Nonprofit · EIN 43-0443279
OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL
Also known as HQ PARENT ORGANIZATION
Tax-exempt · SAINT LOUIS, MO 63108
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | 990 | $3,908,856 | $3,645,616 | $263,240 | $6,223,112 | $1,131,380 | $5,091,732 |
| September 30, 2024 | 990 | $4,119,016 | $3,595,943 | $523,073 | $5,696,149 | $1,012,613 | $4,683,536 |
| September 30, 2023 | 990 | $4,080,823 | $3,528,366 | $552,457 | $5,022,321 | $1,219,948 | $3,802,373 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $22,500
- Program service revenue
- $3,530,152
- Investment income
- $88,940
- Royalties
- $27,588
- Other revenue
- $267,264
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $320,883
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,171,066
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,833,133
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $37,580
- Accounting fees
- $44,311
- Occupancy
- $111,876
- Travel
- $217,508
- Depreciation
- $22,969
- Program services (functional)
- $2,473,182
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,172,434
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $5,696,149
- Total assets, end of year
- $6,223,112
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,131,380
- Net assets, end of year
- $5,091,732
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $213,769
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $5,091,732
- Gross unrelated business income
- $5,000
- Gross receipts
- $3,908,856
- Employees
- 35
- Volunteers
- 1,055
- Year formed
- 1919
- State of legal domicile
- MO
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHERYL BRENN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 50 | $153,692 | $21,690 |
| THOMAS CARVER | DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 50 | $138,749 | $27,174 |
| RONDA VAUGHN | DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 50 | $123,383 | $26,170 |
| MARCUS SHEKER | DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $118,823 | $19,485 |
| STEPHANIE MONSCHEIN | DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 50 | $114,119 | $19,379 |
| CONSTANCE PELLOCK | CFO (THRU 10/25) Officer | 50 | $114,434 | $16,790 |
| DANA THOMAS | DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 50 | $109,860 | $7,773 |
| BRIAN HUGGINS | CFO (AS OF 10/24) Officer | 50 | $24,231 | $868 |
| JAN OORD GRAVES | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS KENDO | PRESIDENT ELECT Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| TRACY HUXLEY | IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL BOLES | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| TERRY GORMAN | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| ROD MCKENDRICK | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| PATRICK PRENDERGAST | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
2 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAULA REYLING | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| SANDI SCHMIDT | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 14 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHERYL BRENN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 50 | $154,500 | $15,797 |
| THOMAS CARVER | DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 50 | $120,777 | $24,176 |
| CONSTANCE PELLOCK | CFO Officer | 50 | $117,300 | $17,760 |
| RONDA VAUGHN | DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 50 | $101,620 | $23,026 |
| STEPHANIE MONSCHEIN | DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 50 | $102,765 | $16,888 |
| TRACY HUXLEY | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAN OORD GRAVES | PRESIDENT-ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT MCFADYEN | IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| TERRY GORMAN | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| CAROL HAYNES | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| ROD MCKENDRICK | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| PATRICK PRENDERGAST | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| SANDI SCHMIDT | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| RUSS THOMAS | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHERYL BRENN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 50 | $151,500 | $10,687 |
| THOMAS CARVER | DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 50 | $117,969 | $24,014 |
| CONSTANCE PELLOCK | CFO Officer | 50 | $114,572 | $18,389 |
| STEPHANIE MONSCHEIN | DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 50 | $100,375 | $17,502 |
| ROBERT MCFADYEN | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| TRACY HUXLEY | PRESIDENT-ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| PATSY GARNER | IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT DOYLE | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| TERRY GORMAN | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| CAROL HAYNES | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| JANET LLOYD | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| PATRICK PRENDERGAST | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| RUSS THOMAS | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 4494 LINDELL BLVD, SAINT LOUIS, MO 63108-2404
- In care of
- % MICHELLE BLACKBURN
- Mailing address (990-N for 2024)
- PO Box 3646, Lawrence KS 66046
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- CHERYL BRENN, 4494 LINDELL BOULEVARD, SAINT LOUIS, MO 63108
- Principal officer (990-N for 2024)
- KATHY MCCARTER, 3911 Sophora Street, Lawrence KS 66049
- Signed the 990
- CHERYL BRENN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (314) 371-6000
- Website
- WWW.OPTIMIST.ORG
- Return prepared by
- RUBINBROWN LLP
Mission
BY PROVIDING HOPE AND POSITIVE VISION, OPTIMISTS BRING OUT THE BEST IN YOUTH, OUR COMMUNITIES AND OURSELVES.
