2025 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships

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The Academy of American Poets has a long history of championing the role of poet laureate, including by being a resource listing local poets laureate and providing information to communities interested in creating new poets laureate positions.

In 2019, we expanded on this work, and our prizes and fellowships for poets, by launching the Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships. These $50,000 awards are given to honor poets of literary merit appointed to serve in civic positions and to support them in creating new work, as well as to enable them to undertake meaningful, impactful, and innovative projects that enrich the lives of their neighbors, including youth, through responsive and interactive poetry activities.

In addition to the other eligibility and application criteria, the concept, scope, components, depth, geographic reach, and community support of the proposed project will be considered by a panel of award-winning poets and leaders in poetry and civic engagement. The panelists who will recommend the recipients of the 2025 Poet Laureate Fellowships are poet, editor, and social justice advocate Diana Delgado; former Academy Chancellor and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Forrest Gander; Youth Speaks Executive Director Michelle Lee; Senior Program Officer at the Institute of Museum and Library Services Dennis Nangle; and, 2021–22 Los Angeles Poet Laureate Lynne Thompson. Final award decisions are finalized and approved by members of the Academy’s Board of Directors.

The fellowships were established in partnership with the Mellon Foundation. Read more about the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellows and their projects.

Applications for the 2025 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships are accepted from December 9, 2024 to February 24, 2025. 

Review the eligibility requirements here: https://poets.org/academy-american-poets/laureate-fellowships-guidelines.


SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Please enter and upload to Submittable the following:

  1. A letter certifying that you are the official poet laureate of a state, city, county, U.S. territory, or Tribal nation, as appointed by a Governor, State Arts or Humanities Council, State Poet Laureate Commission, Tribal President, Mayor, City Council, City Poet Laureate Commission, City Arts Board, County Arts Board, or a city’s public library system. The letter must also include your date of appointment and your final date of service as poet laureate; 
  2. A curriculum vitae (no more than three pages), which includes your full name and current contact information, and information such as your current and past employment, publication history, awards, performances and readings, past public poetry projects, and education;
  3. A list of full-length and chapbook-length poetry publications, with a link to publisher information; or a list detailing your performance history as a spoken word poet, including five performance highlights and information on venues;
  4. A five-page sample of original poems, new or previously published (including publication information). Spoken word poets should submit a document with links to audio and/or video recordings of their work sample;
  5. A one- to two-page detailed description of your proposed project(s), including a timeline for the project(s) you would conduct between July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, that addresses important statewide or local issues and/or engages youth, including the anticipated reach or impact (please see the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 Poet Laureate Fellows and their projects);
  6. A budget for your proposed project(s) (see a sample budget here). Your budget should not exceed $15,000. The remainder of your fellowship award is intended to cover your time working on your project(s) and to support your own artistic practice. In 2025, the total fellowship award is $50,000;
  7. Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to your ability and capacity to carry out your proposed project(s) and their contact information;
  8. If you are able to secure in-kind support for your project(s) from local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (e.g., intern or staff time, venue rental, or marketing support), and there is no conflict of interest (e.g., you are not an employee or Board member of the organization), the Academy will match the value of that support, up to $10,000, in a financial contribution to the nonprofit(s) if you are awarded an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship. Please provide a letter from each nonprofit organization confirming the details of their contribution, including their contact information. We also encourage collaborations with State Centers for the Book and local and national youth-serving organizations; and
  9. Alternatively, if you are able to secure up to $10,000 in cash contributions for your project from local foundations or businesses (i.e., not owned or operated by a relative, and with a valid physical address, phone number, and website), the Academy will provide a matching amount to you after their disbursement, in addition to your fellowship funds, once you are awarded a Poet Laureate Fellowship. Please provide a letter from each contributing foundation or business confirming the details of their contribution, along with their contact information.

Please note: 

Poets laureate within a state and co-poets laureate may submit a collaborative application on Submittable. We encourage you to contact us at awards@poets.org before doing so. 

Only one type of support, either in-kind or cash, will be matched up to $10,000.

Online submissions are accepted for the 2025 Poet Laureate Fellowships through our submission manager, Submittable. For questions about using Submittable, please visit: https://submittable.help/en/articles/904856-how-do-i-submit.

If you need accommodations for accessibility, please contact awards@poets.org.

The Academy of American Poets assumes no responsibility for applications not received due to user error. Applicants may verify the receipt of their application materials by logging into Submittable.

All correspondence concerning the fellowships and applications should be addressed to the Academy of American Poets. Current poets laureate with questions about this opportunity are encouraged to email awards@poets.org.

It is the mission of the Academy of American Poets to support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry. In furtherance of our mission, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality and integrity in our publications and programs, and expect and require the same from the poets with whom we collaborate.

All applicants and selected fellows agree that, as part of their eligibility to serve as a fellow, they will maintain the highest standards of fairness, decency, and personal integrity, in the Academy’s sole discretion, including adherence to all applicable laws and community values. The decisions of the Academy of American Poets as to eligibility, both initial and throughout the award period, are final.

By law, the Academy of American Poets must report cash prizes awarded to individuals to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If individuals have a Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), the individual will receive a 1099-MISC. If the individual does not have an SSN or ITIN, the individual will receive a Form 1042 and could be subject to a withholding of a percentage of the cash award.

Applicants will be notified of the 2025 award results by June 30, 2025.

We use Submittable to accept and review our submissions.
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