PROJECT OPTIMISM
Cite this
Plain text PROJECT OPTIMISM. furp.org, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2020–2024. https://furp.org/org/project-optimism-821542836. Retrieved 2026-10-28.
APA furp.org. (n.d.). PROJECT OPTIMISM [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2020–2024]. Retrieved October 28, 2026, from https://furp.org/org/project-optimism-821542836
MLA “PROJECT OPTIMISM.” furp.org, tax years 2020–2024, https://furp.org/org/project-optimism-821542836. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.
Retrieved 2026-10-28; covers tax years 2020–2024. Data: furp.org, CC BY 4.0.
2024 · Form 990 · revenue $1.6M · expenses $1.6M · assets $669K
- EIN
- 82-1542836
- Address
- 1240 E 29TH ST STE 203, SIGNAL HILL, CA 90755-1824
- Website
- https://projectoptimism.org
- NTEE code
- S99
- Exempt type
- 501(c)(3): charitable, religious, educational, scientific or literary (corporation)
- Ruling date
- May 2017 (when the IRS recognized its exemption)
- IRS status
- Exempt (unconditional) (IRS Business Master File) IRS data ↗
- Tax-deductible donations
- Yes: listed in IRS Publication 78 (public charity) Pub 78 ↗
- Foundation status
- Public charity supported by the public (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))
- Principal officer
- Armoni Easley (its 2019 Form 990-N)
- Form 990-N e-postcards
- 1 filed, 2019 (organizations with gross receipts normally $50,000 or less file this instead of a full Form 990) IRS data ↗
- Cross-check
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Mission
Project Optimism, Inc.'s mission is to be the catalyst that will properly equip community members with an optimistic mindset, to be productive contributors to society.
Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).
People paid by the organization
2 people paid across every filing: current people first, then by total pay from this organization. Organizations counts every nonprofit each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Latest year pay | Total pay from here | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armoni Easley | CEO | 2020-2024 | $84,802 | $369,701 | 1 |
| Ishmael Pruitt | CEO | 2021-2024 | $89,800 | $333,582 | 1 |
Officers and directors, no compensation reported
12 people listed on the returns with $0 (or no amount) in every compensation column: current people first. Hours are as filed on the latest return each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Hrs/wk (latest) | Compensation | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josef Gray | Chairman | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Tanisha Patton | Treasurer | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Jade Rodgers | Secretary | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Sarah Toutant | Vice President | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Charles Reader | Director | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Matthew Gray | Director | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Keisha Peterson | Director | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Shakira Gagnier | Director | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Justin A Blakely | Director | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Jason Dorsainville | Director | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Dawaun Lucas | Director | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Siah Wilson Gaye | Director | 2024 | 1 | $0 reported | 1 |
People by year
2024 · 14 people listed · 2 paid, $175K · 27 employees · 7 volunteers
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ishmael Pruitt | CEO | 40 | $89,800 | $0 | $0 | $89,800 | 1 |
| Armoni Easley | CEO | 40 | $84,802 | $0 | $0 | $84,802 | 1 |
| Josef Gray | Chairman | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Tanisha Patton | Treasurer | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Jade Rodgers | Secretary | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Sarah Toutant | Vice President | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Charles Reader | Director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Matthew Gray | Director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Keisha Peterson | Director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Shakira Gagnier | Director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Justin A Blakely | Director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Jason Dorsainville | Director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Dawaun Lucas | Director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Siah Wilson Gaye | Director | 1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
2023 · 4 people listed · 2 paid, $175K · 0 employees
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ishmael Pruitt | CEO | 40 | $89,800 | - | - | $89,800 | 1 |
| Armoni Easley | Founder | 40 | $84,802 | - | - | $84,802 | 1 |
| ARMONI EASLEY | CEO | 40 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| ISHMAEL PRUITT | PRESIDENT | 40 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
2022 · 2 people listed · 2 paid, $179K · 0 employees
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ishmael D Pruitt | President | 40 | $91,311 | $0 | $0 | $91,311 | 1 |
| Armoni Easley | CEO | 40 | $87,464 | $0 | $0 | $87,464 | 1 |
2021 · 2 people listed · 2 paid, $144K · 0 employees
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armoni Easley | CEO | 40 | $81,683 | $0 | $0 | $81,683 | 1 |
| Ishmael Pruitt | President | 40 | $62,671 | $0 | $0 | $62,671 | 1 |
2020 · 1 person listed · 1 paid, $31K · 0 employees
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARMONI EASLEY | CEO | 40 | $30,950 | $0 | $0 | $30,950 | 1 |
Highest-paid independent contractors
No independent contractors reported.
Who gave
Contributor names are not public for this form type.
Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.
