Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers people to become more effective communicators and leaders. Founded in 1924 by Ralph C. Smedley at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, it has grown to operate in 145+ countries.
The numbers (latest TI reporting)
- 270,000+ members worldwide
- 14,000+ clubs
- 145+ countries with clubs
- Headquarters in Englewood, Colorado, USA
How it's structured
Every Toastmasters club is chartered by Toastmasters International. Clubs are grouped into areas (3-5 clubs), areas into divisions (typically 3-5 areas), and divisions into districts. Districts roughly map to geographic regions; District 84 covers part of Florida.
Above districts is the Toastmasters International Board of Directors, elected by district leadership annually.
What's the same everywhere
The meeting format, the education curriculum (Pathways), the speech contest rules, and the member promise are identical across clubs. Visit a Toastmasters club anywhere in the world and you'll recognize the flow.
The Toastmasters Promise
Every member commits to the Toastmasters Promise on joining — a brief pledge to attend regularly, give and receive feedback honestly, serve in club roles, support new members, and bring guests.
Learn more at toastmasters.org.