Skip to the page content
Your donations
Check before you give

International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

EIN 98-0036445 · Austria

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

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak46 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED SYSTEMS ANALYSIS' (IIASA OR THE INSTITUTE) MISSION IS TO PROVIDE INSIGHT AND GUIDANCE TO POLICYMAKERS WORLDWIDE BY FINDING SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL AND UNIVERSAL PROBLEMS THROUGH APPLIED SYSTEMS ANALYSIS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE HUMAN AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING AND TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$31.4 million
Spending
$33.8 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 66%
Employees
407
Volunteers
39
Highest pay
$393,598, deputy director general (end 06/24)

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: 46 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 75% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% 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

Good: 82 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 (4)
  1. $14.2 million spent. SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATIONS FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE (BNR, ECE)THE BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL RESOURCES PROGRAM BRINGS TOGETHER DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF LAND AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS INCLUDING AGRICULTURE, FORESTS, AND FISHERIES WITH WATER AND THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT TO INFORM GLOBAL AND REGIONAL POLICY ASSESSMENTS AND PROVIDE ROBUST SCIENCE-BASED KNOWLEDGE AND FORESIGHT.THE ENERGY, CLIMATE, AND ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES EVIDENCE-BASED, SCIENTIFIC ROADMAPS FOR FEASIBLE SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATIONS THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY MEET THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND AMBITIOUS CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TARGETS. THE PROGRAM'S SYSTEMS ANALYTICAL TOOLS ENABLE IT TO ACT AS AN OBJECTIVE SCIENTIFIC BROKER IN SUPPORT OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATIONAL PROCESSES.
  2. $6.4 million spent. SYSTEMS SCIENCE AND CO-CREATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (SI, ASA)THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES PROGRAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE IIASA REGIONAL AND NATIONAL MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC RESEARCH INTERESTS AND NEEDS, AND LEVERAGE THE INSTITUTE'S MULTIDISCIPLINARY EXPERTISE TO BREAK NEW GROUND IN SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS WHILE ESTABLISHING AND BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS. THE AIM IS TO ENSURE THAT IIASA EXPERTISE IS FULLY ENGAGED WITH GLOBAL ISSUES AND CAPTURES THE FULL COMPLEXITY OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE, WHILE INCREASING THE CO-DESIGN OF RESEARCH WITH STAKEHOLDERS.THE ADVANCING SYSTEMS ANALYSIS PROGRAM DEVELOPS NEW SYSTEMS AND TOOLS TO INFUSE SYSTEMS SCIENCE INTO POLICY AND DECISION MAKING FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. IT ALSO ENDEAVORS TO FILL DATA GAPS, SUCH AS THOSE RELATED TO MONITORING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, BY IMPROVED EARTH OBSERVATION TECHNOLOGIES, CITIZEN SCIENCE, AND NOVEL DATA SOURCES.
  3. $3.0 million spent. ECONOMICS, EQUITY, AND JUSTICE FOR HUMAN WELL-BEING (POPJUS, EF)THE POPULATION AND JUST SOCIETIES PROGRAM FOCUSES ON GAINING INSIGHTS INTO CURRENT AND FUTURE POPULATION SIZES, STRUCTURES, AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO ADVANCE EQUITY, JUSTICE, AND HUMAN WELL-BEING. THE PROGRAM'S RESEARCH ACTIVITIES HAVE AN INCLUSIVE, PARTICIPATORY APPROACH, ENGAGING WITH STAKEHOLDERS AROUND THE WORLD TO FACILITATE THE CO-DESIGN OF A JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY THAT ALSO TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE HEALTH OF THE PLANET.THE ECONOMIC FRONTIERS PROGRAM ASPIRES TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE AND RIGOROUS FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING THE BEHAVIORAL CHANGES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSFORMATIONS AND WHAT POLICIES AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS ARE NEEDED TO BRING ABOUT THE REQUIRED INCENTIVES.
  4. $526,742 spent. (CDAT, ESP)

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? 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 September 7, 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 June 1979.

    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.