Institute of the Americas
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To be a catalyst for promoting economic development and integration, emphasizing the role of the private sector, as a means to improve the economic and social well-being of the people of the Americas.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 26.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 52%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 24
- Highest pay
- $308,115, president & 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
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 26.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $671,037 spent. Environment & Climate Change (EC2) Program: IOAs EC2 program strives to catalyze climate leadership amongst the private sector and local/regional governments in the Americas to promote sustainable growth, tackle climate change and minimize environmental impacts in the region with the goal of protecting its rich marine and land-based natural capital. IOA partnered with ICELI-USA and Resilient Cities Catalyst (RCC) to support the U.S. State Departments subnational initiative, Cities Forward, through the organization of a Western Hemispheric Dialogue on Climate Adaptation and Resilience held in Sao Paulo, Brazil in June 2024 attended by 12 municipalities from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). IOA also organized the first Binational Forum on Sustainable Maritime Transport and Ports in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico in February 2024 attended by a multistakeholder group from Mexico, the U.S, other LAC countries and subject matter experts from Brazil and the European Union. In 2024, IOA organized its 2d annual Un Dia Por Los Mares event in Mexico City to promote marine protected areas in Mexico and the broader Eastern Tropical Pacific. To promote expanded science diplomacy in Latin America, IOAs Gulf of California Marine Programs Data Mares initiative also participated in the 6th International Book Fair, FILUNI, hosted by UNAM in Mexico City.
- $541,715 spent. Energy & Sustainability Program: With the climate imperative and increased importance of energy security, the Energy & Sustainability Program continues to serve as a crucial platform for thought-leadership. At the core of our mission, we seek to foster a deeper understanding of the Western Hemispheres most critical energy and sustainability issues. In 2024, we convened our 5th annual Madrid Energy Conference; organized energy roundtable with industry leaders and government in Argentina and Brazil; and held the 33rd annual La Jolla Energy Conference in October 2024. IOA also continued to host myriad webinars and virtual discussions including periodic meetings and briefings with our Steering Committee and Non-Resident fellows. In 2024, IOA completed work on a decarbonization in Latin America that was published and continued to support energy literacy with civic leaders in Mexico through its Energy Ambassadors Program in the states of Baja California and Sonora.
- $140,377 spent. Economic Competitiveness Program: In 2024, the Institute of the Americas (IOA) Economic Competitiveness program advanced key initiatives to strengthen North American economic integration, with a focus on the San Diego-Baja California regions potential in nearshoring. In April, IOA and the Burnham Center released Seizing CaliBajas Nearshoring Opportunity: A Binational Call for Action, presenting strategies to boost U.S.-Mexico trade and supply chain security. This report, which attracted nearly 200 cross-border stakeholders, underscored the potential for increased nearshoring related investment in Baja California that could boost exports to the U.S. but also highlighted the necessary pre-conditions that would be required for this investment to occur. With support from the Burnham Foundation and California GO-Biz, IOA and the Burnham Center also hosted a forum on the generic and biosimilar manufacturing potential for the CaliBaja region where Representative Scott Peters emphasized the region's role in stabilizing essential medicine supplies. IOA, in partnership with UC San Diegos School of Global Policy & Strategy, serves as the U.S. Co-Coordinator for the North American Forum (NAF). In 2024, the NAF convened thought leaders from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada in Ottawa in late November with discussions focused on the future of North American economic integration and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the implications of recent elections in the U.S. and Mexico.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.