New Clubs FAQ

To start a new club, submit the required charter forms and applicable fees. A minimum of 20 members is required to issue a charter, and a minimum of 17 of those members must not already belong to another club. For step-by-step guidance and required forms, visit the Start a Club page.

There is a one-time $125 charter fee that gives access to digital resources for a new club. This fee does not cover membership dues. Additionally, each new member must pay a one-time $25 USD new member fee. Applicable taxes may apply based on location.*

At the time of charter, all charter members (except transfer members) must pay six (6) months of dues upfront. At the next scheduled renewal date (April 1 or October 1), dues will be prorated based on the club’s charter date to align with the standard renewal cycle. For more information about membership dues, see the Membership Dues and Payments FAQ.

Please check the Tax and Legal Resources page or review it with your local tax experts to ensure you include the appropriate fees if required.

*Taxes are calculated based on the local tax rate of the member's mailing address.

We accept multiple payment methods:

• Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover)
• Checks
• Cashier’s checks or money orders
• Wire transfers

For information on how to submit dues payments, see the Membership Dues and Payments FAQ.

Submit the following three (3) documents. We recommend bookmarking the links rather than downloading to ensure you’re using the latest versions.

• 1101 Application to Organize (We recommend submitting this online using step two on the Start a Club page)
• 1102 Club Charter Requirements Form
• 433 Charter Membership and Club Officer Information Spreadsheet

Submit your documents by email to the Club Quality and Member Support Team at newclubs@toastmasters.org or by fax to +1 303-799-7753. Keep a copy of all submitted documents (either the original or a duplicate) for your club’s records.

Yes. Charter members should complete form 1103 Charter Membership Application and submit it to a charter club officer. The charter club officer should keep a copy of all applications (either the originals or duplicates) for the club’s records. Charter Member Applications do not need to be submitted to World Headquarters for a charter.

All submissions are processed in the order they are received, and timing may vary based on volume. Once all required forms are received by World Headquarters, processing is completed in stages:

• The Application to Organize is reviewed within two (2) business days
• Completed charter documents are reviewed within an additional two (2) business days
• Final processing is completed within an additional five business days

Once submitted, you can track the status of your club’s charter using the Prospective Clubs Update Report found in the Distinguished Performance Reports Dashboard:

• Use the drop-down menu at the top of the page to select your District.
• Click on “Daily Reports” on the left side of the page.
• Click on “Prospective Clubs.”
• Locate your club by the club’s name and/or location, or by the club contact (President or club coordinator).

A club or District may create its own invoice using the Custom Invoice Template. Please keep in mind that some regions may require tax to be included, based on the member's local tax rates.

After charter, if you need proof of payment for reimbursement, any club officer can access receipts and statements using the below steps:

• In Club Central, select “Club Financials.”
• A list of payments for membership fees is available in date order with the name of the submitter, receipt number, truncated card number, and amount.
• To view the complete receipt with an option to print, click on the hyperlink for the receipt number. This will display the members paid and offer the option to print the receipt or export the data.
• To see the members paid without the additional information, select “Quick View.”
• To download an Excel/CSV report of the payments made, select the year to download in the drop-down menu and select “export Excel/CSV.”

Download and print the information you need to market your club from the marketing materials in the Resource Library.

Club sponsors and mentors play complementary roles in establishing and strengthening a new club.

A club sponsor supports the formation of a prospective club before a charter is granted by:

• Marketing the prospective club to prospective members.
• Assisting with meetings.
• Helping complete required forms.
• Planning the charter presentation.

A club mentor is an experienced Toastmaster who guides a new club for at least six (6) months after its charter date by helping the club build strong meeting practices and member engagement.

Each new club may have up to two (2) sponsors and two (2) mentors, appointed by the District Director or the Club Growth Director.

To appoint a club mentor, request the District Director or Club Growth Director submit additions, removals, or substitutions to the Club Quality and Member Support Team at newclubs@toastmasters.org within 60 days after the club has chartered.

No. District Directors or Club Growth Directors must submit the names of mentors no later than 60 days after the charter date.

No. Mentors and sponsors of a newly chartered club are not required to join the club, although they often do.

