The Optimist International Foundation was organized in 1971 to allow tax
deductible contributions to be made for the purpose of providing support to
the charitable, literary, or educational purposes of Optimist International.

The fund-raising arm of the Optimist Club of Chapel Hill is called the Optimist
Foundation of Chapel Hill. It is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt,
charitable foundation, allowing for tax-deductible donations.