irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $531KLITERARY PROGRAMS: DURING THE FIRST OPERATIONAL YEAR AFTER OUR REOPENING, THE ORGANIZATION RELAUNCHED SIGNATURE PROGRAM SERIES INCLUDING THE ANNUAL SHOWCSE EXHIBITION, PASSWORDS, EPIC VOICES, AND TRIBUTES, AND INTRODUCED NEW SERIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING NEW WORKS, WHICH CELEBRATES NEW BOOKS OF POETRY, AND CROSSWORDS, WHICH CENTERS WORKS IN TRANSLATION. WE LAUNCHED A NEW BLOG SERIES AND EXPANDED SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT. WE OFFERED 33 WORKSHOPS ON THE CRAFT OF POETRY AND HOSTED 64 PUBLIC EVENTS.
- #2 $133KTHE YOUTH CENTER AT POETS HOUSE: DURING 2024, A REINVIGORATED YOUTH PROGRAM WAS RELAUNCHED WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING CHILDREN AND TEENS A WAY TO EXPLORE LANGUAGE AS A VEHICLE FOR THE IMAGINATION, MEANS OF SELF-EXPRESSION, AND PATHWAY TO UNDERSTANDING. THE LONG-STANDING FREE CLASS TRIP PROGRAM WAS RELAUNCHED AS YOUTH ENCOUNTERS WITH POETRY, WELCOMING 46 CLASS VISITS FROM ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WE ALSO RELAUNCHED THE WEEK-LONG SUMMER INTENSIVE WORKSHOP FOR TEENS.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Literary Programs
Curated series of panel discussions, readings, exhibitions, and writing workshops featuring poets from the U.S. and worldwide. Includes signature series such as ShowCSE, Passwords, Epic Voices, and Tributes, as well as newer series like New Works and Crosswords focusing on poetry in translation.
Poets House Digital Archive
Online archive preserving and providing access to recordings of poetry readings and literary events from Poets House and select NYC institutions since its inception, launched in 2026 with support from federal and foundation grants.
Reed Foundation Library
Free public library housing approximately 100,000 poetry books, chapbooks, journals, and multimedia materials. Features special collections, including the Elizabeth Kray papers, and offers reference support and access to rare materials by appointment.
Riverside Reading and Writing Groups
Biweekly community groups led by Poets House staff for members of the public to engage in guided poetry reading and writing. Open to all experience levels; held in person at the library.
Youth Center at Poets House
Program offering poetry and writing instruction for children and teens, including the relaunched Youth Encounters with Poetry for school groups and the week-long Poets House Academy summer intensive for teens aged 13–18.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Literary Events & Workshops 3 activities
- Hosting public poetry events and exhibitionsOrganizes and hosts a wide range of in-person and digital literary events, including annual showcases, poetry walks across the Brooklyn Bridge, exhibitions of significant poets and poet-artist collaborations, panel discussions, readings, and large-scale public installations such as the Poets House Poetry Path in Battery Park City. Events include both recurring series and special initiatives, with hundreds of events hosted annually.
- Providing poetry workshops and craft sessionsOffers in-person and online poetry workshops, craft sessions, and master classes for participants of all ages and experience levels, including children, teens, and adults. Programs include free daily video workshops, focused writing groups, a teen summer intensive, and need-based scholarships. Workshops are led by staff, teaching artists, and established poets.
- Supporting youth engagement with poetryProvides educational programming for youth, including free class trips with library tours and writing activities using Kenneth Koch’s curriculum, tailored writing exercises for teens, and the collection of student poetry anthologies. Relaunched youth programming in 2024 with 46 class visits and a week-long summer intensive workshop for teens aged 13–18.
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Community Space Provision 1 activity
- Offering event and meeting space to literary organizationsProvides rental of event spaces—including the Margo Viscusi Reading Room, Elizabeth Kray Hall, and the Stanley Kunitz Conference Room—to organizations and individuals committed to literature through the Literary Partners Program, offering discounted rates to support literary programming.
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Specialized Research Library Access 1 activity
- Operating a public poetry library and archiveProvides public access to a collection of approximately 100,000 poetry books and related materials, including a specialized chapbook collection of over 11,000 items. Maintains and offers access to archival recordings of poetry readings through a digital archive, with a fully searchable online catalog covering materials acquired since 2012 and most earlier holdings.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Running the Emerging Poets FellowshipOperates an Emerging Poets Fellowship program that supports early-career poets through public engagement, creative projects, and professional development opportunities, including residencies and public readings.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Advancing literary scholarship through mathematical analysis of Russian literatureApplies Markov chains and network theory to analyze character relationships and uses statistical methods to identify stylistic and thematic patterns in Russian novels, particularly the works of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, contributing to new understandings of literary heritage.
