Longtime Chicago arts leader Michelle T. Boone to retire from Poetry Foundation top role

The Chicago-based Poetry Foundation announced Tuesday that its president and CEO, Michelle T. Boone, will retire at the end of 2027. Boone, who previously served as the city’s cultural commissioner, led a period of change at the foundation, which is among the largest funders of poetry organizations nationally.

Boone, a longtime Chicago arts leader, took over the top role at the Poetry Foundation in 2021. The nonprofit publishes Poetry magazine and distributes grants to poetry nonprofits, publishers and presses. Boone became the first woman and first Black leader of the foundation, which began in 2003 with a major gift from philanthropist Ruth Lilly.

During Boone's tenure, the foundation's grantmaking portfolio expanded with millions in annual arts grants, according to public tax reports for the most recent year available. The foundation reported $13.8 million in revenue in 2024, with $313 million in total assets.

“I have had the privilege of working alongside a deeply committed board and talented staff to lead the Poetry Foundation into a new era of amplifying poetry and celebrating poets,” Boone said in a statement. “The legacy of service to the literary arts has been expanded in meaningful ways, and now it’s time for new leadership to take this work to the next level as the Foundation approaches its 25th anniversary.”

Boone also spearheaded a commitment to publishing more diverse voices in Poetry magazine and pushed for the establishment of Chicago’s first poet laureate. The position was first held by avery r. young, the multidisciplinary powerhouse, was named to the role in 2023. Succeeding young in the role is Mayda del Valle, who will hold the title through 2027.

Boone also hired Poetry magazine’s first Black editor-in-chief, Adrian Matejka, in 2022.

Before arriving at the Poetry Foundation, Boone held leadership roles at the Joyce Foundation, focused on arts funding across the Midwest, and a top position at Navy Pier as its chief program and civic engagement officer. During her time as the city’s cultural commissioner, she launched the Chicago Architecture Biennial, the months-long design-focused festival that brings global talent to Chicago.

A search committee has been set up to find Boone’s successor.

The Poetry Foundation is a financial supporter of WBEZ.

Courtney Kueppers is an arts and culture reporter at WBEZ.