PROJECT OPTIMISM

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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Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).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.

NameLatest titleYearsLatest year payTotal pay from hereOrganizations
Armoni Easley CEO2020-2024 $84,802$369,701 1
Ishmael Pruitt CEO2021-2024 $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.

NameLatest titleYearsHrs/wk (latest)CompensationOrganizations
Josef Gray Chairman2024 1 $0 reported 1
Tanisha Patton Treasurer2024 1 $0 reported 1
Jade Rodgers Secretary2024 1 $0 reported 1
Sarah Toutant Vice President2024 1 $0 reported 1
Charles Reader Director2024 1 $0 reported 1
Matthew Gray Director2024 1 $0 reported 1
Keisha Peterson Director2024 1 $0 reported 1
Shakira Gagnier Director2024 1 $0 reported 1
Justin A Blakely Director2024 1 $0 reported 1
Jason Dorsainville Director2024 1 $0 reported 1
Dawaun Lucas Director2024 1 $0 reported 1
Siah Wilson Gaye Director2024 1 $0 reported 1

People by year

2024 · 14 people listed · 2 paid, $175K · 27 employees · 7 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
Ishmael Pruitt CEO40 $89,800$0$0 $89,8001
Armoni Easley CEO40 $84,802$0$0 $84,8021
Josef Gray Chairman1 $0$0$0 $01
Tanisha Patton Treasurer1 $0$0$0 $01
Jade Rodgers Secretary1 $0$0$0 $01
Sarah Toutant Vice President1 $0$0$0 $01
Charles Reader Director1 $0$0$0 $01
Matthew Gray Director1 $0$0$0 $01
Keisha Peterson Director1 $0$0$0 $01
Shakira Gagnier Director1 $0$0$0 $01
Justin A Blakely Director1 $0$0$0 $01
Jason Dorsainville Director1 $0$0$0 $01
Dawaun Lucas Director1 $0$0$0 $01
Siah Wilson Gaye Director1 $0$0$0 $01
2023 · 4 people listed · 2 paid, $175K · 0 employees
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
Ishmael Pruitt CEO40 $89,800-- $89,8001
Armoni Easley Founder40 $84,802-- $84,8021
ARMONI EASLEY CEO40 $0$0$0 $01
ISHMAEL PRUITT PRESIDENT40 $0$0$0 $01
2022 · 2 people listed · 2 paid, $179K · 0 employees
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
Ishmael D Pruitt President40 $91,311$0$0 $91,3111
Armoni Easley CEO40 $87,464$0$0 $87,4641
2021 · 2 people listed · 2 paid, $144K · 0 employees
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
Armoni Easley CEO40 $81,683$0$0 $81,6831
Ishmael Pruitt President40 $62,671$0$0 $62,6711
2020 · 1 person listed · 1 paid, $31K · 0 employees
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
ARMONI EASLEY CEO40 $30,950$0$0 $30,9501

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.

RevenueExpensesAssetsNet assetsContributionsProgram revenueOfficer payEmployeesVolunteers
2024 · Form 990 period ending 2025-06-30 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$1,573,040$1,634,354 $669,413$567,519 $1,572,758$0 $174,602277
2023 · Form 990 period ending 2024-06-30 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$1,513,651$1,127,724 $609,565$579,657 $1,513,624$0 $174,6020-
2023 · Form 990 period ending 2023-06-30 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$346,512$422,301 $203,560$188,310 $346,512$0 $00-
2022 · Form 990 period ending 2022-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$764,922$992,402 $2,321-$12,737 $764,922$0 $178,7750-
2021 · Form 990 period ending 2021-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$645,461$482,046 $245,966$228,812 $645,461$0 $146,6530-
2020 · Form 990 period ending 2020-12-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$118,588$92,190 $66,900$51,650 $118,588$0 $38,2500-

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

GrantorTypeMatchYears givenGrantsTotalLatest yearLatest year's amountGrants
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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SAN DIEGO ORGANIZING PROJECTCAS99 $1,146,475$1,049,161 Executive Director$120,894 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state
PLACER INDEPENDENT RESOURCE SERVICESCAS99 $836,091$822,962 Executive Dir.$118,547 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state
BLACK WELLNESS & PROSPERITY CENTERCAS99 $2,381,332$2,505,132 President & CEO$187,000 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state
CEO LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE ORANGE COUNTYCAS99 $2,800,232$2,565,885 CEO & PRESIDENT$311,803 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state
HISPANIC FOUNDATION OF SILICON VALLEYCAS99 $2,146,969$2,806,161 PRESIDENT & CEO$220,982 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state
ASTIACAS99 $1,380,654$1,227,261 CEO$219,231 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state
MCKINLEYVILLE COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVECAS99 $2,020,389$1,886,358 CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$144,449 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state
CANGRESSCAS99 $2,762,212$1,964,144 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$104,016 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state
THINKWATTS FOUNDATIONCAS99 $1,507,090$1,165,592 CEO AND CORPORATE SECRETARY$238,634 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state
KOREATOWN ORGANIZATIONS ASSOCIATION INCCAS99 $1,255,860$1,063,943 DIRECTOR$0 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state
SACRAMENTO REGIONAL FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER FOUNDATIONCAS99 $2,873,846$2,942,092 DEPUTY DIRECTOR$114,672 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state
MORENO VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONCAS99 $1,568,795$517,494 CITY MAYOR$0 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state
ORANGE COUNTY CONGREGATION COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONCAS99 $1,262,409$1,181,881 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$110,996 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state
HOW TO BUILD UP INCCAS99 $2,521,027$2,391,711 CEO/CONSULTANT$154,224 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x, same state
CIVIC LEADERSHIP PROJECT INCDCS99 $1,159,081$1,229,974 President, Secretary and Chair$83,200 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x
CIVIL SURVIVAL PROJECTWAS99 $1,584,787$1,374,237 Director$178,195 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x
CENTER FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND BELONGINGUTS99 $792,630$387,218 President & CEO$96,201 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x
COMMUNITY SHARES OF MID OHIOOHS99 $953,079$1,025,909 EXECUTIVE DI$99,280 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x
SPANISH PEAKS COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONMTS99 $1,406,202$1,539,898 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x
COMMUTE OPTIONS FOR CENTRAL OREGONORS99 $1,371,710$1,290,121 EXECUTIVE DI$119,673 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x
PROVISO PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPILS99 $789,839$613,271 President$0 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x
BANNOCK PLANNING ORGANIZATIONIDS99 $926,301$991,425 TRANSPORTATI$130,511 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x
CIENCIA PUERTO RICO INCPRS99 $802,146$993,526 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$90,300 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x
O MAKUU KE KAHUSHIS99 $881,750$409,773 SECRETARY$39,231 Same NTEE code S99, revenue within 2x
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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).

