irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $518KPOETS & WRITERS' WEBSITE, PW.ORG, OFFERS ONLINE-ONLY EDITORIAL FEATURES AND A SUITE OF CAREFULLY VETTED DATABASES OF WRITING CONTESTS, LITERARY MAGAZINES, SMALL PRESSES, LITERARY AGENTS, MFA PROGRAMS, REVIEW OUTLETS, AND MORE. ALSO ONLINE ARE THE POETS & WRITERS DIRECTORY, WHICH LISTS MORE THAN 11,000 PUBLISHED WRITERS, THE NATIONAL LITERARY EVENTS CALENDAR, AND POETS & WRITERS GROUPS, A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKING TOOL THAT ENABLES WRITERS TO FORM, JOIN, AND MANAGE WRITING GROUPS.
- #2 $669KTHE READINGS & WORKSHOPS PROGRAM MAKES MINI-GRANTS TO WRITERS WHO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC LITERARY EVENTS AND PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO EVENT ORGANIZERS. WE OFFER A SERIES OF ONLINE COURSES IN BOTH THE BUSINESS AND CRAFT OF WRITING. JURIED PROGRAMS AND FELLOWSHIPS SUCH AS THE MAUREEN EGEN WRITERS EXCHANGE AWARD AND GET THE WORD OUT PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EARLY CAREER WRITERS AND THE JACKSON POETRY PRIZE RECOGNIZES EXCELLENCE IN AMERICAN POETRY.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Jackson Poetry Prize
Annual prize recognizing excellence in American poetry.
Mapping the Maze
Online workshop helping writers navigate the publishing process by connecting them with agents, editors, and publishing professionals.
Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award
Juried award providing professional opportunities to early-career writers.
Poets & Writers Magazine and Website
Offers online editorial content, databases of literary magazines and contests, the Poets & Writers Directory, and the National Literary Events Calendar.
Readings & Workshops
Provides mini-grants to writers participating in public literary events and offers technical assistance to event organizers in New York, California, and eight other major U.S. cities.
United States of Writing
National initiative extending services to writers across the U.S., with focused support for BIPOC and historically marginalized writers in cities including Detroit, Houston, and New Orleans.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Artist Support Grants 2 activities
- Funding literary events and writer participation through mini-grantsProvides mini-grants totaling over $200,000 annually to more than 750 writers for participation in literary events in New York State and California. IRS-990 reports indicate grants awarded to approximately 800 writers annually and support for around 2,000 literary events with a combined audience of nearly 100,000 people, including technical assistance to event organizers in ten U.S. cities.
- Sponsoring literary prizes and fellowships for writersFunds and administers multiple literary awards and fellowship programs, including the $25,000 Drue Heinz Literature Prize for short fiction, nine $5,000 fellowships annually for emerging fiction writers, $8,000 and $5,000 fellowships for writers in Delaware, $4,000 fellowships for Oregon writers, and $5,000 grants to support manuscript completion.
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Literary Publishing and Support Programs 1 activity
- Administration of literary awards and professional development programsAdministers the Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award and the Jackson Poetry Prize, providing emerging and established writers with recognition, honoraria, residencies, and opportunities to meet publishing professionals in New York City. Arranges professional meetings and visits to literary organizations to support career advancement. The program has supported 118 writers from 47 states and four jurisdictions.
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Youth-Led Student Publications 1 activity
- Capacity building for literary event organizers and underserved communitiesHosts meetings for literary event organizers and writers working with underserved populations to share best practices. Supports student-led publishing through Apprentice House Press at Loyola University Maryland, where students manage all aspects of the publishing process.
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Literary and Cultural Publishing 1 activity
- Distribution of Poets & Writers Magazine and digital communicationsDistributes Poets & Writers Magazine to over 65,000 writers and literary community members, including free subscriptions for award-winning young writers and high school creative writing teachers. Sends sponsored e-blasts and e-newsletters to over 120,000 subscribers weekly.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Online education and workshop offeringsOffers online courses in the business and craft of writing, including the "Mapping the Maze" workshop that connects writers with publishing professionals to navigate the publication process.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Online resources and databases for writersMaintains a comprehensive suite of online resources including a directory of over 100 literary magazines with submission guidelines, a database of writing contests, grants, and fellowships, a national literary events calendar, a peer-to-peer networking tool, a database of literary agents, and information on writers conferences, residencies, and workshops. Also provides a guide to MFA programs and practical advice on publishing, author platforms, and book promotion.