- Conducting community listening and strategic planning researchConducted a community-wide Listening Campaign in 2021 and an in-depth stakeholder engagement process to inform organizational priorities, renovation plans, and reopening strategies. Findings were used to guide programming and operations, including the launch of the Hard Hat Reading Series during construction.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.88M
Contributions & grants$1.74M93%
Program service revenue$118K6%
Investment income$22K1%
Other revenue$524
expenses
Total expenses$1.64M
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$847K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$8.52M
Cash$749K
Investments$577K
Liabilities$305K
Net assets$8.21M
Liquid reserves9.7 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -9.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROB ARNOLD | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $208K |
| JANE PRESTON | MANAGING DIRECTOR | 40 | $157K |
board members · 17
- ALAN M KLEIN — TREASURER
- BRUCE CRAWFORD — BOARD MEMBER
- CHERI FEIN — SECRETARY
- CORNELIUS EADY — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID GRUBIN — BOARD MEMBER
- ELIZABETH KANDALL — BOARD MEMBER
- JAMIE STERN — BOARD MEMBER
- KATHERINE LARSEN — BOARD MEMBER
- MARGO VISCUSI — BOARD MEMBER
- MARTIN GOMEZ — PRESIDENT
- MARTY SKOBLE — BOARD MEMBER
- MONICA YOUN — VICE PRESIDENT
- MYRA SHAPIRO — BOARD MEMBER
- NICHOLAS F POTTER — PRESIDENT EMERITA
- NICOLE SEALEY — BOARD MEMBER
- ROBERT KISSANE — CHAIRMAN
- TRACY K SMITH — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 33
Who they work with
- Achilles Foundation Funder — Supported the creation of the Poets House Library Catalogue.
- Axe-Houghton Foundation Funder — Provided additional support for the Poets House Library Catalogue.
- Barbara Guest Partner — Subject of a collaborative exhibition at Poets House.
- Battery Park City Authority Funder — Provides financial support enabling full and partial need-based scholarships for the Poets House Academy.
- Battery Park City Authority Funder — Provides financial support that enables Poets House to offer need-based scholarships for classes.
- Betty Kray Partner — Honored in the Founding Friendships exhibition as a co-founder of Poets House.
- Bill Murray Partner — Participated in Poets House’s annual walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.
- Black Lawrence Press Partner — Collaborates with Black Lawrence Press to host readings for new literary titles.
- Brooklyn Bridge Partner — Presented off-site literary programs during 2023
- Emily Dickinson Partner — Subject of an exhibition titled “Emily Dickinson, Sweet Genius” at Poets House.
- Fay Lansner Partner — Collaborated with Barbara Guest in an exhibition hosted by Poets House.
- Film Forum Partner — Presented off-site literary programs during 2023
- George Schneeman Partner — Subject of an exhibition on his collaborations with poets at Poets House.
- Institute of Museum and Library Services Government — Partner in administering the Save America’s Treasures grant that supported the Poets House digital archive.
- Leon Levy Foundation Funder — Provided additional support for the Poets House Library Catalogue.
- Libraries in Utah Partner — Collaborated on programming exploring intersections of science and poetry
- Libraries in Wisconsin Partner — Collaborated on programming exploring intersections of science and poetry
- Michael Van Valkenburgh Partner — Landscape architect who designed the outdoor amphitheater adjacent to Elizabeth Kray Hall.
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Partner in the Save America’s Treasures grant supporting the Poets House digital archive.
- National Endowment for the Humanities Government — Partner in the Save America’s Treasures grant supporting the Poets House digital archive.
- National Park Service Government — Administers the Save America’s Treasures grant from the Historic Preservation Fund, which supported the establishment of the Poets House digital archive.
- Natural History Museums in Utah Partner — Collaborated on programming exploring intersections of science and poetry
- Natural History Museums in Wisconsin Partner — Collaborated on programming exploring intersections of science and poetry
- New York City Poetry Festival Partner — Presented off-site literary programs during 2023
- Not specified Partner — Community members and poetry readers who participated in the Listening Campaign
- Ocean Vuong Partner — Featured in connection with the Emerging Poets Fellowship program.
- Parking Panda Partner — Partner organization enabling guaranteed parking access for Poets House visitors.
- Pine Tree Foundation of New York Funder — Provided additional support for the Poets House Library Catalogue.
- Signature Theater Partner — Presented off-site literary programs during 2023
- Stanley Kunitz Partner — Honored in the Founding Friendships exhibition as a co-founder of Poets House.
+ 3 more
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.
- Experiential Poetry Education Modelmethodology: experiential_poetry_educationBy engaging participants in workshops, seminars, and self-directed exploration, Poets House deepens connection to poetry as a living tradition, because hands-on creative practice and personal relevance are key to transformative literary learning.
- Generative Space for Personal and Collective Transformationmethodology: generative_workshop_and_seminar_modelBy providing a free, accessible literary refuge and using practices like composting lived experience and generative writing, Poets House enables transformation of personal material into poetic form, because safe, inspiring spaces and metaphor-driven processes catalyze creative growth.
- Inclusive Community as Creative Catalystmethodology: inclusive-community-engagementBy centering diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility in programming and institutional life, Poets House fosters broad participation and deeper artistic inquiry, because belonging and representation are essential to creative expression and engagement with poetry.