The Poetry Project
The Poetry Project is a non-profit arts organization founded in 1966 at St. Mark's Church in NYC's East Village, offering poetry readings, workshops, publications, fellowships, and archival programming to poets, emerging writers, and literature enthusiasts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Poetry Project does
The Poetry Project is a non-profit cultural organization founded in 1966 at St. Mark's Church in New York City's East Village, focused on advancing avant-garde poetry and performance. It operates a continuous programming slate including public readings, workshops, master classes, reading groups, fellowship programs (Emerge—Surface—Be), and an annual New Year's Day Marathon reading. Its core deliverables span events (in-person at The Sanctuary and The Parish Hall plus virtual livestream), publications (The Poetry Project Newsletter, The Recluse, Dial-A-Poem USA, Footnotes), structured learning programs, and an archival collection containing over 4,000 hours of audio recordings recently processed by the Library of Congress.
The organization's revenue model is diversified across earned and contributed streams: annual membership fees, individual donations, ticket sales (typically $10 per reading with no one turned away for lack of funds), workshop registration fees (e.g., $150 for a 5-session workshop), and publication sales. Pricing is structured at roughly half the going rate of comparable programs, supplemented by work-exchange admissions and full-tuition scholarships. The organization distributes content via its website (poetryproject.org), Instagram, YouTube, SoundCloud, email newsletter, and a hybrid in-person/virtual event format.
The Poetry Project serves a horizontally-segmented audience of practicing poets, emerging and developing writers, and general literature/arts enthusiasts, with no enterprise customers and no headcount disclosed in the source material. It maintains strategic partnerships with peer arts institutions including Danspace Project, Onassis Foundation, National Sawdust, Hauser & Wirth, The Fortune Society, Words Uncaged, and The Poetry Coalition, enabling cross-disciplinary programming in dance, performance, carceral-state writing, and coalition-funded grief programming. There is no proprietary technology, no app, no API, no AI/ML capability, and no parent company, private equity, or institutional investor disclosed; the entity operates as an independent 501(c)-style non-profit sustained by community support.
The Poetry Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Poetry Project
- Legal name
- The Poetry Project
- Website
- https://poetryproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1966
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Poetry Project is a non-profit arts organization founded in 1966 at St. Mark's Church in NYC's East Village, offering poetry readings, workshops, publications, fellowships, and archival programming to poets, emerging writers, and literature enthusiasts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Poetry Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Literary Arts & Cultural Programming
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spoken-Word Poetry Slams (MPAGACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Writing Critique Groups & Peer Workshops (EDAMAMAJ), Fiction Writing Workshops (Short Story, Novel) (EDAMAMAA)
Keywords
Where The Poetry Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Poetry Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership fees: Annual membership program providing access to events, publications, and community benefits
- Donations: Individual donations from supporters who help sustain the organization's cultural programming
- Workshop registration: Registration fees for workshops and educational programming such as the Fanny Howe Feminist Reading Group at $150 for 5 sessions
- Event admissions: Ticket sales for readings and events, typically $10 with no one turned away for lack of funds
- Publication sales: Sales of The Poetry Project Newsletter, The Recluse, and other publications
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Fanny Howe Feminist Reading Group with Laura Henriksen |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Standard reading event admission |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Volunteer events |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Poetry Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Poetry Project stages public poetry readings, workshops, master classes, and performances at St. Mark's Church in New York's East Village, complemented by virtual livestream access. It publishes The Poetry Project Newsletter, The Recluse, Dial-A-Poem USA, and Footnotes, and runs the Emerge—Surface—Be Fellowship and The Lisa Brannan Prize for emerging poets. Programs are supported through memberships, donations, ticket sales, and workshop registration fees, with no one turned away for lack of funds.
Product overview
The Poetry Project is a cultural organization offering a portfolio of poetry-focused programs centered around live events, publications, and educational offerings. The core offerings include public readings and performances (Events), print and digital publications (Newsletter, The Recluse, Dial-A-Poem USA, Footnotes), and structured learning programs (workshops, master classes, Dis/Course, deep study sessions). Additional offerings include the Emerge—Surface—Be Fellowship for emerging poets, The Lisa Brannan Prize for poetic recognition, membership benefits, archival collections, and a donation platform for public support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Emerge—Surface—Be Fellowship: A fellowship program for emerging poets
- The Lisa Brannan Prize
- The Poetry Project Newsletter
- The Recluse
- 52nd Annual New Year's Day Marathon
Products and services
- Events (Readings and Performances) Public readings, performances, and gatherings featuring poets and artists, held at St. Mark's Church in New York and virtually. Includes the annual New Year's Day Marathon.
- Learning Programs (Workshops and Master Classes) Educational offerings including workshops, reading groups, master classes, Dis/Course sessions, and deep study sessions for poetry instruction and community engagement.
- Publications Quarterly and ongoing print and digital publications including The Poetry Project Newsletter, The Recluse, Dial-A-Poem USA, and Footnotes.
- Emerge—Surface—Be Fellowship A fellowship program supporting emerging poets through mentorship and professional development.
- The Lisa Brannan Prize An annual prize recognizing poetic achievement.
