Poe Foundation, Inc.
1914 E. Main Street
Richmond VA 23223
Mission Statement
The mission of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum is to interpret the life and influence of Edgar Allan Poe for the education and enjoyment of a global audience.
Web and Social Media
Multi-Media Comments N/A
Leadership
CEO/Executive Director Jaime Robinson Fawcett
Board Chair Annemarie Beebe
Board Chair Company Affiliation Nonprofit Professional
Contact Information
Address 1914 E. Main Street
Richmond, VA 23223
Telephone 804 648-5523
Fax 804 648-8726
E-mail info@poemuseum.org
History and Background
Year of Incorporation 1947
Former Names
NameYear
Edgar Allan Poe Shrine1933
Financial Summary
 
 
Projected Revenue $310,000.00
Projected Expenses $295,000.00
Statements
Mission
The mission of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum is to interpret the life and influence of Edgar Allan Poe for the education and enjoyment of a global audience.
Impact
In recent years, the Poe Museum has curated off-site exhibits in Martinsville, Abingdon, Virginia Beach, and Roanoke, Virginia and has loaned items to exhibits in Austin, Texas; Charlottesville, Virginia; the Brandywine River Museum in Chadd's Ford , Pennsylvania; and Denmark. The Poe Museum has provided performers to interpret Poe's works or speakers to explain his life and legacy in Russia as well as throughout the United States. In July 2010, the Poe Museum collaborated with the Enrichmond Foundation, the City of Richmond, the Friends of Shockoe Hill Cemetery, and Haunts of Richmond in presenting an innovative educational/dramatic tour/performance in Shockoe Hill Cemetery. In October 2010, the Poe Museum was featured in a BBC documentary on Edgar Allan Poe, with which our curator had assisted with technical advice and an interview. The Poe Museum has also appeared in the past twelve months on Irish television and Persian language television. In 2010, the Poe Museum has also overhauled its website to offer a wealth of material to students, educators, and the general public. The new website has also facilitated the Poe Museum's digitization project, in which rarely seen documents and artwork from the Museum's collection are being scanned and made accessible to a global audience through the website. This year, the Museum is furthering its reach with an I-phone app and by collaborating with Skype in the Classroom to reach a global audience of students and teachers.
Needs
The Poe Museum is in need of funding for its programs and the costs associated with preserving, storing, and exhibiting its collection.  This vast collection consists of thousands of objects dating from the early 1800s to today. The Museum's programs include guided group tours, art and history exhibits, concerts, and the monthly Unhappy Hour.
Background
The Poe Foundation was established in 1921 and opened the Poe Museum in April 1922. Almost ninety years later, the Museum remains the only literary museum in Virginia. As a global leader in the study of Edgar Allan Poe, the Museum hosted the first International Poe Conference in 1999 and launched the Edgar Allan Poe Young Writers' Conference in 2005. Since Edgar Allan Poe is one of the first writers that students around the world actually enjoy reading, the Museum helps cultivate a lifelong love of reading and writing through outreach programs, museum tours, performances, and on-site activities. Students unable to visit the Museum in person, or are unable to have the Museum's "Poe to Go" program visit their school or library, can access the Museum's galleries and collections or contact its educational department through its ever-expanding website. Educators are also provided a wealth of material, including a complimentary educator information packet. In the face of the abundant misinformation now available online, the Poe Museum provides factually accurate information about Poe's life and work. The Poe Museum's website has over 100,000 unique visitors each month, and the Museum was visited last year by people of all ages from all fifty states and thirty different countries.
CEO Statement
As Virginia's only literary museum, the Poe Museum has a unique mission to both preserve and interpret America's literary heritage for the education and enjoyment of future generations. Because Edgar Allan Poe is one of the few authors young people actually enjoy reading, the museum has an incredible opportunity to help teachers inspire a lifelong love of reading and writing in their students. This is especially important now that effective written communication skills are essential to success in education and the workplace, but teachers admit they struggle to make their students read--until they study Poe. The Poe Museum is here to help those teachers and students through on-site and off-site educational programs, online resources, and exhibits.
Board Chair Statement
The Poe Museum is a leader in the Poe Community, including a local, national and international audience.  Because Poe's influence is universal, we strive to tell the whole Poe story.  Our Board, consisting of eighteen directors, includes teachers, community members (national and international), lawyers, financial professionals, Poe scholars, family members, and non-profit porfessionals.  A By-Law  Committe works to ensure that our governing documents are sound, and have most recently been revised to include an updated fiscal policy and term limits. 
The Board of Directors meets twice yearly in Richmond, Virginia, as well as for Special Meetings to discuss the museum's direction.  Our Executive Committee meets once a month, with Executive Director and Curatorial Reports given at each meeting.
 
