Toastmasters International

Overview

Toastmasters International is a US-headquartered non-profit educational organization dedicated to helping individuals develop communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. Founded on October 22, 1924, by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, the organization has grown into a global entity with a presence in over 116 countries.

History

Toastmasters International traces its roots back to Smedley's efforts at the YMCA in Bloomington, Illinois, in the early 1900s. He established the first unofficial Toastmasters meeting on March 24, 1905, with a focus on training young men in speech and leadership skills. However, the modern and permanent version of Toastmasters began in Santa Ana, California, in 1924. The organization underwent significant development over the years, becoming international in 1932 with its first club in Vancouver, Canada. In 1973, Toastmasters opened its doors to women, further expanding its membership diversity.

Mission and Core Values

The mission of Toastmasters International is to empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders by providing a supportive learning environment. The organization is guided by core values of:

• Integrity: Demonstrating honesty and trustworthiness in all actions.
• Respect: Welcoming diverse perspectives and treating all members with dignity.
• Service: Delivering exceptional support to ensure member growth.
• Excellence: Striving to exceed expectations in all endeavors.

Education Programs

Toastmasters offers several educational programs designed to enhance communication and leadership skills. The Pathways program, launched in recent years, provides a modern approach with eleven distinct learning paths, each consisting of fourteen projects. These paths focus on skills such as public speaking, interpersonal communication, and strategic leadership. Additionally, Speechcraft is a shorter program available for non-members, focusing on developing basic speaking skills over a few weeks.

Club Structure and Meetings

Toastmasters clubs are small, typically consisting of 20 to 30 members, with meetings held weekly or biweekly. Each meeting includes prepared speeches, evaluations, Table Topics for impromptu speaking, and various roles to help members develop different skills. Key roles include the Chairman, Word Master, Toastmaster, Table Topics Master, Speaker, Evaluator, Timer, and Grammarian.

Impact

Through its extensive network of clubs worldwide, Toastmasters has helped nearly eight million people improve their public speaking and leadership abilities. The organization continues to evolve, incorporating technology and diverse perspectives to enhance its learning environment and global reach.

Membership and Revenue

As of 2020, Toastmasters had approximately 364,000 members worldwide. The organization's revenue was reported at $34.26 million in 2016, supported by both member fees and donations.

EIN

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Toastmasters International is 411762643.