Academy of American Poets

Who produces Poets.org? Poets.org is produced by the Academy of American Poets, a nonprofit charitable organization. The site was launched in 1996, becoming the first online resource for poems, poets’ biographies, essays about poetry, and materials for K–12 teachers. What is the Academy of American Poets? Founded in 1934 in New York City, the Academy of American Poets is the nation’s leading champion of American poets and poetry, with members in all fifty states. Its mission is to support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry. It is also guided by its publicly stated values of anti-racism, accessibility, collaboration, equity, and inclusion. Each year, the organization connects millions of readers to poets’ work with its many free programs and publications, which, in addition to Poets.org, include [Poem-a-Day](https://poets.org/poem-day), the first place of publication for new poems by 260 poets annually; [National Poetry Month](https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/home) (April), which the Academy founded in 1996; [*American Poets*](https://poets.org/american-poets-magazine/home) biannual literary journal for members; the [American Poets Prizes & Fellowships](https://poets.org/academy-american-poets/american-poets-prizes), which provide more than $1,000,000 to two hundred poets each year; [Poetry & the Creative Mind](https://poets.org/academy-american-poets/programs/poetry-creative-mind), a celebration of poetry’s influence on other artists and public leaders; a [Reading, Conversations & Lecture Series](https://poets.org/academy-american-poets/programs/fall-conversation-series); and an [Education Program](https://poets.org/materials-teachers) that provides free resources, such as [lesson plans](https://poets.org/lesson-plans), the award-winning weekly series [Teach This Poem](https://poets.org/teach-poem), and the [Dear Poet](https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/dear-poet-project) project for K–12 teachers and students. In addition, the organization coordinates the [Poetry Coalition](https://poets.org/academy-american-poets/poetry-coalition), an alliance of more than twenty-five poetry organizations across the United States, in addition to helping coordinate the [Literary Arts Emergency Fund](https://poets.org/academy-american-poets/literary-arts-emergency-fund). **What is the history of the Academy of American Poets?** The Academy of American Poets was founded by twenty-three-year-old [Marie Bullock](https://poets.org/academy-american-poets/contributor/marie-bullock). Concerned about the lack of financial support for American poets, and with the advice of friends such as poets [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://poets.org/poet/edwin-arlington-robinson) and [Joseph Auslander](https://poets.org/poet/joseph-auslander) (the first Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress), Bullock decided to take action and began raising funds to promote the cause of poetry and assist individual poets. Bullock served as the organization’s president for its first fifty years. During the first thirty years, Bullock operated the organization out of her apartment, centering on a core program of awards to poets. After she died in 1986, poet [Anthony Hecht](https://poets.org/poet/anthony-hecht) said of her: “It is impossible to convey the unflagging buoyancy and enthusiasm with which Marie Bullock met every challenge during the long course of her brilliantly successful crusade on poetry's behalf. She was a gallant, devoted, and generous champion of a cause that had few champions before her, and none so successful. American poetry and their readers are all in her debt.” [Elizabeth Kray](https://poets.org/poet/elizabeth-kray) was hired in 1963 as the organization’s first executive director. Kray was a legendary promoter of poetry, especially through poetry readings. Under Kray’s leadership, the organization launched a groundbreaking reading series at the Guggenheim Museum (1963), the first national touring circuits for poets (1965), the first Poets-in-the-Schools program (1966), the [Walt Whitman Award](https://poets.org/academy-american-poets/prizes/walt-whitman-award) (1975), and the [Harold Morton Landon Translation Award](https://poets.org/academy-american-poets/prizes/harold-morton-landon-translation-award) (1976). What is the Academy of American Poets' Anti-Discrimination Policy? The Academy of American Poets does not discriminate in its practices or employment opportunities on the basis of religion, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender expression, or any other characteristics protected by law. Learn more about the organization’s commitment to anti-racism [here](https://poets.org/black-lives-matter).