The Institute of the Americas (IOA) was founded in 1981 as an environmental and development nonprofit. The organization conducts “programs, develops policy papers and organizes conferences, roundtable discussions, and webinars” with a focus on energy, climate change, and economic competitiveness. ¹

Programs

The Institute of the Americas runs several educational programs concerning climate change and non-traditional energy production. ^{2 3 4}

The Future Energy Leaders program is a youth-focused initiative designed to “connect students and young professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean with energy and climate experts” in an educational setting. It involves virtual workshops, mentorship, and sessions on energy transition and sustainability policy. ⁵

The Energy Ambassadors program is an educational initiative intended to promote “energy literacy among youth” in Latin America and the Caribbean. It targets high school and early university students and offers a curriculum that includes webinars, presentations, and regional energy policy briefings. ⁶

The Environment and Climate Change program is focused on decarbonization, urban resilience, “sustainable growth,” and tackling climate change across Latin America and the Caribbean. ⁷

The Cities Forward Initiative, developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of State and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI USA), supports Latin American cities through partnerships with U.S. cities to promote sustainable urban development, climate adaptation, and resilience. The ICLEI states that the initiative aims to “advance sustainable urban development, climate action, and equity.” ⁸

The Las Californias Blue Carbon Initiative is a binational conservation program led by the Institute of the Americas that focuses on preserving blue carbon ecosystems across coastal Southern California and the Mexican state of Baja California; it is recognized in official Mexican government records for its climate mitigation potential and cross-border collaboration. ^{9 10}

The Sustainable Shipping program focuses on analyzing maritime environmental impacts, particularly from scrubber wash water discharges, and promotes regulatory strategies to reduce ocean pollution caused by commercial vessels. ¹¹

The Economic Competitiveness program promotes regional trade, investment, and economic cooperation across the Americas, with a focus on California’s ties to Mexico, Canada, and South America. It includes partnerships with University of California San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy and supports initiatives like the North American Forum and the Commission of the Californias. ¹²

The North American Forum (NAF) is a trinational initiative supported by the Institute of the Americas that aims to influence policy alignment among the United States, Mexico, and Canada on issues including climate policy, and defense collaboration. ¹³

Financials

In 2023, the Institute of the Americas reported $2,193,407 in revenues and $2,049,734 in expenses with $14,565,172 in total assets and 8 employees. From the fiscal years of 2022 to 2023, Institute of the Americas saw a 48 percent rise in total revenues. ¹⁴

In 2024, the Institute of the Americas received a $90,000 grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and another grant of $200,000 in 2022. Both grants were to “improve fisheries management, habitat and species conservation, and resource sustainability.” ¹⁵

In 2023, the Institute of the Americas received a $75,000 grant from the Burnham Foundation to fund the “cross border steam lab.” ¹⁶

People

As of 2025, Richard Kiy was the president and CEO of the Institute of the Americas. He has held these positions since 2020. He previously worked as general partner with Alumbra Advisors and as president and CEO of the International Community Foundation (ICF). ¹⁷

Cecilia Aguillon, a non-resident fellow at IOA, worked in its Energy Transition Initiative, a past program of the IOA. Aguillon is also president of the board of the San Diego Climate Defenders Action Fund. ^{18 19}

1. Institute of the Americas. IOA Fact Sheet 2023 V2.4.1. February 2024. https://iamericas.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IOA-fact-sheet-2023-V2-4-1.pdf.
2. “Energy & Sustainability Program.” Institute of the Americas. Accessed May 10, 2025. https://iamericas.org/programs-energy-sustainability/.
3. “Environment & Climate Change Program.” Institute of the Americas. Accessed May 10, 2025. https://iamericas.org/environment-climate-change/.
4. “Economic Competitiveness Program.” Institute of the Americas. Accessed May 10, 2025. https://iamericas.org/programs-economic-competitiveness./
5. Institute of the Americas. “Future Energy Leaders.” Accessed April 30, 2025. https://iamericas.org/future-energy-leaders/.
6. Institute of the Americas. “Energy Ambassadors.” Accessed April 30, 2025. https://iamericas.org/energy-ambassadors/.
7. Institute of the Americas. “Environment & Climate Change.” Accessed April 30, 2025. https://iamericas.org/environment-climate-change/.
8. ICLEI USA. “Cities Forward.” Accessed April 30, 2025. https://icleiusa.org/cities-forward/.
9. ^[1] Cámara de Diputados. Gaceta Parlamentaria, March 19, 2025. https://gaceta.diputados.gob.mx/Gaceta/66/2025/mar/20250319-II-1.html.
10. Institute of the Americas. “Las Californias Blue Carbon Initiative.” Accessed April 30, 2025. https://iamericas.org/bluecarboninitiative/.
11. Institute of the Americas. “Sustainable Shipping.” Accessed April 30, 2025. https://iamericas.org/sustainable-shipping/.
12. Institute of the Americas. “Economic Competitiveness Program.” Accessed April 30, 2025. https://iamericas.org/programs-economic-competitiveness/.
13. Institute of the Americas. “North American Forum.” Accessed April 30, 2025. https://iamericas.org/northamerican-forum/.
14. ProPublica. “Institute of the Americas.” Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/953671557.
15. David and Lucile Packard Foundation. “Institute of the Americas.” Accessed April 30, 2025. https://www.packard.org/grantee/institute-of-the-americas/.
16. Burnham Foundation. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2023. Part 14.
17. Institute of the Americas. “Our Team.” Accessed April 30, 2025. https://iamericas.org/our-team/.
18. Aguillón, Cecilia. LinkedIn profile. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilia-aguillon-66761110/.
19. Institute of the Americas. “Non-Resident Fellows.” Accessed April 30, 2025. https://iamericas.org/non-resident-fellows/.