Optimist International Foundation

Analysis

Optimist International Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in Saint Louis, MO. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in August 1971, 55 years ago. Its declared purposes cover philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking foundations, which this site groups under grant-making and general purposes. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending September 2023, Optimist International Foundation reported income of $1.8m and spending of $1.6m, spending 92% of its income. Across the 3 years on record, from September 2020 to September 2023, income grew from $1.7m to $1.8m (+6.2%), an average of +3.0% a year. Over the whole period it spent 94% of the income it received.

Among 19,413 United States charities whose main cause is grant-making and general purposes and that reported income, Optimist International Foundation sits at the 86th percentile: it is larger than about 86% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 85th percentile, and in the 83rd percentile within MO. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Sisters of St Joseph Charitable Fund Inc ($1.8m), Washington Apple Education Foundation ($1.8m) and National Christian Charitable Foundation Inc ($1.8m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending September 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 75% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $152k (9.2% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $119k. At year end it held assets of $12.0m against liabilities of $5.3m, net assets of $6.7m.