Project Optimism

Analysis

Project Optimism is a registered charity in United States, based in Signal Hill, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in May 2017, 9 years ago. Its declared purposes cover community improvement and capacity building, which this site groups under community and economic development. 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 June 2024, Project Optimism reported income of $1.5m and spending of $1.1m, leaving 25% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2020 to June 2024, income grew from $119k to $1.5m (+1176%), an average of +89% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 444%. Over the whole period it spent 92% of the income it received.

Among 19,475 United States charities whose main cause is community and economic development and that reported income, Project Optimism sits at the 82nd percentile: it is larger than about 82% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 83rd percentile, and in the 84th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Net Fort Worth Inc ($1.5m), Manufacture Good ($1.5m) and Maafa Redemption Project ($1.5m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending June 2024, revenue came from contributions and grants 100% of the total. Other salaries and wages came to $789k. At year end it held assets of $610k against liabilities of $30k, net assets of $580k.