax Period
2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30

POETRY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, founded in 1910, is a community nonprofit in the Arts, Culture & Humanities sector that reported $1.2M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue surged 48% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. The organization ran a surplus of $296K, a strong 25% operating margin.

Mission

THE POETRY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, THE NATION'S OLDEST POETRY ORGANIZATION, WAS FOUNDED IN 1910. ITS MISSION IS TO BUILD A LARGER AND MORE DIVERSE AUDIENCE FOR POETRY, TO ENCOURAGE A DEEPER APPRECIATION OF THE VITALITY (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)AND BREADTH OF POETRY IN THE CULTURAL CONVERSATION, AND TO PLACE POETRY AT THE CROSSROADS OF AMERICAN LIFE.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $246,652 Revenue: $40,122

PUBLIC PROGRAMS:THE POETRY SOCIETY PRESENTS LIVE AND DIGITAL PROGRAMS THAT EXPLORE THE WORK OF INDIVIDUAL POETS, AS WELL AS IMPORTANT THEMES IN CONTEMPORARY POETRY. THESE INCLUDE A WIDE VARIETY OF...

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PUBLIC PROGRAMS:THE POETRY SOCIETY PRESENTS LIVE AND DIGITAL PROGRAMS THAT EXPLORE THE WORK OF INDIVIDUAL POETS, AS WELL AS IMPORTANT THEMES IN CONTEMPORARY POETRY. THESE INCLUDE A WIDE VARIETY OF EVENTS IN THE POETRY SOCIETY'S STOREFRONT SPACE: READINGS, LECTURES, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, TEACHER TRAININGS, CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. THE POETRY SOCIETY'S DIGITAL PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDE VIDEO RECORDINGS OF LIVE EVENTS AND ONLINE SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS, AS WELL AS THE PUBLICATION OF ESSAYS, INTERVIEWS, AND ORIGINAL POEMS, SERVE HUNDREDS OF POETS AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF READERS EACH YEAR.

Program 2
Expenses: $151,835 Revenue: $35,534

ANNUAL AWARDSEACH YEAR, THE POETRY SOCIETY OFFERS MORE THAN A DOZEN AWARDS TO HONOR AND SUPPORT POETS AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR CAREERS, RANGING FROM AN AWARD FOR A STUDENT POET TO BEST FIRST BOOK TO...

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ANNUAL AWARDSEACH YEAR, THE POETRY SOCIETY OFFERS MORE THAN A DOZEN AWARDS TO HONOR AND SUPPORT POETS AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR CAREERS, RANGING FROM AN AWARD FOR A STUDENT POET TO BEST FIRST BOOK TO LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN POETRY. RECIPIENTS OF THE POETRY SOCIETY'S MOST DISTINGUISHED AWARD, THE FROST MEDAL, HAVE INCLUDED GWENDOLYN BROOKS, WALLACE STEVENS, MARIANNE MOORE, JOHN ASHBERY, AND LUCILLE CLIFTON. RECIPIENTS OF THE FOUR QUARTETS PRIZE FOR BEST POETRY SEQUENCE HAVE INCLUDED DANTE MICHEAUX, DANEZ SMITH, AND JOHN MURILLO. EACH YEAR, THE POETRY SOCIETY ALSO AWARDS TWO CHAPBOOK FELLOWSHIPS, WHICH INCLUDE A PRIZE OF $1,000 AND THE PUBLICATION OF THEIR FIRST CHAPBOOK, ALONG WITH MENTORSHIP BY AN ESTABLISHED POET IN THE EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATION PROCESS.

Program 3
Expenses: $196,195

POETRY AND PUBLIC SPACESINCE 1992, THE POETRY SOCIETY HAS PRESENTED POETRY IN MOTION, WHICH PLACES POEMS IN TRANSIT SYSTEMS AROUND THE COUNTRY, CREATING UNEXPECTED AND MEANINGFUL ENCOUNTERS IN PUBLIC...

