Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of member-run clubs.
Founded in 1924 by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley in Bloomington, Illinois, the organization is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, with roughly 270,000 members across more than 14,200 clubs in 148 countries. Each local club runs its own recurring meetings, where members deliver prepared speeches, receive structured feedback from more experienced peers, and practice impromptu speaking through a segment called Table Topics.
Members progress through the Pathways education system, a set of learning tracks covering public speaking, interpersonal communication, management, and strategic leadership. The organization also runs the World Championship of Public Speaking, an annual contest held at its International Convention that draws tens of thousands of participants from more than 140 countries, making it one of the largest oratory competitions in the world.