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International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

EIN 23-7185633 · Alexandria, VA

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AFRICA HAS COMPLEX PROBLEMS THAT PLAGUE AGRICULTURE AND PEOPLE'S LIVES. WE DEVELOP AGRICULTURAL SOLUTIONS WITH OUR PARTNERS TO TACKLE HUNGER AND POVERTY. OUR AWARD WINNING RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT (R4D) IS BASED ON FOCUSED, AUTHORITATIVE THINKING ANCHORED ON THE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. WE WORK WITH PARTNERS IN AFRICA AND BEYOND TO REDUCE PRODUCER AND CONSUMER RISKS, ENHANCE CROP QUALITY AND PRODUCTIVITY, AND GENERATE WEALTH FROM AGRICULTURE. IITA IS AN INTERNATIONAL NON-PROFIT R4D ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN 1967, GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND SUPPORTED PRIMARILY BY THE CGIAR.

Income
$115.1 million
Spending
$114.2 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
-2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 62%
Employees
1,822
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$418,000, director gen'l/regional dir/board member

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 65% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $109.6 million spent. RESEARCH - RESEARCH PROGRAMS COVER EXPENSES ON RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. RESEARCH SUPPORT PROGRAMS INCLUDE GENERIC RESOURCE AND BIOMETRICS UNITS, FARM OPERATIONS, PLANT GROWTH FACILITIES, POST-HARVEST ENGINEERING, ANALYTICAL LABORATORY, AND RESEARCH MANAGEMENT.
  2. $4.2 million spent. TRAINING - INCLUDES TRAINING OFFICES, FELLOWSHIPS, WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, ALLOWANCES TO TRAINEES, AND TRAINING-RELATED TRAVEL.
  3. $316,000 spent. INFORMATION SERVICES - COVERS THE COSTS OF PUBLICATION OF ANNUAL REPORTS AND TECHNICAL BULLETINS, TRANSLATION AND PRINTING OF VARIOUS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACTIVITIES, AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SERVICE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.

    The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(3) charitable organization as not deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1972.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.