GrantorTypeTotal givenGrantsOrganizations fundedYearsWhich ones
THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST DAF sponsor$8,855,72432 62016–2024 DELTA INSTITUTE; URBAN JUNCTURE FOUNDATION; HAWAII LOCAL 2030 HUB; EXPERIMENTAL STATION and 2 more
THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT funds this one Private foundation$8,576,19099 52009–2024 SAN DIEGO ORGANIZING PROJECT; CANGRESS; ORANGE COUNTY CONGREGATION COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION; BLACK WELLNESS & PROSPERITY CENTER and 1 more
ALLYN FOUNDATION INC Private foundation$7,675,00012 12022–2025 SEED SYRACUSE INC
SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$7,379,04526 72010–2024 HISPANIC FOUNDATION OF SILICON VALLEY; COLORSTACK; CANGRESS; CIENCIA PUERTO RICO INC and 3 more
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND DAF sponsor$5,832,048111 312016–2024 MASS MENTORING PARTNERSHIP INC; BIKUR CHOLIM OF GREATER WASHINGTON INC; STAR C CORPORATION; PENNSYLVANIA STANDS UP INSTITUTE and 27 more
KRESGE FOUNDATION Private foundation$2,918,00026 32016–2024 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVOCATES OF DETROIT; BECOME INC; COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERS
FORD FOUNDATION Private foundation$2,715,00015 12014–2024 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVOCATES OF DETROIT
TIDES FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$2,414,65521 82018–2024 PENNSYLVANIA STANDS UP INSTITUTE; ORANGE COUNTY CONGREGATION COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION; CANGRESS; HISPANIC FOUNDATION OF SILICON VALLEY and 4 more
CYNTHIA & GEO MITCHELL FOUNDATION Private foundation$2,091,50011 12021–2024 VISION GALVESTON INC
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION funds this one DAF sponsor$2,015,93918 42011–2024 CANGRESS; ORANGE COUNTY CONGREGATION COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION; SPANISH PEAKS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION; THINKWATTS FOUNDATION
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC funds this one DAF sponsor$1,948,03853 212019–2025 HISPANIC FOUNDATION OF SILICON VALLEY; PUSH FOR EXCELLENCE INC; GENUNITY INC; BROWN HOPE and 17 more
FORGOOD INC DAF sponsor$1,938,90065 152010–2024 CANGRESS; SACRAMENTO REGIONAL FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER FOUNDATION; ORANGE COUNTY CONGREGATION COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION; CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE STEADY STATE ECONOMY and 11 more
DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING DAF sponsor$1,700,66063 192014–2024 BROWN HOPE; BIKUR CHOLIM OF GREATER WASHINGTON INC; SPANISH PEAKS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION; COLORSTACK and 15 more
JEFFERSON FOUNDATION Private foundation$1,688,99215 12014–2024 JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP INC
SHELBY CULLOM DAVIS CHARITABLE FUND INC Private foundation$1,650,0005 12020–2024 BROWN HOPE

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
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
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) EventProgram 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$1,634,354100%

View the filing

2023 · Form 990 · $1,127,724 spent · pay $836,010 · grants $850 · events $54,815
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
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) EventEvents $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$1,127,724100%

View the filing

2023 · Form 990 · $422,301 spent · pay $336,026 · grants $0 · events $17,492
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other salaries and wages $336,026--- 79.6%
Other (as described)CONTRACTORS $20,926--- 5.0%
Other (as described) EventEVENTS $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$422,301100%

View the filing

2022 · Form 990 · $992,402 spent · pay $870,365 · grants $191 · events $45,919
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
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$992,402100%

View the filing

2021 · Form 990 · $482,046 spent · pay $228,564 · grants $0 · events $53,429
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
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) EventProgram 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$482,046100%

View the filing

2020 · Form 990 · $92,190 spent · pay $57,475 · grants $10,910 · events $4,547
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
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) EventPROGRAM 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$92,190100%

View the filing

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