The Poetry Center

Learn about this cause: Is it Legit? Do I like the mission? What is the CEO's salary?

EIN: 237400515 ✦ Chicago, IL ✦ Designated as a 501(c)(3)

Overview

What is The Poetry Center?

The Poetry Center is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization located at 1448 E 52nd Street 256, Illinois 60615. Its primary mission is to connect people with poetry and promote creative literacy within the community and beyond. The organization achieves this goal through several programs, including Poetry Residencies, where Chicago poet/teaching artists engage with students in weekly sessions, improving their reading and writing skills. The Pop Up Poetry program, on the other hand, is a touring poetry performance that engages audiences in interactive games and workshops. For younger students, The Poetry Center offers Queen Zees Poetry Adventures, a free streaming series of lessons. Additionally, they host a monthly Blue Hour Reading & Workshop Series featuring local, national, and international writers. The organization also partners with various organizations across Chicago to provide public poetry events. An essential aspect of The Poetry Center is its online archive, which features information and resources on every poet who has performed for the center since its founding in 1974. Lastly, the Critical Conversations @ Work program is an inclusion-centered anti-racism initiative designed for workplaces and organizations. With a dedicated team of 12 employees, The Poetry Center continues to enrich the literary landscape of Chicago and beyond by fostering creative literacy and connecting people with poetry.


Official website here: www.poetrycenter.org

Is The Poetry Center legitimate?

The Poetry Center is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. The Poetry Center submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.

Here are some key statistics you may want to consider:

Executive Compensation: $75,000
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $181,182

For more financial information, click here


Official website here: www.poetrycenter.org

What is the mission statement of The Poetry Center?

The Poetry Center's mission is centered around connecting people with poetry and promoting creative literacy. It strives to equitably engage poets within communities, thereby fostering a deeper appreciation for poetry and literature. The organization's activities include poetry residencies in schools, pop-up poetry performances, and workshops, all aimed at improving literacy skills and boosting confidence in students. Additionally, it offers a streaming series of poetry lessons for young learners, hosts monthly reading series, and partners with various organizations to provide poetry events. Moreover, The Poetry Center has an online archive and education resource, providing information on numerous poets. Furthermore, it offers an inclusion-centered anti-racism program for workplaces, utilizing contemporary poetry to facilitate crucial conversations.


Official website here: www.poetrycenter.org

Who is the CEO of The Poetry Center?

Elizabeth Sampson is the Executive Dir. of The Poetry Center.


Official website here: www.poetrycenter.org

What is the revenue of The Poetry Center?

The Poetry Center's revenue in 2023 was $578,660.


Official website here: www.poetrycenter.org

Who are the executives of The Poetry Center and what are their salaries?

The average compensation at The Poetry Center during 2023 was $21,348. There are 12 employees and 31 volunteers at The Poetry Center.

Here are 15 key members and their salaries:

    Elizabeth Sampson (Executive Dir.)
  • Compensation: $75,000
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Kevin Rooney (President) [Trustee/Director]
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Mallari Peace (Secretary) [Trustee/Director]
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Mary Ellen Woods (Treasurer) [Trustee/Director]
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Emily Bieniek (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Elizabeth Blinderman (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Ana Espinoza (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Kim Chayeb (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Shivani Gupta (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Alex Kerber (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Clayton Neighbors (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Susan Oliver (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Nina Sudhakar (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Naimah Thomas (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Suzette Webb (Director)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0


  • Official website here: www.poetrycenter.org

    Where can I find the form 990 for The Poetry Center?

    The The Poetry Center’s most recent form 990 was submitted in 2023 and can be accessed here


    Official website here: www.poetrycenter.org

    Learn more at the official website: www.poetrycenter.org

    Mission Statement of The Poetry Center

    The Poetry Center, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to bridging the gap between people and poetry. Its mission is threefold: firstly, to equitably involve poets in communities, fostering a sense of connection and engagement. Secondly, the center strives to promote creative literacy, nurturing a love for poetry and literature in its city and beyond. Lastly, The Poetry Center seeks to empower individuals through its programs, inspiring confidence and self-expression.

    To achieve its mission, The Poetry Center implements various initiatives. One such program is the creative literacy residency in Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Metro Area, where the organization hires local poet-teaching artists to conduct multi-week residencies. Through weekly sessions, students engage in reading, writing, discussing, and performing poetry, ultimately improving their reading and writing skills, building confidence, and affirming their voices.

    Additionally, The Poetry Center offers Pop Up Poetry, a touring and custom-built performance poetry program. This initiative features three performance poets in an interactive round-robin style poetry slam, engaging audiences with educational components and interactive games. The center also hosts Queen Zee's Poetry Adventures, a free streaming series of poetry lessons for students in grades 2-5, complete with student workbooks and teacher lesson plans.

    The Poetry Center's Blue Hour Reading & Workshop Series is a monthly, free event featuring emerging and established writers, offering both a public reading and a generative writing workshop. The organization also collaborates with various organizations across Chicago to provide public poetry events, both in-person and online.

    Moreover, The Poetry Center maintains an online poetry archive and education resource, showcasing a page for every poet who has read for the Poetry Center's reading series since its inception in 1974. This resource offers streaming audio, reading information, and additional resources on each writer.

    Lastly, The Poetry Center offers Critical Conversations @ Work, an inclusion-centered anti-racism program aimed at workplaces and organizations for employee, volunteer, and board member training. Utilizing contemporary poetry, this program facilitates crucial and challenging conversations in workplaces, promoting inclusivity and understanding.

    Impact

    This information is meant to be a general summary of The Poetry Center. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.




    Wednesday, July 24, 2024

    The Poetry Center's impact is far-reaching and profound. Through programs like Poetry Residencies, Pop Up Poetry, Queen Zees Poetry Adventures, Blue Hour Reading & Workshop Series, Literary Life Programs, Online Archive + Education Resource, and Critical Conversations @ Work, The Poetry Center is actively fostering creative literacy, engaging poets with communities, and affirming the voices of young Chicagoans. Their work not only improves reading and writing skills but also builds confidence and creates a space for important and challenging conversations. This organization's dedication to connecting people with poetry is not only evident in Chicago but reaches far beyond, leaving a lasting impact on all who engage with their programs.





    Financials

    This financial information is from Propublica.

    Revenue
    Expenses
    Efficiency

    Other financial information:

    This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2023.

  • Investment Income: $419
  • Program Service Revenue: $144,442
  • Gross Receipts: $578,660

    • Assets and Liabilities:
  • Total Assets: $515,023
  • Total Liabilities: $17,247
  • Net Assets: $497,776
  • Programs

    Programs are reported by nonprofits in their tax forms and are normally their tax-exempt activities.

    Program Fees

    Revenue

    $144,442

    Organization Details

    Founding Year

    2006

    Principal Officer

    Elizabeth Sampson

    Main Address

    1448 E 52nd Street 256, Chicago, IL, 60615

    NTEE Category

    Code: A70 - Arts

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