Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 1958.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
61 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
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Who runs it and what they're paid
14 people listed on the 990; $589K paid to officers and key staff.
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benny Ellerbe | — | — | — | $161,207 | $267,136 | — |
| Benny Ellberbe | — | — | — | — | — | $192,133 |
| Cheryl Brenn | $153,692 | $154,500 | $151,500 | $60,577 | — | — |
| Thomas Carver | $138,749 | $120,777 | $117,969 | $114,044 | $119,933 | $112,824 |
| Ronda Vaughn | $123,383 | $101,620 | — | — | $104,253 | — |
| Marcus Sheker | $118,823 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Constance Pellock | $114,434 | $117,300 | $114,572 | $110,761 | $97,277 | — |
| Stephanie Monschein | $114,119 | $102,765 | $100,375 | — | — | — |
Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.
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Questions the 990 asks
The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.
- Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
- Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
Programs and updates
Inspires youth and communities with hope and positive vision.
Questions for Optimist International
Your first name shows with your question. Optimist International answers here, for everyone.
Know this org? Add your story
Optimist international is an association which provides operational support to approximately 2,200 optimist clubs around the world dedicated to "bringing out the best in youth." adult volunteers join optimist clubs to conduct positive service projects in their communities aimed at providing a helping hand to youth.
Junior optimist international (joi) is a dynamic coalition of youth volunteers. Joi represent the times well by making their communities better - one service project at a time. With more than 15,000 volunteers in more than 500 communities, joi members are constantly working to promote positive change in their communities.
Funders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2021 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY21 | End FY21 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $742K | $663K |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $1.0M | $1.4M |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $253K | $241K |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $3.5M | $4.4M |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $1.3M | $1.1M |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $2.2M | $3.2M |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1 | $83K | $83K | ||
| Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5 | $379K | $153K | $226K | |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $1.3M | $760K | $584K | |
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $66K | $22K | $44K | |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $204K | $102K | $103K | |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $118K | $55K | $63K | |
| Legal feesLn 11b | $27K | $27K | ||
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $37K | $37K | ||
| Investment management feesLn 11f | $10K | $10K | ||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $56K | $56K | ||
| Office expensesLn 13 | $296K | $214K | $83K | |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $81K | $16K | $65K | |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $152K | $90K | $62K | |
| TravelLn 17 | $172K | $132K | $40K | |
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $255K | $249K | $6K | |
| InterestLn 20 | $21K | $21K | ||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $25K | $15K | $10K | |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $580K | $547K | $34K | |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $229K | $105K | $125K | |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $4.1M | $2.5M | $1.6M | $0 |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Latest | $3.9M | $3.6M | $263K | $5.1M | 990 PDF |
| FY2024 | $4.1M | $3.6M | $523K | $4.7M | 990 PDF |
| FY2023 | $4.1M | $3.5M | $552K | $3.8M | 990 PDF |
| FY2022 | $3.6M | $3.6M | $20K | $3.0M | 990 PDF |
| FY2021 Viewing | $4.5M | $4.1M | $395K | $3.2M | 990 PDF |
| FY2020 | $4.9M | $4.3M | $572K | $2.2M | 990 PDF |
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Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,531,047 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, no flags
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,531,047 across 9 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,135,886 across 19 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $4,353,135 assets, 14 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,225,428 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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