To be recognized and receive credit for their service, sponsors and mentors must be Toastmasters International members in good standing in at least one (1) club.

Sponsoring a new club fulfills the “Club Sponsor, Speechcraft, or Youth Leadership” requirement for the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award.

Mentoring a new club fulfills the “Club Mentor or Club Coach Role Completion” requirement for the DTM award.

To receive sponsor or mentor credit, any charter club officer can confirm the role of sponsor or mentor has been fulfilled by emailing the Club Quality and Member Support Team at newclubs@toastmasters.org. Sponsors and mentors will receive a certificate via email once a charter club officer verifies the role as complete.

The status of “pending” indicates the role is pending confirmation of completion. To receive sponsor or mentor credit, request a charter club officer to email the Club Quality and Member Support Team at newclubs@toastmasters.org to confirm that the role of a sponsor or mentor has been fulfilled.

If you served as a sponsor or mentor of a club chartered prior to August 2003, you will not see your sponsorship on the Club Support History page.

If your sponsor or mentor term is not listed on the My Sponsorship History page, please contact the Club Quality and Member Support Team at newclubs@toastmasters.org with information about the club you served, and we may be able to add it to your profile. Please include a copy of your certificate if it is available.

Yes. Toastmasters International will file a request for an EIN for all clubs in the United States that meet in person or in a hybrid setting with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) upon chartering a new club. It typically takes six (6) weeks after the charter is completed for the IRS to issue the EIN. If you are an online-only club that requires an EIN, please send the request with a point of contact who resides in the United States to the Finance Team at taxquestions@toastmasters.org.

After a club vote, any club officer can change the club’s name on the Addendum of Standard Club Options page of Club Central. An officer of an existing club can also email the information to the Club Quality and Member Support Team at clubquality@toastmasters.org or fax it to +1 303-799-7753. A prospective club can email newclubs@toastmasters.org.

Please note: A club name change is an addendum change that 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 on the Toastmasters Online Store. For additional information on ordering, contact the Club Quality and Member Support Team at supplyorders@toastmasters.org.

Charter member certificates can be corrected and resent via email. Please email the request with the corrected information to the Club Quality and Member Support Team at newclubs@toastmasters.org.

No. Clubs must maintain at least three (3) renewing members each term to remain in good standing and avoid suspension and closure. Please see the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Toastmasters International, Section 4 for more information.

If your prospective club will no longer be chartered, please take the following steps:

• Settle any outstanding debts or obligations using the club’s available funds.
• Distribute any remaining funds or assets in one of the following ways:
  • Donate to the Smedley Memorial Fund maintained by Toastmasters International.
  • Contribute to another Toastmasters club or Toastmasters District.
• Email the Club Quality and Member Support Team at newclubs@toastmasters.org that the prospective club is no longer active.

The decision on how to distribute remaining funds should be made at the club’s discretion, in accordance with Article XI of the Club Constitution for Clubs of Toastmasters International.

A Gavel Club is a Toastmasters International-affiliated group of individuals who are not eligible for regular Toastmasters membership due to age restrictions (under 18) or other circumstances, such as incarceration. These clubs offer a supportive environment for developing public speaking and leadership skills, but do not have access to all Toastmasters benefits, such as participation in Area or District speech contests and certain educational awards. Gavel Clubs pay a minimal annual fee and are required to meet in person at a physical location. For more information, please review the Gavel Clubs FAQ page.

Advanced Toastmasters clubs are designed for experienced members who have achieved higher levels in the Toastmasters program, such as completing educational milestones or serving in leadership roles. These clubs focus on refining communication and leadership skills through experienced-level presentations and in-depth evaluations.

To charter, an advanced club must have at least 20 members who are either dual members with other clubs or 20 members who have achieved a measurable educational milestone within the program.

Non-comprehensive U.S. sanctions forbid Toastmasters International from engaging in any business or activity with Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) or Blocked Persons. Clubs are responsible for checking the SDN and Blocked Persons lists to ensure that no one on these lists is accepted as a member. More information and the list of SDNs and Blocked Persons is available at http://www.treas.gov/ofac under the Resources section.