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Trust for the Americas

EIN 52-2123899 · Washington, DC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE TRUST FOR THE AMERICAS IS TO BECOME THE PRE-EMINENT CAPACITY BUILDING ORGANIZATION FOR CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, BOTH FOR INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS, BY PROMOTING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE AMERICAS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND NON-PROFIT SECTOR.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
3
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$265,690, ceo

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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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 49% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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. $933,803 spent. THE DIA (DEMOCRATIZING INNOVATION IN THE AMERICAS) PROGRAM EMPOWERS AND INSPIRES INNOVATORS, ENTREPRENEURS, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GOOD GOVERNANCE. THROUGH ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, SPECIALIZED CURRICULA, COLLABORATION SPACES, AND MENTORSHIP, DIA EQUIPS PARTICIPANTS WITH THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO DRIVE POSITIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE. THE PROGRAM IS ACTIVE IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES, INCLUDING BELIZE, JAMAICA, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. SINCE 2016, DIA HAS POSITIVELY IMPACTED OVER 14,000 INDIVIDUALS, WITH 1,706 PARTICIPANTS DEVELOPING INNOVATION PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT THEIR COMMUNITIES AND 443 RECEIVING FUNDING TO START OR STRENGTHEN THEIR VENTURES.
  2. $1.9 million spent. THE POETA (PARTNERSHIPS FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY IN THE AMERICAS) PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PROVIDING DIGITAL, TECHNICAL, AND LIFE SKILLS TO INDIVIDUALS, ENABLING THEM TO ACCESS ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROGRAM PROMOTES SOCIOECONOMIC INCLUSION BY OFFERING TRAINING IN VARIOUS DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING DIGITAL LITERACY, FINANCE, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SUPPORTED BY TECHNOLOGY. POETA OPERATES IN 20 COUNTRIES ACROSS THE AMERICAS IT HELPS THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS SECURE JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, OR START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES, CONTRIBUTING TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL INCLUSION OF MARGINALIZED GROUPS. FROM 2019 TO 2023 POETA HAS DIRECTLY TRAINED 136,675 PARTICIPANTS.
  3. $300,725 spent. DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE, AND HUMAN RIGHTS (DGHR) - THIS UNIT FOCUSES ON STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS BY USING A PARTICIPATORY APPROACH THAT INVOLVES TRAINING NON-PROFITS, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, AND MEDIA IN MOBILIZATION, ADVOCACY, AND COALITION-BUILDING TECHNIQUES. IT ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH VULNERABLE GROUPS, SUCH AS AFRO-DESCENDANTS, WOMEN, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, YOUTH, AND THOSE IMPACTED BY CONFLICT, TO EDUCATE THEM ON THEIR RIGHTS AND HOW TO EXERCISE AND DEMAND COMPLIANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE DGHR UNIT PROVIDES TRAINING TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, JUDICIARY MEMBERS, AND CONGRESSPEOPLE ACROSS THE AMERICAS ON HUMAN RIGHTS, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AND OPEN GOVERNANCE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.