irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0POETRY FESTIVAL - A TWO-DAY NEW YORK CITY POETRY FESTIVAL ON NYC GOVERNOR'S ISLAND. FESTIVALS ARE FREE TO ATTEND AND THEY FEATURE POETRY READINGS BY APPROXIMATELY 250 POETS, OPEN MIC POETRY READINGS, AND A CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL WHERE CHILDREN CAN PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS POETRY-RELATED ACTIVITIES.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Milk Press
Independent poetry press founded in 2018 to publish and promote emerging poets
NYC Poetry Festival
Two-day free festival on Governors Island featuring poetry readings by approximately 250 poets, open mics, and children's activities
Poetry Camp
Program launched in 2020 offering immersive poetry experiences for youth and adults
The Poetry Brothel
Immersive performance art event offering public and private poetry readings in a burlesque-inspired setting, expanded to over 25 cities worldwide
The Typewriter Project
Public installation placing typewriters in parks and public spaces for people to write and share poetry
Virtual Workshops
Online poetry workshops providing accessible creative engagement for participants nationwide and internationally
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Literary Events & Workshops 5 activities
- Expands poetry programming through innovative public eventsCreates and operates innovative poetry experiences such as The Poetry Brothel, The Typewriter Project, Milk Press, Having a Coke With You, and The Poetry Holiday Market, expanding The Poetry Brothel to over 25 cities worldwide.
- Hosts immersive poetry and tasting events (Wine Poetic series)Organizes sensorial symposia and immersive gatherings that pair poetry with heritage wines and culturally-rooted beverages and delicacies to foster literary and aesthetic conversation; expanded to upstate New York and Los Angeles, with plans for community workshops and private experiences in 2026.
- Offers poetry workshops, fellowships, internships, and publishing opportunitiesProvides affordable workshops, fellowships, internships, performance platforms, and publishing opportunities for poets at all career stages, including virtual workshops and specialized programs like Poetry Camp and Free Verse.
- Organizes the New York City Poetry Festival on Governor's IslandHosts a two-day annual poetry festival on Governor's Island featuring readings by approximately 250 poets, open mic sessions, and a children's festival with poetry-related activities.
- Organizes volunteer programs for poetry eventsCoordinates volunteer opportunities for on-site support at major events including The Poetry Brothel, The New York City Poetry Festival, and the Spring Gala.
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Literary and Cultural Publishing 1 activity
- Maintains digital poetry archives and publicationsOperates a digital living archive on Substack and an are.na channel featuring essays, interviews, poetry, photography, and documentation of past workshops, including notes and beverage-poetry pairings from the Wine Poetic series.
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Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
- Offers high-responsibility internships in arts administrationProvides internship opportunities in event production, marketing, fundraising, and editorial work within a small nonprofit setting, offering significant responsibility and cross-functional experience.
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Literary Publishing and Support Programs 1 activity
- Provides manuscript and poem editing servicesOffers comprehensive feedback, line-editing, and publication guidance for individual poems and poetry manuscripts up to 80 pages, including hourly video consultations with real-time document editing and discussion of poetic intent.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Creates custom poetry for individuals and corporate clientsProduces personalized commissioned poems for special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and memorials, and creates custom poems for corporate clients including Adidas, Gillette, A&E Network, and Manhattan Mini Storage for use in advertising and events.
- Produces and ships customized poetry keepsakesCreates and ships personalized hard copies of poems, including typewritten versions sealed in wax and linen envelopes with detailed packaging, for gifting and commemorative purposes.
- Provides on-site typewriter poetry and poetry installationsDeploys typewriter poets who create spontaneous, customized poems for guests at public events, private parties, and corporate functions, and designs poetry installations tailored to event themes.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$248K
Contributions & grants$136K55%
Program service revenue$111K45%
Investment income$5990%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$267K
Program expenses57%
Admin / overhead36%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$182K
Grants paid out$2K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$35K
Cash$35K
Investments$0
Liabilities$22K
Net assets$12K
Liquid reserves1.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +14.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHANIE BERGER | CHAIR, TREASURER & C.E.O. | 35 | $49K |
| JACQUELYN BRAJE | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 35 | $44K |
board members · 6
- ALAN KEEGAN — DIRECTOR
- ALEC MILTON — DIRECTOR
- GREGG EMERY — DIRECTOR
- JAMES RATHMELL — DIRECTOR
- MEREDITH STARKMAN — DIRECTOR
- MIRANDA DENNIS — DIRECTOR
relationships · 11
Who they work with
- A&E Network Partner — Corporate client for whom PSNY has created poems for commercials, ad campaigns, and product launches.
- Adidas Partner — Corporate client for whom PSNY has created poems for commercials, ad campaigns, and product launches.
- Free People Partner — Client for typewriter poetry services at events
- GNOSES Partner — Co-created and co-develops the Wine Poetic series with The Poetry Society of New York.
- Gilette Partner — Corporate client for whom PSNY has created poems for commercials, ad campaigns, and product launches.
- Manhattan Mini Storage Partner — Corporate client for whom PSNY has created poems for commercials, ad campaigns, and product launches.
- Opening Ceremony Partner — Client for typewriter poetry services at events
- Prostibulo Poetico Partner — Collaborated on a translation project between New York poets and international poets; founded the first international chapter in Barcelona.
- Rag & Bone Partner — Client for typewriter poetry services at events
- The Knot Network — Platform where the organization is listed and reviewed by clients
- The Macallan Partner — Client for typewriter poetry services at events
strategies · 5
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.
- Inclusive and Accessible Engagementmethodology: inclusive-accessibilityBy removing structural, cultural, and emotional barriers to participation, the organization expands poetry’s reach to diverse audiences, because accessibility and inclusion—especially through anti-racist, anti-biased, and culturally responsive practices—enable broader, more authentic engagement with poetry.
- Poetry as a Transformative Practicemethodology: poetry-for-personal-transformationBy engaging individuals in poetry creation and participation, the organization fosters personal transformation and creative growth, because the act of poetic expression enables self-discovery, emotional insight, and a more creative way of living.
- Poetry for Social Change and Connectionmethodology: poetry-for-social-changeBy using poetry as a medium for shared human experience, the organization inspires connection and collective action, because poetry’s emotional and cultural resonance can challenge norms, build empathy, and mobilize communities toward positive social change.
- Support for Poets Across Career Stagesmethodology: artist_support_across_career_stagesBy offering pathways in performance, publishing, commissions, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the organization nurtures poet development, because sustained, multi-modal support enables artistic growth, professional advancement, and creative risk-taking across all career phases.
- Unconventional and Sensorial Engagementmethodology: unconventional_engagementBy situating poetry in unexpected contexts and pairing it with sensory experiences like food, drink, and live performance, the organization deepens audience engagement, because multi-sensory and context-rich environments make poetry more memorable, emotionally resonant, and accessible to new audiences.