- Organizer
- Poetry Society of America
- Why it counts
- Awarded annually since 1930 by the Poetry Society of America under the will of Mary P. Sears, to a living American poet selected with reference to genius and need
- Held
- annual, announced by the Poetry Society of America in summer (2024 announced July 19)
Reigning winners
Shelley Memorial Award · 2024
| Year | Shelley Memorial Award |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Shin Yu Pai |
| 2023 | Evie Shockley |
| 2022 | Joyelle McSweeney |
| 2021 | Arthur Sze |
| 2020 | Rick Barot |
| 2019 | Carl R. Martin |
| 2018 | Ntozake Shange |
| 2017 | Gillian Conoley |
| 2016 | Sonia Sanchez |
| 2015 | D. A. Powell |