Toastmasters International

"Toastmasters" redirects here. For the general term, see Toastmaster.

Toastmasters International
AbbreviationTI, TM
FormationOctober 22, 1924 (1924-10-22)
FounderRalph C. Smedley
TypeINGO
95-1300076[1]
Legal statusNon-profit organization
PurposeEducational
Headquarters9127 South Jamaica Street, Meridian, Colorado, US
Region
Worldwide
Membership265,261 [2] (2025)
International President
Aletta Rochat (2025-2026)[3]
Revenue$38,571,257 [4] (2024)
Staff198[4] (2016)
Volunteers117,789[4] (2016)
Websitetoastmasters.org

Toastmasters International (TI) is a US-headquartered nonprofit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide to promote communication, public speaking, and leadership skills.

History

On 24 March 1905, Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, educational director of the Bloomington YMCA in Illinois, organized a club to train young boys and men in public speaking skills. George Sutton, general secretary of the YMCA, named the club "a Toastmasters Club". Following a work transfer to Freeport, Illinois, he expanded the club to include the new location.[2]

The organization grew out of a single club founded by Smedley on October 22, 1924, at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, United States.[5] It originated as a set of classes intended to improve the communication skills of the young men under his charge.[6][7] Toastmasters International was incorporated under Californian law on December 19, 1932.[5][8]

The first international chapter was established in Vancouver, Canada, in 1932. The organization began admitting women in 1973.[5][9]

In 1999, Toastmasters International (TI) had 170,000 members spanning 68 countries.[2] By 2016, TI had 345,000 members and 16,000 clubs worldwide.[10] By 2025, TI had 265,000 members across 149 countries and 13,833 clubs worldwide.[2]

Toastmasters club structure

Toastmasters International uses a local club-based structure, with an average club size of around 22 members. Meetings are held every week or bi-weekly and usually in the evening, although some clubs meet in the morning or afternoon.[5][6][8] Each club operates as a separate entity with a set of requirements leading to chartered status for them to be recognised as official Toastmasters clubs. The chartered status allows clubs to use the names, promotional material and program of Toastmasters International.[11]

Every meeting is based on a set of organized speeches. Speakers are given feedback, often by a more experienced member, who then gives an impromptu speech with constructive feedback based on their performance.[12]

Part of the meetings is devoted to Table Topics, which are impromptu speeches that are assigned on the spot by a Topicsmaster. Guests are invited to participate in the Table Topics segment of the club meeting or vote on the best speech.[5][6][8]

Education programs

Toastmasters International aims to build the public speaking and leadership skills.[12]

Pathways

The Pathways education system consists of 6 differing paths suited to their needs and requirements, based around Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, Management, Strategic Leadership, and Confidence. The available pathways are ‘Dynamic Leadership, Engaging Humor, Motivational Strategies, Persuasive Influence, Presentation Mastery and Visionary Communication’. Every path is made up of at least 14 projects.[13]

Speechcraft

Speechcraft is a 4- to 8-week program intended to develop leadership skills, focus on content development, and participate in speech contests.[14][15]

Public speaking championship

Toastmasters runs an international public speaking championship formally known as the Toastmasters International World Champion of Public Speaking, which is held annually at its International Convention in August.[16][17][18][19] It started in 1938 and involves over 33,000 participants in 141 countries, making it the world's largest oratory contest.[17][20] There is a six-month process of elimination to reach the semifinals; in 2018, there were 106 participants who made it that far. There are ten places in the final, and speeches are judged on content, gestures, organization, and style.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ralph C. Smedley Memorial Fund contribution form" (PDF). Toastmasters International. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "CEO Report August 2025" (PDF). toastmasters.org/.
  3. ^ "Toastmasters International Presidents". Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c "Toastmasters International -Annual Financial Reports". www.toastmasters.org.
  5. ^ a b c d e Scott, Majorie (November 1990). "Out of the Past: Toasting the Toastmasters" (Digitised magazine). Orange Coast. No. November 1990. pp. 45–46. Retrieved June 12, 2018 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ a b c Synge, Daniel (September 12, 1995). "How to speak in public". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  7. ^ Hamashige, Hope (October 29, 1994). "Smedley: A Quiet Man With Lots to Say About Speech". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Archived from the original on November 25, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  8. ^ a b c "Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking..." Changing Times (The Kiplinger Magazine). The Kiplinger Washington Editors. April 1970. pp. 17–18. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  9. ^ Laviola, Karen (October 24, 1989). "A toast to Toastmasters' 65 years". Orange County Register.
  10. ^ Arjan (September 7, 2016). "Toastmasters International Hits New Milestones".
  11. ^ Dewey, Larry (January 1966). "Score Yourself as a Public Speaker" (PDF). Montana Prison News. Vol. VII, no. 1. pp. 51–52. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Delacruz, Bernard (PhD) (June 2016). "My Road to Toastmasters". Postscripts. Vol. 6, no. 44. American Medical Writers Association – Pacific Southwest Chapter. pp. 96–97. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  13. ^ "Toastmasters International -Pathways Learning Experience". www.toastmasters.org.
  14. ^ Sha, Mandy; Lee, Cassandra (2023). If we can do it, you can, too! Inspirations from award-winning speakers & leaders. Amazon Digital Services LLC - Kdp. ISBN 9798379235413.
  15. ^ "Toastmasters International -Speechcraft". www.toastmasters.org. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  16. ^ Mooney, Harrison (August 28, 2017). "Vancouver lends an ear to world's best speakers; Toastmasters holds 86th convention, crowns new international champion". The Vancouver Sun.
  17. ^ a b Nasir, Noorain (October 26, 2014). "Winning with Words". The Hindu. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  18. ^ Murphy, Dave (March 20, 2002). "Sometimes you can be a successful flop". Chicago Tribune.
  19. ^ Basheda, Lori (August 26, 2001). "Stand and deliver Speaking Toastmasters select their world champion, whose theme is failure's value. Series". Orange County Register.
  20. ^ a b "Resident of France is semifinalist in the world's largest speech contest". Toastmasters International. August 2024.

Further reading

  • Smedley, Ralph (1959). The Story of Toastmasters. Toastmasters International.
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