Finances
Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.
| Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Net assets | Contributions | Program revenue | Officer pay | Employees | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $1,573,040 | $1,634,354 | $669,413 | $567,519 | $1,572,758 | $0 | $174,602 | 27 | 7 |
| 2023 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $1,513,651 | $1,127,724 | $609,565 | $579,657 | $1,513,624 | $0 | $174,602 | 0 | - |
| 2023 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $346,512 | $422,301 | $203,560 | $188,310 | $346,512 | $0 | $0 | 0 | - |
| 2022 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $764,922 | $992,402 | $2,321 | -$12,737 | $764,922 | $0 | $178,775 | 0 | - |
| 2021 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $645,461 | $482,046 | $245,966 | $228,812 | $645,461 | $0 | $146,653 | 0 | - |
| 2020 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $118,588 | $92,190 | $66,900 | $51,650 | $118,588 | $0 | $38,250 | 0 | - |
Funders of this organization
10 grantors reported grants to this organization, $196,921 in all, tax years 2018 to 2025. Exact: the grantor wrote this organization's EIN. Fuzzy: the grantor wrote only a name (foundations' 990-PF has no EIN field), matched to the same or a near-identical name in the same state; the name as filed is shown. From the latest return for each grantor and year, so amended returns aren't counted twice. CSV
| Grantor | Type | Match | Years given | Grants | Total | Latest year | Latest year's amount | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LONG BEACH NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIP | Public charity | Exact | 2025 | 1 | $50,000 | 2025 | $50,000 | show |
| NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION | Public charity | Exact | 2023 | 1 | $50,000 | 2023 | $50,000 | show |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT | Public charity | Exact | 2023-2024 | 2 | $47,750 | 2024 | $22,750 | show |
| ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATION SOLUTIONS INC | Public charity | Exact | 2022 | 1 | $15,000 | 2022 | $15,000 | show |
| CHARITIES AID FOUNDATION AMERICA | DAF sponsor | Exact | 2024 | 1 | $10,700 | 2024 | $10,700 | show |
| CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | DAF sponsor | Exact | 2024 | 1 | $10,000 | 2024 | $10,000 | show |
| AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC | DAF sponsor | Exact | 2022 | 1 | $5,471 | 2022 | $5,471 | show |
| THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “PROJECT OPTIMISM” | 2018 | 1 | $5,000 | 2018 | $5,000 | show |
| ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS FOUNDATION | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “PROJECT OPTIMISM” | 2023 | 1 | $2,500 | 2023 | $2,500 | show |
| SIERRA HEALTH FOUNDATION | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “PROJECT OPTIMISM” | 2022 | 1 | $500 | 2022 | $500 | show |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| ORANGE COUNTY CONGREGATION COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION | CA | S99 | $1,262,409 | $1,181,881 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $110,996 | Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state |
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| CENTER FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND BELONGING | UT | S99 | $792,630 | $387,218 | President & CEO | $96,201 | Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x |
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| O MAKUU KE KAHUS | HI | S99 | $881,750 | $409,773 | SECRETARY | $39,231 | Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x |
| VIRGINIA COMMUNITY VOICE | VA | S99 | $1,107,022 | $1,117,180 | Exec. Director | $88,503 | Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x |
Who funds organizations like this
Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).
The full list · all similar organizations
Where the money went
Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.
2024 · Form 990 · $1,634,354 spent · pay $1,200,962 · grants $0 · events $47,627
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other salaries and wages | $836,969 | $711,323 | $125,646 | - | 51.2% | |
| Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees | $174,602 | $139,682 | $34,920 | - | 10.7% | |
| Other (as described) | Mentoring & Youth Development | $138,231 | $137,731 | $500 | - | 8.5% |
| Payroll taxes | $98,441 | $73,951 | $24,490 | - | 6.0% | |
| Other employee benefits | $90,950 | $53,968 | $36,982 | - | 5.6% | |
| Other (as described) Event | Program Events | $47,627 | $47,528 | $99 | - | 2.9% |
| Occupancy | $44,517 | $18,330 | $26,187 | - | 2.7% | |
| Advertising and promotion | $42,412 | $18,537 | $23,875 | - | 2.6% | |
| Other (as described) | Contracted Services | $36,170 | $28,798 | $7,372 | - | 2.2% |
| Fees: accounting | $30,412 | - | $30,412 | - | 1.9% | |
| Travel | $25,479 | $138 | $25,341 | - | 1.6% | |
| All other expenses | $21,573 | $7,363 | $14,210 | - | 1.3% | |