- Membership Annual membership program providing priority access to events, workshops, and publications.
- Archives Historical collection including photo archives, audio and video recordings, print archive, public access poetry, and The Project Papers documenting the organization's history.
- Donations Online donation platform enabling financial support for the organization's programs and poet compensation.
Quantifiable outcome
- More open access to literature and education regardless of ability to pay
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Poetry Project
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Poetry Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Poetry Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Danspace ProjectcoreCo-presenting partnership for interdisciplinary performance events featuring artists like Malcolm-x Betts and Okwui Okpokwasili who work at the intersection of dance, movement, and poetry.
- Hauser & WirthmajorCollaborative event for Ursula No. 8 Poetry Issue launch at Hauser & Wirth's Project Space, organized in partnership with The Poetry Project.
- The Poetry CoalitionmajorPartner for the spring 2023 program 'and so much lost you'd think / beauty had left a lesson: Poetry & Grief', a coalitional effort supported by a major grant to The Academy of American Poets from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
- Onassis FoundationmajorCo-presented the 'Archive of Desire' C.P. Cavafy Festival featuring the Cavafy Marathon at The Poetry Project as part of a multi-venue festival including National Sawdust, McNally Jackson Booksellers, and Columbia University.
- National SawdustmajorPrimary hub for the 'Archive of Desire' C.P. Cavafy Festival, collaborating with The Poetry Project on poetry and performance programming.
- The Fortune SocietycorePartnership for the 'Between In- and Out-Side: Transmission Under The Carceral State' workshop exploring writing from incarcerated individuals, with poems distributed to writers at Calipatria State Prison.
- Words UncagedcoreCollaborative partner for incarcerated writer programming, supporting transmission of poetry between outside community and writers inside prison.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Poetry Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Poetry Foundation: National poetry organization that publishes Poetry magazine, maintains a major archive, and runs educational programs. Direct peer as a comparable poetry-focused cultural nonprofit with editorial, archival, and educational programming.
- Cave Canem Foundation: NYC-based literary nonprofit supporting Black poetry through fellowships, residencies, and an annual retreat. Direct peer given comparable fellowship-driven model and focus on community building among poets.
- Danspace Project: NYC nonprofit platform for experimental dance and performance based at St. Mark's Church. Direct peer given co-presenting partnership and overlapping experimental performance programming at the same venue.
- Academy of American Poets: National nonprofit that runs Poem-a-Day, the Poets.org archive, fellowships, and The Poetry Coalition — which The Poetry Project is itself a member of. Direct peer given overlapping educational, fellowship, and coalition programming serving poets.
- Poetry Society of America: Historic NYC poetry nonprofit offering workshops, readings, and prizes to a community of practicing poets. Direct peer given shared mission of sustaining a national poetry community through programming and publications.
- Poets House: NYC-based poetry library and cultural center that hosts readings, workshops, and maintains a poetry collection. Direct peer as another NYC venue-based poetry organization with comparable programming mix.
Emerging players
- The Kitchen: NYC nonprofit supporting experimental performance, visual art, and literature through residencies and presentations. Comparable as a Chelsea-based experimental arts nonprofit with overlapping avant-garde programming.
Regional players
- Poetry Project (parent org: St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery): The host institution of The Poetry Project; a historic NYC church and cultural venue that operates community programs alongside the Project. Relevant peer as the parent venue that co-hosts and supports much of the Project's programming.
Broad incumbents
- PEN America: National literary and free-expression organization with programs in advocacy, writing workshops, and readings. Broad incumbent given overlap in literary programming and mission-aligned nonprofit structure.
- 92nd Street Y (92Y): Major NYC cultural institution offering readings, talks, and workshops across literary and performing arts. Broad incumbent given overlapping literary programming but a much wider portfolio beyond poetry.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Poetry Project social profiles
Digital presenceThe Poetry Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Poetry Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Poetry Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Poetry Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Poetry Project
What does The Poetry Project do?
The Poetry Project stages public poetry readings, workshops, master classes, and performances at St. Mark's Church in New York's East Village, complemented by virtual livestream access. It publishes The Poetry Project Newsletter, The Recluse, Dial-A-Poem USA, and Footnotes, and runs the Emerge—Surface—Be Fellowship and The Lisa Brannan Prize for emerging poets. Programs are supported through memberships, donations, ticket sales, and workshop registration fees, with no one turned away for lack of funds.
Is The Poetry Project a public or private company?
The Poetry Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Poetry Project founded?
The Poetry Project was founded in 1966. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Poetry Project based?
The Poetry Project is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Poetry Project make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership fees are the primary driver. The others are donations, workshop registration, event admissions and publication sales.
Who are The Poetry Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Poetry Foundation, Cave Canem Foundation, Danspace Project, Academy of American Poets, Poetry Society of America and Poets House. The Kitchen is listed as an emerging player. Poetry Project (parent org: St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery) is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are PEN America and 92nd Street Y (92Y).
Does The Poetry Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Poetry Project.
What industry is The Poetry Project in?
The Poetry Project's product category is Literary Arts & Cultural Programming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGACAF, Spoken-Word Poetry Slams, with a secondary code of EDAMAMAJ, Writing Critique Groups & Peer Workshops. Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8600.