Program accomplishments
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL IS AN ASSOCIATION WHICH PROVIDES OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO APPROXIMATELY 2,000 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. WITH THEIR UPBEAT ATTITUDE, OPTIMIST CLUB MEMBERS HELP EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BE. EACH OPTIMIST CLUB DETERMINES THE NEEDS OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN ITS COMMUNITY AND CONDUCTS PROGRAMS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. EVERY YEAR, OPTIMISTS CONDUCT ROUGHLY 65,000 SERVICE PROJECTS AND SERVE WELL OVER FIVE MILLION PEOPLE.Expenses $2,473,182 · revenue $3,771,207
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 30, 2026 | February 15, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | September 30, 2025 | February 16, 2026 | 990-N on file |
| 2023 | September 30, 2024 | February 17, 2025 | 990-N on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 43-0443279
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(4): Social welfare organization
- Donations deductible
- No
- Exempt since
- 1958
- Accounting year ends
- September
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Group exemption
- 1334 (842 member organizations)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $6,223,112
- Income (IRS master file)
- $3,908,856
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990-N for 2024 Officer: KATHY MCCARTER | September 30, 2025 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
| 990 | September 2025 | $3,908,856 | $3,645,616 | $6,223,112 | XML |
| 990-N for 2023 Officer: Denise M Haynes | September 30, 2024 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
| 990 | September 2024 | $4,119,016 | $3,595,943 | $5,696,149 | XML |
| 990 | September 2023 | $4,080,823 | $3,528,366 | $5,022,321 | XML |
| 990 | September 2022 | $3,593,993 | $3,573,587 | $4,024,165 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2021 | $4,531,047 | $4,135,886 | $4,353,135 | IRS |
| 990-N for 2019 Officer: CARY WOODS | September 30, 2020 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
| 990 | September 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2018 Officer: Susan Bussey | September 30, 2019 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
| 990 | September 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 43-0443279).
Questions about OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL
- What is the EIN of OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL is 43-0443279.
- Is OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(4) since 1958.
- Are donations to OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL tax-deductible?
- No. The IRS master file says contributions to it are not deductible.
- Which annual return does OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990-N for 2024 for the year ended September 30, 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names CHERYL BRENN.
- Who are the officers and directors of OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 17 people; 8 received compensation from the organization, the highest $153,692 (CHERYL BRENN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL have?
- On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $3,908,856, expenses of $3,645,616 and total assets of $6,223,112 at year end.
Organizations in its group exemption (842)
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 94-6175355 · CARMICHAEL, CA · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 41-1335814 · PRIOR LAKE, MN · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 23-7106509 · NORMAN, OK · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 52-6062686 · SYKESVILLE, MD · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 56-6092605 · DENVER, NC · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 23-7258036 · PLAINFIELD, IN · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 59-6168888 · NAPLES, FL · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 75-6079283 · PARIS, TX · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 61-6034815 · LOUISVILLE, KY · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 23-7424614 · AUSTIN, TX · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 31-6083734 · DAYTON, OH · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 23-7033675 · MIAMI LAKES, FL · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 61-6038425 · MOREHEAD, KY · last filed 990 for 2024
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 23-6274613 · BOYERTOWN, PA · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 43-6062762 · ASHLAND, MO · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 54-6056468 · HERNDON, VA · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 41-1538896 · ST JOSEPH, MN · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 23-7249869 · OCEAN CITY, MD · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 56-6061283 · WILMINGTON, NC · last filed 990 for 2025
- OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL EIN 73-6117516 · BETHANY, OK · last filed 990 for 2024
Other nonprofits in SAINT LOUIS
- BJC HEALTH SYSTEM EIN 75-3052953 · last filed 990 for 2024
- ASCENSION SETON EIN 74-1109643 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ASCENSION HEALTH ALLIANCE EIN 45-3358926 · last filed 990 for 2025
- SSM HEALTH CARE ST LOUIS EIN 43-1343281 · last filed 990 for 2024
- BJC HEALTH SYSTEM EIN 43-1617558 · last filed 990 for 2024
- SACRED HEART HEALTH SYSTEM INC EIN 59-0634434 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ST VINCENT HOSPITAL & HEALTH CARE EIN 35-0869066 · last filed 990 for 2025
- SSM HEALTH CARE CORPORATION EIN 46-6029223 · last filed 990 for 2024