Areas of Service
Areas Served
Area
Metro Richmond
International
National
As Virginia's only literary museum, the Poe Museum serves the entire Richmond region, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the surrounding states.
Board Chair
Board Chair Annemarie Beebe
Company Affiliation Nonprofit Professional
Term Oct 2013 to Oct 2017
Email amw@gmail.com
Board CoChair
Board CoChair N/A
Board of Directors
Board Members
NameAffiliation
Annemarie Beebe Community Volunteer
Robert Buerlein American Historical Foundation
Jeffrey Chapman RBC Wealth Management
Holt Edmunds Hickory Farms and Virginia Rentals
Dr. M. Thomas Inge Randolph Macon College
Dr. Richard Kopley Penn State University
Christopher Kulp Hunton and Williams LLP
Stephan Loewentheil The 19th Century Shoppe
C. Samuel McDonald Property Results LLC
Christina Newton Nonprofit Professional
Dr. Harry Lee Poe Union University
Marika Rawles Community Volunteer
Antoinette Suiter Community Volunteer
Susan Jaffe Tane Community Volunteer
Kia Ware IT
Benjamin Warthen Attorney, The Law Firm of Dorrier and Warthen
Thomas Williamson Williamson & Lavecchia, LLC
Martha Womack Teacher
Board Demographics - Ethnicity
African American/Black 0
Asian American/Pacific Islander 0
Caucasian 18
Hispanic/Latino 0
Native American/American Indian 0
Board Demographics - Gender
Male 11
Female 7
Governance
Board Term Lengths 3
Board Term Limits 0
Board Meeting Attendance % 70
Written Board Selection Criteria? Under Development
Written Conflict of Interest Policy? Under Development
Percentage Making Monetary Contributions 80
Percentage Making In-Kind Contributions 20
Number of Full Board Meetings Annually 2
Standing Committees
Board Governance
By-laws
Executive
Finance
Other Boards
The tables below contain information about other groups that advise this nonprofit on operations and projects.
Advisory Board Members
NameAffiliation
Mr. Edward Ayers University of Richmond
Mr. Michael Deas Artist, Author
Dr. Benjamin Fisher Retired
Mr. Dana Gioia Community Volunteer
Mr. J. Gerald Kennedy Louisiana State University
Ms. Alexandra Urakova Gorky Institute, Russia
Comments
The board meets April 30, 2016 to pass the updated By-Laws presented by the By-Laws Committee.  At this time, the Board President will also discuss the new Board Job Descriptions.
Discussion has begun for expansion, specifically purchasing a nearby building, to meet our at-capacity needs.  A Buildings Committee will be formed at this board meeting. 
 
Executive Director
Executive Director Jaime Robinson Fawcett
Experience
Graduate Studies: University College London
Undergraduate: College of Charleston, University of Ghana, Bath Spa University College 
 
Employment History:
Nonprofit Management Consultant, Various
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Team in Training, Anchorage, AK
Museum of the Aleutians, Unalaska, AK
Denys Eyre Bower Bequest, Chiddingstone Castle, Kent England
York County Culture and Heritage Museums, Rock Hill, SC 
 
Co-CEO
Experience
Graduate Education: University College London, Museum Studies, Heritage Management
Undergraduate: College of Charleston, University of Ghana, Bath Spa University College
 
Employment:
 
Nonprofit Consultant, Varies
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Team in Training, Anchorage, AK
Museum of the Aleutians, Unlaska, AK
Denys Eyre Bower Bequest, Chiddingstone Castle, Kent UK
Culture and Heritage Museums, Rock Hill, SC 
 
 
 
