Equity in Verse

The Equity in Verse grant category was created in direct response to the June 6, 2020 community letter requesting that the Poetry Foundation examine its historic cultural debt to poets of color. These grants are intended to provide support for nonprofit poetry and literary organizations, which include presses and publications, led and staffed by people of color.

BIPOC communities and their art, ideas, and labor are integral to poetry. The Poetry Foundation acknowledges that these contributions have been underrecognized. Honoring the legacy of past BIPOC poets and making space for living and future poets are critical to the Foundation’s evolution.

Grants range in size from $10,000-$100,000, and all grants are for a 12-month period.

Eligibility

Equity in Verse Grants are only available to US-based nonprofit organizations. There are two types of support in this category: general operating support and program support.

To apply for general operating support, you must be a BIPOC-led poetry nonprofit organization or a BIPOC-led literary arts nonprofit organization with a significant focus on poetry. If you do not meet these qualifications, you will need to apply for program support. If you are a non-profit organization with multiple types of poetry programs applying for program support, your application can include a request for support for multiple programs.

If you have a question about your eligibility or which category of support you qualify for, please contact [email protected] before applying.

How to Apply

To apply, you will need to request access through the Poetry Foundation’s online portal. You will be required to submit a registration request. If your registration is approved, you will receive login credentials in order to access the portal and submit an application. Please note that it can take up to three business days for your registration request to be processed. Also, please check your spam folder if you do not receive an email response to your registration request within three business days.

As part of our commitment to accessibility, the Poetry Foundation offers alternative application formats (e.g., audio format, video format, and interview with transcription). Please contact [email protected] or call 312-799-8072 at least two weeks prior to the application deadline to arrange for a method of submitting your organization’s application that best meets the accessibility needs of the applicant.

For any questions about the application process or to schedule a conversation about your application, please contact [email protected].

Deadlines

December 2024 marks the conclusion of the Poetry Foundation’s initial 3-year commitment to grantmaking. Pending Board approval in December, the Foundation will be announcing a new grantmaking strategy in early 2025 with updated priorities, eligibility guidelines, and deadlines. We will send out this update to all the applicants in our system.

Reporting Requirements

Grantees will be asked to submit a short final report within 30 days of the grant’s end date. A final report form will be sent to grantees before the deadline.