Poetry Foundation Leader Michelle T. Boone to Retire, Leaving a Legacy of Grantmaking and Growth

The Poetry Foundation announced on November 10, 2026, that its President and CEO, Michelle T. Boone, will retire at the end of 2027. Boone, who took the helm in May 2021, is credited with significantly reshaping the Chicago-based organization, transforming it into a major grantmaking entity for poetry and poets across the United States. Her departure marks the close of a career spanning decades in entertainment, nonprofit arts leadership, and cultural philanthropy.

According to the Poetry Foundation, a search committee has been formed by the board of trustees to find Boone's successor, with a firm soon to be selected to lead the search. Boone will remain in her role through 2027 to ensure a smooth transition, allowing for continuity and stability as the Foundation approaches its 25th anniversary.

A Strategic Shift Towards National Grantmaking

Michelle T. Boone's leadership at the Poetry Foundation began during a period of considerable uncertainty in the arts sector. As the Foundation's first woman and first Black leader, she quickly responded to what the organization describes as urgent calls from the poetry community for more resources. Under her guidance, the Poetry Foundation transitioned to become a private nonoperating grantmaking foundation. This strategic shift positioned it as one of the largest funders of nonprofit poetry organizations, presses, publications, and select literary arts service and membership organizations in the U.S.

Since 2021, the Foundation has distributed $17 million in grants, a testament to its renewed focus on direct support for the poetry ecosystem. This approach has aimed to address the financial challenges faced by literary arts organizations and individual poets, fostering a more robust and sustainable environment for the art form. For students and educators, this means more opportunities for poetry to be taught, published, and celebrated in schools and communities, potentially leading to richer educational resources and broader engagement with poetic works.

Strengthening the Poetry Ecosystem Through Vision and Leadership

Boone's tenure also saw the development of the Foundation's first strategic plan since 2006, launched in 2022. This plan introduced a new mission, values, and grantmaking strategy, reflecting a renewed commitment to amplifying poetry and celebrating poets. Gwendolyn Perry Davis, chair of the Poetry Foundation board of trustees, noted that Boone brought a "bold vision for what the Foundation could be," leading to increased impact and relevance.

Key initiatives under Boone's leadership, according to the Foundation, include the hiring of poet and educator Adrian Matejka in 2022 as the first Black editor-in-chief in Poetry magazine's 110-year history. Matejka's editorial approach has emphasized first-time contributors and worked to fill gaps in Poetry's archive by highlighting poets whose work had previously not received attention in the magazine. This focus on inclusivity and broadening representation offers valuable lessons for students and teachers about the evolving landscape of literature and the importance of diverse voices.

The Foundation's awards program also saw significant revitalization. For Poetry's 110th anniversary in 2022, the Foundation awarded an unprecedented $1.1 million across 11 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prizes, commemorating the lifetime achievements of poets such as Rita Dove, Nikki Giovanni, Patti Smith, and current United States Poet Laureate Arthur Sze. Further expansions included the addition of the $25,000 Pegasus Award for Service in Poetry in 2023, and the establishment of the $10,000 Pegasus Poetry Book Prize in partnership with Graywolf Press in 2025. These expansions underscore the Foundation's commitment to supporting the diversity and range of poetry as an essential art form.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Poetry and Learning

As the Poetry Foundation prepares for its next chapter, the groundwork laid by Michelle T. Boone's leadership is likely to continue influencing the landscape of literary arts funding and programming. The emphasis on supporting poetry organizations and fostering diverse voices has implications for how poetry is accessed and appreciated by the public, including students.

For students engaging with poetry, understanding the broader ecosystem of literary arts organizations and their impact can provide valuable context. Platforms like COSMIQ offer free voice-driven AI tutoring for K-12 students, which can be a helpful resource for exploring poetic forms, understanding complex texts, or even getting creative writing prompts. Additionally, resources like the free practice hub can assist learners in honing their language arts skills, which are fundamental to appreciating and analyzing poetry.

Boone's commitment to expanding the legacy of service to the literary arts, as she stated, has been expanded in meaningful ways. Her impending retirement sets the stage for new leadership to build upon these foundations as the Poetry Foundation approaches its 25th anniversary, continuing its mission to champion poetry for all.