| Information technology | $13,406 | $149 | $13,257 | - | 0.8% | |
| Insurance | $12,525 | - | $12,525 | - | 0.8% | |
| Other (as described) | Depreciation Expense | $10,003 | - | $10,003 | - | 0.6% |
| Office expenses | $5,652 | $402 | $5,250 | - | 0.3% | |
| Fees: other services | $4,485 | $3,243 | $1,242 | - | 0.3% | |
| Fees: legal | $900 | - | $900 | - | 0.1% | |
| Total | $1,634,354 | 100% |
2023 · Form 990 · $1,127,724 spent · pay $836,010 · grants $850 · events $54,815
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other salaries and wages | $788,858 | - | - | - | 70.0% | |
| All other expenses | $77,799 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 6.9% | |
| Other (as described) | Contractors | $73,328 | - | - | - | 6.5% |
| Other (as described) Event | Events | $54,815 | - | - | - | 4.9% |
| Payroll taxes | $47,152 | - | - | - | 4.2% | |
| Advertising and promotion | $24,615 | - | - | - | 2.2% | |
| Fees: legal | $18,647 | - | - | - | 1.7% | |
| Insurance | $12,473 | - | - | - | 1.1% | |
| Travel | $9,074 | - | - | - | 0.8% | |
| Fees: accounting | $7,850 | - | - | - | 0.7% | |
| Office expenses | $7,293 | - | - | - | 0.6% | |
| Occupancy | $4,488 | - | - | - | 0.4% | |
| Grants to US organizations and governments | $850 | - | - | - | 0.1% | |
| Other (as described) | Car & Truck | $443 | - | - | - | 0.0% |
| Other (as described) | Bank Charges & Fees | $39 | - | - | - | 0.0% |
| Total | $1,127,724 | 100% |
2023 · Form 990 · $422,301 spent · pay $336,026 · grants $0 · events $17,492
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other salaries and wages | $336,026 | - | - | - | 79.6% | |
| Other (as described) | CONTRACTORS | $20,926 | - | - | - | 5.0% |
| Other (as described) Event | EVENTS | $17,492 | - | - | - | 4.1% |
| All other expenses | $13,645 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 3.2% | |
| Advertising and promotion | $10,350 | - | - | - | 2.5% | |
| Insurance | $10,187 | - | - | - | 2.4% | |
| Other (as described) | MEALS AND INTERTAINMENT | $7,132 | - | - | - | 1.7% |
| Fees: accounting | $4,000 | - | - | - | 0.9% | |
| Office expenses | $2,009 | - | - | - | 0.5% | |
| Other (as described) | HQ FACILITIES UTILITIES | $534 | - | - | - | 0.1% |
| Total | $422,301 | 100% |
2022 · Form 990 · $992,402 spent · pay $870,365 · grants $191 · events $45,919
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other salaries and wages | $775,246 | - | - | - | 78.1% | |
| Payroll taxes | $95,119 | - | - | - | 9.6% | |
| Conferences, conventions and meetings | $45,919 | - | - | - | 4.6% | |
| Advertising and promotion | $18,522 | - | - | - | 1.9% | |
| Office expenses | $15,184 | - | - | - | 1.5% | |
| Other (as described) | Other Expenses | $13,369 | - | - | - | 1.3% |
| Other (as described) | Employee Meals | $9,024 | - | - | - | 0.9% |
| Fees: legal | $6,225 | - | - | - | 0.6% | |
| Travel | $6,101 | - | - | - | 0.6% | |
| Other (as described) | Speaker Workshops | $5,000 | - | - | - | 0.5% |
| Fees: accounting | $1,500 | - | - | - | 0.2% | |
| Other (as described) | Utilities | $952 | - | - | - | 0.1% |
| Grants to US individuals | $191 | - | - | - | 0.0% | |
| Insurance | $50 | - | - | - | 0.0% | |
| Total | $992,402 | 100% |
2021 · Form 990 · $482,046 spent · pay $228,564 · grants $0 · events $53,429
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees | $146,653 | - | $146,653 | - | 30.4% | |
| Other (as described) | Contractors | $124,941 | $124,941 | - | - | 25.9% |
| Other salaries and wages | $72,033 | $72,033 | - | - | 14.9% | |
| Other (as described) Event | Program Events | $53,429 | $53,429 | - | - | 11.1% |
| Office expenses | $24,200 | $24,200 | - | - | 5.0% | |
| Insurance | $23,311 | $23,311 | - | - | 4.8% | |
| Advertising and promotion | $13,501 | $13,501 | - | - | 2.8% | |
| Payroll taxes | $9,878 | $9,878 | - | - | 2.0% | |
| Other (as described) | Speaker Workshops | $7,400 | $7,400 | - | - | 1.5% |
| Fees: legal | $4,135 | $4,135 | - | - | 0.9% | |
| Travel | $2,565 | $2,565 | - | - | 0.5% | |
| Total | $482,046 | 100% |
2020 · Form 990 · $92,190 spent · pay $57,475 · grants $10,910 · events $4,547
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees | $38,250 | - | - | - | 41.5% | |
| Other salaries and wages | $19,225 | - | - | - | 20.9% | |
| Grants to US individuals | $10,910 | $10,910 | - | - | 11.8% | |
| Other (as described) | MISC EXPENSE | $9,783 | - | - | - | 10.6% |
| Office expenses | $4,407 | - | - | - | 4.8% | |
| Other (as described) Event | PROGRAM EVENTS | $4,043 | - | - | - | 4.4% |
| Advertising and promotion | $1,763 | - | - | - | 1.9% | |
| Travel | $1,290 | - | - | - | 1.4% | |
| Other (as described) | REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE | $845 | - | - | - | 0.9% |
| Insurance | $843 | - | - | - | 0.9% | |
| Conferences, conventions and meetings | $504 | - | - | - | 0.5% | |
| Fees: legal | $215 | - | - | - | 0.2% | |
| Other (as described) | UTILITIES | $112 | - | - | - | 0.1% |
| Total | $92,190 | 100% |
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