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POETRY AND PUBLIC SPACESINCE 1992, THE POETRY SOCIETY HAS PRESENTED POETRY IN MOTION, WHICH PLACES POEMS IN TRANSIT SYSTEMS AROUND THE COUNTRY, CREATING UNEXPECTED AND MEANINGFUL ENCOUNTERS IN PUBLIC SPACES BETWEEN POEMS AND MILLIONS OF READERS. IN 2021, THE PROGRAM EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE WASHINGTON DC AREA METRO SYSTEM AND PATH/PORT AUTHORITY STATIONS IN NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK. THE PROGRAM SERVES APPROXIMATELY 9 MILLION PEOPLE EACH YEAR. POETRY IN MOTION IS NOW THE CORNERSTONE OF A LARGER ARRAY OF PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC SPACE, INCLUDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO PRESENT POETRY-BASED PUBLIC ART PROJECTS. IN 2022, THE POETRY SOCIETY PARTNERED WITH THE DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN PARTNERSHIP TO PRESET SEEING INTO TOMORROW, WHICH TRANSFORMED POEMS BY RICHARD WRIGHT INTO LARGE-SCALE INSTALLATIONS ON WALLS IN SEVERAL BROOKLYN NEIGHBORHOODS. IN APRIL 2023, THE POETRY SOCIETY LAUNCHED PARK POEMS, A PARTNERSHIP WITH NYC PARKS TO PLACE POEMS IN FIVE PUBLIC PARKS, ONE IN EACH BOROUGH. IN 2024, PARK POEMS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE PARTNERSHIPS WITH NEW YORK STATE PARKS, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND THE BROOKLYN BOTANICAL GARDEN. IN 2025, THE POETRY SOCIETY LAUNCHED THE POEM DISTRICT, WITH POEMS INSTALLED ON WALLS AND WINDOWS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SURROUNDING ITS BROOKLYN STOREFRONT SPACE. FINALLY, THIS PROGRAM AREA ALSO INCLUDES POEMS ON WHEELS, A PARTNERSHIP WITH MEALS ON WHEELS CHAPTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO PROVIDE POEMS ALONG WITH NOURISHING MEALS TO HOMEBOUND SENIORS.

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $837,970
Program Service Revenue $67,170
Investment Income $278,801
Other Revenue $8,486
TOTAL REVENUE $1,192,427

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $95,060
Salaries & Benefits $447,216
Fundraising Expenses $83,157
Program Expenses $594,682
Other Expenses $354,628
TOTAL EXPENSES $896,904

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $1,192,427 $807,651 +0.5%
Expenses $896,904 $870,379 +0.0%
Net Income $295,523 $-62,728 -5.7%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
20
Independent Members
20
Employees
5
Volunteers
20

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
7
$144,397
Total Directors
20
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
CATHERINE WOODARD PRESIDENT 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
ABIGAIL WENDER SECRETARY 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
ELLEN RACHLIN TREASURER 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
MAJOR JACKSON FIRST VICE PRESIDENT 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
GARY ELLIS VICE PRESIDENT 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
JACQUELINE WOODSON VICE PRESIDENT 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
KIM BENDHEIM DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHAEL A BOYD DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
VICTORIA CHANG DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CORNELIUS EADY DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KATE GALE DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
INDIRA GORIS DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MARTHA KING DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JANE OTTO DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ELISE PASCHEN DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
PETER ROSE DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
HOWARD ROTHMAN DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
PETER G SMITH DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
HELEN KLEIN ROSS DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
STEPHEN SYZPULSKI DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MATT BROGAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00
Officer
$142,000 $2,397 $144,397
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2025 $1,192,427 $896,904 $6,606,338 $295,523
2024 $807,651 $870,379 $5,989,552 $-62,728
2023 $790,576 $831,699 $5,717,519 $-41,123
2022 $1,187,140 $722,108 $4,975,099 $465,032
2021 $738,176 $640,628 $5,528,589 $97,548
2020 $669,762 $571,048 $4,422,908 $98,714
2019 $656,530 $839,236 $4,468,432 $-182,706
2018 $641,656 $634,138 $4,406,767 $7,518
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