Nonprofit · EIN 82-1542836
PROJECT OPTIMISM
Tax-exempt · SIGNAL HILL, CA 90755
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $1,573,040 | $1,634,354 | -$61,314 | $669,413 | $101,894 | $567,519 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $1,513,651 | $1,127,724 | $385,927 | $609,565 | $29,908 | $579,657 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $346,512 | $422,301 | -$75,789 | $203,560 | $15,250 | $188,310 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $1,572,758
- of which government grants
- $1,410,516
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $282
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $174,602
- Other salaries and wages
- $836,969
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,200,962
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $900
- Accounting fees
- $30,412
- Occupancy
- $44,517
- Travel
- $25,479
- Program services (functional)
- $1,241,143
- Management and general (functional)
- $393,211
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $609,565
- Total assets, end of year
- $669,413
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $101,894
- Net assets, end of year
- $567,519
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $53,821
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $517,352
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $50,167
- Gross receipts
- $1,573,040
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 7
- Year formed
- 2017
- State of legal domicile
- CA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ishmael Pruitt | CEO Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $89,800 |
| Armoni Easley | CEO Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $84,802 |
| Josef Gray | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Tanisha Patton | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Jade Rodgers | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Sarah Toutant | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Charles Reader | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Matthew Gray | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Keisha Peterson | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Shakira Gagnier | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Justin A Blakely | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jason Dorsainville | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Dawaun Lucas | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Siah Wilson Gaye | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 2 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ishmael Pruitt | CEO Trustee or director, Officer, Key employee, Highest-paid employee | 40 | $89,800 |
| Armoni Easley | Founder Trustee or director, Officer, Key employee | 40 | $84,802 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 2 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARMONI EASLEY | CEO Officer, Key employee, Highest-paid employee | 40 | $0 |
| ISHMAEL PRUITT | PRESIDENT Officer, Key employee, Highest-paid employee | 40 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1240 E 29TH ST STE 203, SIGNAL HILL, CA 90755-1824
- Mailing address (990-N for 2019)
- 2821 RIVER PLAZA DR Apt 28, SACRAMENTO CA 95833
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Ishmael Pruitt, 1240 E 29th Street 203, Signal Hill, CA 90755
- Principal officer (990-N for 2019)
- Armoni Easley, 2821 RIVER PLAZA DR Apt 28, SACRAMENTO CA 95833
- Signed the 990
- Ishmael Pruitt, CEO
- Phone
- (707) 761-1067
- Website
- projectoptimism.org
- Return prepared by
- Brett Bradbury CPA PC
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 82-1542836 or by the name PROJECT OPTIMISM.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
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.
Program accomplishments
- Project Optimism Mentoring Sessions (POMS) model is designed to align youth in the community with mentors who are representative of their identity. During the program, students are able to engage in activities, workshops, and be exposed to career/professionals, and receive scholarships. Through these efforts we expect students to develop socially, emotionally, decrease truancy and suspension and have a commitment to their educational journey.Expenses $1,241,143
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 82-1542836
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2017
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Community improvement and capacity building (S99)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $669,413
- Income (IRS master file)
- $1,573,040
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $1,573,040 | $1,634,354 | $669,413 | XML |
| 990 | June 2024 | $1,513,651 | $1,127,724 | $609,565 | XML |
| 990 | June 2023 | $346,512 | $422,301 | $203,560 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $764,922 | $992,402 | $2,321 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2019 Officer: Armoni Easley | December 31, 2019 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 82-1542836).
Questions about PROJECT OPTIMISM
- What is the EIN of PROJECT OPTIMISM?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of PROJECT OPTIMISM is 82-1542836.
- Is PROJECT OPTIMISM tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2017.
- Are donations to PROJECT OPTIMISM tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does PROJECT OPTIMISM file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of PROJECT OPTIMISM due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did PROJECT OPTIMISM last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of PROJECT OPTIMISM?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names Ishmael Pruitt.
- Who are the officers and directors of PROJECT OPTIMISM?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 14 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $89,800 (Ishmael Pruitt, CEO).
- How much revenue does PROJECT OPTIMISM have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,573,040, expenses of $1,634,354 and total assets of $669,413 at year end.
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All nonprofits in SIGNAL HILL · California · Community improvement and capacity building