Senior Staff
NameTitle
Christopher Paul Semtner Curator/ Education Programming
Staff
Full Time Staff 2
Part Time Staff 4
Volunteers 6
Contractors 1
Retention Rate 100
Plans
Organization has a Fundraising Plan? Under Development
Organization has a Strategic Plan? Under Development
Years Strategic Plan Considers 10
Date Strategic Plan Adopted Oct 1999
Management Succession Plan? Yes
Organization Policy and Procedures Yes
Nondiscrimination Policy No
Whistleblower Policy No
Document Destruction Policy No
Directors and Officers Insurance Policy Yes
Collaborations
N/A
Awards
Awards
Award/RecognitionOrganizationYear
Raven AwardMystery Writers of America2003
Programs
Description
This free monthly event series at the Poe Museum provides guests a variety of dramatic and musical interpretations of Poe's works as well as interactive activites, scavenger hunts, and mysteries for audiences of all ages. The event was designed to give local audiences a family-friendly afterhours activity in downtown Richmond but has grown to attact out-of-state visitors as well--helping make the Richmond region and Shockoe Bottom more desirable places to live, work, and visit. The event has become so popular that it was featured as an answer to a Poe-themed question on the television game show JEOPARDY in June 2009.
Budget $2,800.00
Description
Richmond's annual celebration of Edgar Allan Poe's birthday regularly attracts national media coverage and helps attract visitors to the Richmond region. The day-long event features performances, live music, lectures, educational exhibits, guided walking tours of the neighborhood, Segway tours of Poe's Richmond, carriage rides, and visual art exhibits.
Budget $500.00
Description
This week-long residential writing program for high school students who have completed the ninth grade has attracted students from as far away as California and as close as the Richmond metro area. Conferees devote the week to learning the craft of writing and learning the trade from professional novelists, journalists, editors, poets, and other authors.
Budget $6,000.00
Description
The Poe Museum travels to libraries and schools with exhibits, performances, and interactive activities like a "murder mystery" inspired by Poe's detective stories as well as a mock-trial of the murderer from Poe's story "The Tell-Tale Heart" in which the audience decides whether the murderer really was insane. Students also learn about the clothing and customs of Poe's era with costumes they can try. The program has visited students at libraries and schools as well as adults at nursing homes and community buildings.
Budget $200.00
CEO/ED/Board Comments
Our largest challenge is that Poe is so iconic, the caricature often misleads. Because Poe tragically (and mysteriously) died in Baltimore, people often associate him with that great city.  However, Poe was a Richmonder, living most of his life in and returning to Virginia throughout his life travels.  
We specialize in bringing Poe's Richmond to life, while highlighting how his travels and life were influenced along the East Coast.  Through exhibits, festivals, and local and national collaborations, we overcome the popular history and give depth to this extraordinary man.
Fiscal Year
Projected Revenue $310,000.00
Projected Expenses $295,000.00
Endowment Value $111,043.00
Spending Policy Percentage
Percentage (if selected) 4
Form 990s
IRS Letter of Exemption
Detailed Financials
Revenue SourcesHelpThe financial analysis involves a comparison of the IRS Form 990 and the audit report (when available) and revenue sources may not sum to total based on reconciliation differences. Revenue from foundations and corporations may include individual contributions when not itemized separately.
Fiscal Year201620152014
Foundation and
Corporation Contributions
------
Government Contributions$0$0$0
Federal------
State------
Local------
Unspecified------
Individual Contributions$85,025$59,832$34,065
------
$124,004$102,978$132,428
Investment Income, Net of Losses$4,894$8,182$12,774
Membership Dues$1,481$2,827--
Special Events------
Revenue In-Kind$8,959$13,841$135,000
Other$77,771$89,167$67,817
Expense Allocation
Fiscal Year201620152014
Program Expense$210,221$209,425$163,573
Administration Expense$78,163$60,387$47,898
Fundraising Expense$11,335$10,079$9,214
Payments to Affiliates------
Total Revenue/Total Expenses1.010.991.73
Program Expense/Total Expenses70%75%74%
Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue13%17%27%
Assets and Liabilities
Fiscal Year201620152014
Total Assets$762,008$766,128$767,561
Current Assets$338,830$338,090$333,505
Long-Term Liabilities$0$0--
Current Liabilities$3,474$10,009$8,378
Total Net Assets$758,534$756,119$759,183
Short Term Solvency
Fiscal Year201620152014
Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current Liabilities97.5333.7839.81
Long Term Solvency
Fiscal Year201620152014
Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets0%0%0%
Capital Campaign
Currently in a Capital Campaign? No
Capital Campaign Anticipated in Next 5 Years? Yes
State Charitable Solicitaions Permit
Solicitations Permit
Solicitations Permit Application Confirmation 5/2016View
Comments
Organization Comments
The Poe Foundation, Inc., also known as the Poe Museum in  Richmond, VA, is in a period of growth.  As we near our 100th birthday in 2022, we want to ensure that we meet the needs of our communities.  All donations go to make this possible, and we are proud to have your support.
 
Poe belongs to all demographics, and these communities are educational, cultural, artistic, historical, local, national, and international.  Through our mission, we support and inspire the next generation of writers, artists, and scholars-- starting in the classroom and all life explorations beyond. 
 
The Poe Museum also maintains the Old Stone House,  the oldest residence in Richmond, VA.  As caretakers of this wonderful building, we are dedicated to preserving this history for the generations to come.
Foundation Comments
  • Form 990 prepared by Harris, Hardy & Johnstone, P.C.
  • Profit & Loss Statement prepared internally by the organization
  • Financial information provided by the Form 990
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