How to Start a New Club
Toastmasters clubs meet at corporations, churches, colleges, community centers and even in restaurants. While community clubs are generally open to anyone, sponsored clubs are often limited to affiliates of the sponsor since the meeting location and some of the fees may be covered.
To start a new club, follow these five steps:
- Find at least 20 people over the age of 18 who want to join.
- Designate and secure a meeting location.
- Fill out and submit the requisite new club forms to World Headquarters.
- Fill out the Start a Club form and request more information.
- Download a copy of How to Build a Toastmasters Club, a step-by step guide to growing a successful club.
Applicable Fees:
- 125: One-time chartering fee
- 20: New-member fee per person
- 45: Six months’ membership dues per person (33.75 for clubs not in a district)
- Additional dues: Clubs may also charge supplementary club dues to cover expenses.
- If your organization is looking to build leaders from within, then now is the time to (find out how to sponsor a club) and why thousands already have.
CLUB COMPLIANCE: All Toastmasters clubs and members must be in compliance with the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (also known as “OFAC”). OFAC administers sanction programs on countries based on foreign policy and national security. Therefore, Club Officers must take the requisite measures to ensure clubs are in compliance by following the OFAC guidelines such as checking for club members on the Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN) in non-comprehensive sanctioned countries. Find a list of countries here or contact us by email for further information.
New Clubs FAQs
Clubs will be required to submit various charter forms and fees. The minimum requirement for the issuance of a charter is 20 members (17 of whom cannot belong to another club, except in the case of advanced clubs where dual membership is a prerequisite). Please click here for additional information.
No. The $125 club charter fee is a processing fee and it covers the cost of the charter kit and the shipping of all materials. At the time of charter, all new members pay a new member fee of $20 each.
Each charter member (except paid transfer members) will pay dues for the first six months. At the next scheduled renewal (April or October), the club will pay a prorated renewal amount.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against foreign countries and regimes that threaten U.S. national security, foreign policy or economy. Non-comprehensive U.S. sanctions have been placed on Western Balkans, Belarus, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, South Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.
Non-comprehensive U.S. sanctions forbid Toastmasters International from engaging in any business or activity with Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) or Blocked Persons. Because World Headquarters does not have the capacity and resources to properly validate and identify whether a potential club member is on the SDN or Blocked Persons list or not, clubs bear the responsibility of checking the SDN and Blocked Persons lists and ensuring that no one on these lists is accepted as a member. More information and the list of SDNs and Blocked Persons can be viewed at http://www.treas.gov/ofac under the Resources section.
Charter members are required to pay 6 months’ dues at the time their new club is chartered. At the next dues collection, either April 1 or October 1, the renewing charter members will pay a prorated amount (depending on the month of charter) to renew through the end of the regular renewal cycle.
Members are eligible to receive one New Club Information Kit (Item 123) per order. Although this item is free, shipping must be paid by the member. The Orders team suggest you add this item to a future order to save on shipping cost. You can also download the contents here.
The contents of the Charter Kit include key materials for club leaders, members, meeting and membership growth to help a newly chartered club get underway.
Most packages should arrive within five to seven business days after processing the application to organize and/or the completed charter documents.
Copies are acceptable for submission. The club should keep either the original or a copy for its records. Click here for information regarding retention of club records.
Prospective Clubs update report can be found in the Distinguished Performance Reports Dashboard.
- At the top of the page, use the drop down menu to select your district.
- Click on Daily Reports on the left side of the page.
- Click on the Prospective Clubs link.
You can recognize your club by either the club name and/or location, or by the club contact name (president or club coordinator).
- The processing time for an Application to Organize is two business days.
- The review process for completed charter documents is two business days.
- Charter documents will be processed within five additional business days.
No, we don’t require charter member applications; however, please note that charter applications list applicable charter rates, whereas regular member applications indicate prorated dues based on member join dates.
If your company requires an invoice to provide payment, please submit the invoice request along with the charter paperwork and company details via email.
Once a charter is processed, any current club officer may login to Club Central to obtain the receipt(s).
No, we don’t require charter member applications; however, please note that charter applications list applicable charter rates, whereas regular member applications indicate prorated dues based on member join dates.
Yes, we accept multiple payment methods:
- Credit Card: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover
- Check
- Cashier’s Check/Money Order
- Wire Transfer
A club sponsor is an individual who assists in the formation of the club before charter is granted. Sponsors support new clubs in the following ways:
- Market the new club idea to prospective members
- Help with meetings
- Assist with forms
- Plan the charter presentation
A club mentor is an experienced Toastmaster who provides guidance to a new club for a minimum of six months after its charter date. Each new club may have up to two sponsors and mentors as appointed by the district director or club growth director.
Additions, removals or substitutions after the club has chartered can be submitted within 60 days by the district director or club growth director by email.
District directors or club growth directors can submit mentors’ names no later than 60 days from the charter date.
No, mentors and sponsors of a newly chartered club are not required to join that club, although they often do. However, in order to be listed and obtain credit, sponsors and mentors must be members of Toastmasters International.
A sponsor/mentor can receive credit by having any charter officer email us and confirm the role has been completed.
This role is pending confirmation of completion. To receive sponsor or mentor credit, any charter officer can email newclubs@toastmasters.org and confirm the role of a sponsor or mentor has been fulfilled.
If you served as a sponsor or mentor of a club which chartered prior to August 2003, you will not see your sponsorship on the My Toastmasters/My Sponsorship History page. If your sponsor or mentor term is not listed on the My Sponsorship History page, contact us by email.
There are key differences between Gavel Clubs and Toastmasters Clubs. To request charter forms, or for additional information, contact us by email.
Any registered officer can change the club’s name online at Club Central. If the officer does not have internet access, he or she can email the information, contact us by phone at +1 720-439-5050 or send a fax to +1 303-799-7753.
Please note: A club name change is an addendum change and requires an affirmative vote of at least a simple majority of the members present and voting at a club business meeting where a quorum is present. For additional information on the requirements and methods to make this change, please refer to the Club Constitution for Clubs of Toastmasters International, Article X, Section 7 Addendum of Standard Club Options.
A replacement charter certificate (bearing the club’s current name) can be purchased for $7 plus shipping through our Online Store. For additional information on ordering, contact us by email.
Materials may either be donated to another club or sent back to the district.
No, these booklets contain three projects for charter members to complete until the club has officially chartered. Once the club is chartered, they can access Base Camp online and take advantage of the full Pathways experience.