Toastmasters International, Inc.

Toastmasters International, Inc., is a U.S.-headquartered nonprofit educational organization dedicated to improving communication, public speaking, and leadership skills.

Formation and History

Toastmasters began in 1905 when Ralph C. Smedley, then the education director for the YMCA in Bloomington, Illinois, started a series of informal speaking clubs. However, the first official Toastmasters club was launched on October 22, 1924, in Santa Ana, California, at the YMCA. Smedley envisioned the club as a place where individuals could develop communication skills through regular meetings and practice. Initially men-only, Toastmasters expanded its membership to include women in 1973[1][3][5].

Legal Status and Structure

Toastmasters International was incorporated as a nonprofit organization under California law on December 19, 1932. The organization operates globally with a network of local clubs, each independently led but guided by Toastmasters' programs and manuals. Meetings are conducted regularly, often weekly or biweekly, and involve prepared speeches, impromptu speaking sessions known as "Table Topics," and evaluations to provide constructive feedback to members[1][2].

Education Programs

Toastmasters relies heavily on structured education programs aimed at enhancing members' public speaking and leadership abilities. The current Pathways program offers eleven paths, each involving fourteen projects tailored to different needs such as Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, Management, Strategic Leadership, and Confidence. Additionally, programs like Speechcraft provide non-members with an introductory series of workshops to develop their speaking skills[1].

Membership and Global Reach

By 2020, Toastmasters had approximately 364,000 members worldwide[1]. The organization operates over 13,000 clubs across 116 countries, making it a leading platform for public speaking education globally[2].

Revenue and Operations

In 2016, Toastmasters reported revenues of $34.255 million and employed a staff of 198. The organization also relied on more than 117,000 volunteers to facilitate its club operations and events worldwide[1].