- Subscription and membership managementOffers subscription and membership upgrades, renewals, gift subscriptions, and cancellation options for Poets & Writers. Provides support for users of the Poets & Writers mobile application.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.79M
Contributions & grants$2.21M46%
Program service revenue$1.85M39%
Investment income$544K11%
Other revenue$189K
expenses
Total expenses$4.50M
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$2.11M
Grants paid out$358K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$10.69M
Cash$681K
Investments$7.92M
Liabilities$2.26M
Net assets$8.44M
Liquid reserves22.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +23.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MELISSA GRADEL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $234K |
| KEVIN LARIMER | EDITOR IN CHIEF | 35 | $171K |
| TIA WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 35 | $158K |
| TIM O'SULLIVAN | ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | 35 | $132K |
| JASON CHAPMAN | DIRECTOR OF IT | 35 | $122K |
| RACHEL SCHUDER | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 35 | $121K |
board members · 19
- ALEXANDER ENGER — BOARD MEMBER
- ALLISON DAVIS — BOARD MEMBER
- AM HOMES — BOARD MEMBER
- AMY BERKOWER — BOARD MEMBER (TO JUN 2025)
- ANKE STEINECKE — BOARD MEMBER
- CHRISTINE BAKER KLINE — BOARD MEMBER
- ELIZABETH TOLEDO — BOARD MEMBER (TO JUN 2025)
- ELLIOT FIGMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- ERIC SIMONOFF — BOARD MEMBER
- JOHANNA CASTILLO — BOARD MEMBER
- KASSIE EVASHEVSKI — BOARD MEMBER
- KATIE MAHON — BOARD MEMBER
- KIMBERLY JACKSON — BOARD MEMBER
- KOFI APPENTENG — BOARD MEMBER
- LIATE STEHLIK — BOARD MEMBER
- MADELINE MCINTOSH — PRESIDENT
- PAUL VIDICH — TREASURER
- ROCHELLE RILEY — BOARD MEMBER
- SALLY KIM — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- #TWP Quarterly Lit Zine Partner — Listed in Poets & Writers' directory as a teen-run literary zine amplifying youth voices through prose, poetry, and multimedia content
- 100 Word Story Partner — Listed in Poets & Writers' literary magazine directory with editorial focus on brevity and precision in writing
- 32 Poems Partner — Listed in Poets & Writers' directory with focus on short poetic works up to 32 lines
- Acentos Review Partner — Listed in Poets & Writers' directory as a publication featuring Latinx writers and artists across multiple genres and languages
- Ad Department Partner — Handles advertising inquiries and sales for Poets & Writers Magazine.
- Adroit Journal Partner — Listed in Poets & Writers' literary magazine directory with reading period and submission details
- Center for Fiction Partner — Partners to administer the Susan Kamil Emerging Writer Fellowships.
- DRG Network Partner — Handles customer service operations including address changes, billing, and subscription management.
- Delaware Division of the Arts Government — Collaborates on Individual Artist Fellowships for writers in Delaware.
- Friends of Poets & Writers Partner — Donor program supporting Poets & Writers through contributions.
- Granum Foundation Funder — Provides funding for the Granum Foundation Prizes to support writers completing manuscripts.
- Jackson Poetry Prize Partner — Literary award recognizing excellence in American poetry
- Jentel Artist Residency Program Partner — Provides a one-month residency opportunity for winners of the Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award.
- Literary Arts Partner — Administers Oregon Literary Fellowships for writers in Oregon.
- Literary Organizations Network — Provides information about literary organizations as part of its resource network for writers.
- Loyola University Maryland Partner — Host institution for Apprentice House Press, where students manage all aspects of the publishing process.
- Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award Partner — Juried program providing professional opportunities to early-career writers
- Maureen Mahon Egen Funder — Provides generous support for the Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award.
- Patrons Circle Partner — Donor program providing financial support to Poets & Writers.
- The Literary Network Coalition — Cofounder of a coalition of nonprofit literary organizations, presses, and magazines advocating for freedom of expression and public funding for literature and the arts.
- University of Pittsburgh Press Partner — Collaborates on the Drue Heinz Literature Prize to publish winning short fiction collections.
- Vermont Studio Center Partner — Partnership enabling Get the Word Out fellows to apply for fully funded residencies.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Financial and Recognition-Based Writer Supportmethodology: financial_and_recognition_supportBy providing cash prizes, grants, and publication opportunities at critical stages of manuscript development, Poets & Writers increases the likelihood of creative completion and long-term writer sustainability, because financial relief and public recognition reduce economic precarity and validate artistic effort in under-resourced communities.
- Peer and Professional Network Activationmethodology: professional_networking_for_emerging_writersBy facilitating peer-to-peer and personalized connections between writers and literary professionals—such as agents, editors, and award mentors—Poets & Writers enhances career advancement and creative sustainability, because targeted relational access compensates for unequal social capital in the literary field.
- Resource Aggregation and Clearinghouse Modelmethodology: information_clearinghouseBy centralizing fragmented literary opportunities and publishing information into searchable databases and directories, Poets & Writers increases writers' access to pathways for publication and professional development, because equitable access to information reduces systemic barriers in a competitive, opaque industry.