PA Humanities has announced the recipients of its first-ever Rain Poetry Grants, awarding funding to ten youth-serving organizations from across Pennsylvania to develop public humanities projects that center young voices, encourage community connection, and bring poetry to public spaces. The 2026 Rain Poetry Grants mark an expansion of the popular statewide program that encourages and mentors young people to write haiku poetry and then brings their words to life through water-activated installations in their communities. Grantees were selected through a competitive review process and will each receive $4,000 plus individualized coaching from PA Humanities staff, in addition to the public Rain Poetry Toolkit launched last fall. All grantees will provide a dollar-for-dollar match through funding or in-kind donations. The 2026 Rain Poetry Grant Recipients are:
(Organization – City, County)
Basement Poetry – Bethlehem, Lehigh County
Boyertown Community Library – Boyertown, Berks County Carlisle
Arts Learning Center – Carlisle, Cumberland County
Chester Writers House / Sparrow House – Chester, Delaware County
City Charter High School – Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Confluence Creative Arts Center – Confluence, Somerset County
Corry Higher Education Council – Corry, Erie County
Friends’ Memorial Public Library – Kane, McKean County
Pearl S. Buck International – Perkasie, Bucks County Rodef Shalom Congregation – Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Rain Poetry blends educational opportunity, creativity, and community, and has steadily drawn support from legislators who appreciate the value the project brings to their districts. 
We are thrilled to announce we are bringing Rain Poetry to Kane!
We’re excited to showcase the voices of young poets with poetry workshops and a
special Community Celebration that will magically ‘reveal’ youth poems, transforming
community spaces into places of reflection, creativity, and joy.
Rain Poetry is an opportunity for young people to be heard, seen, and celebrated.
Through writing and sharing their words, students build confidence, connect with their
communities, and experience the power of their own voices. #RainPoetryPA
#PAHumanities #HumanitiesInAction