Academy of American Poets

Overview

The Academy of American Poets is a national, member-supported nonprofit organization founded in 1934 that promotes poets and the art of poetry in the United States. The organization operates as the nation's leading champion of American poets, with members in all fifty states, and focuses on supporting poets at all career stages while fostering appreciation for contemporary poetry. It is guided by values of anti-racism, accessibility, collaboration, equity, and inclusion.

History

Founded in 1934 in New York City by Marie Bullock and other founding poets including Florence Hamilton, the Academy initially operated from Bullock's apartment for its first thirty years with a core focus on poetry awards. Under leadership changes in the 1960s, the organization expanded significantly, launching a reading series at the Guggenheim Museum (1963), the first national touring circuits for poets (1965), the Poets-in-the-Schools program (1966), and major awards including the Walt Whitman Award (1975) and Harold Morton Landon Translation Award (1976). The Board of Chancellors was established in 1946 as an honorary group of award-winning poets to consult on artistic matters and oversee major prizes.

Product Lines

Manufacturing

As a nonprofit organization, the Academy does not manufacture physical products. It operates as a service and content organization, producing digital content through its website Poets.org, publishing American Poets magazine, and organizing readings and educational programs. Content is created in-house by staff poets and curated from submissions and partner organizations.

Notable Products

• Poem-a-Day - Syndicated daily poetry series with 19 appearances in Best American Poetry anthology
• Poets.org - Online catalog of approximately 6,800 poems with searchable database serving as primary poetry research resource
• Walt Whitman Award - Major annual poetry prize established in 1975 recognizing emerging American poets
• National Poetry Month - Annual April awareness campaign promoting poetry readership and engagement nationwide
• Poets-in-the-Schools Program - Educational initiative launched in 1966 bringing poetry instruction directly to K-12 classrooms

Reputation

The Academy of American Poets is widely recognized as a credible and influential institution in American poetry, earning a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and maintaining strong donor support. The organization is respected for its comprehensive poetry resources, particularly its Poets.org database and Poem-a-Day series, which rank among the most cited poetry publications. Some critics argue the organization represents mainstream academic poetry traditions influenced by New Criticism and may not fully represent diverse contemporary poetic voices, though the organization has publicly committed to anti-racism and inclusion values in recent years.