International Geothermal Association: Grantee Spotlight

Grantee spotlight: International Geothermal Association

The Giving Green Fund plans to award a grant to the International Geothermal Association (IGA) for its policy and regulation fora and strategic communications. Based in the Netherlands, IGA is a nonprofit organization that encourages and coordinates research, development, and utilization of geothermal resources globally.

IGA’s work falls within our philanthropic strategy of unleashing clean energy. Please see Giving Green’s strategy report for more information, including recommended sub-strategies, theory of change, and key uncertainties.

Last updated: October 2025

What is IGA?

Founded in 1988, IGA is a nonprofit organization that coordinates and encourages research, development, and utilization of geothermal resources globally. It was founded in New Zealand and will be changing its headquarters from Germany to the Netherlands in 2026. It publishes scientific and technical information and disseminates this knowledge across its membership base, which includes geothermal specialists, industry, government, UN organizations, civil society, and the general public.

What are we funding, and how could it help address climate change?

We are funding an initiative by IGA primarily to run two high-impact Policy & Regulation Fora in the EU. These fora are designed to accelerate progress on geothermal energy, a clean and reliable source of renewable energy that can play a critical role in reducing global emissions.

Each forum will act as a policy acceleration lab, bringing together key decision-makers to overcome barriers such as permitting delays, unclear incentives, and inconsistent regulations. The goal is to create clearer, faster, and more supportive environments for geothermal projects. Outcomes will include policy briefs, shared commitments, and contributions to global geothermal standards.

In addition to using Giving Green funding on its policy fora, IGA will use this funding to socialize its findings, improve its strategic communications, and support new hires.

While IGA’s work in the EU is outside of our domestic focus in our unleashing clean energy in the U.S. report, we view IGA as an important player in expanding geothermal energy globally, and it therefore fits under the sub-strategy of expanding access to clean firm power.

Why do we think IGA will use this funding well?

We believe IGA will use this funding well because it has been a leading global voice for geothermal energy for over 40 years, representing professionals and organizations in more than 70 countries. We think its broad network gives it strong convening power and a unique ability to influence policy across borders. IGA’s track record—including its World Geothermal Congress and regional workshops on regulation and finance—shows it has the expertise and reach to make its policy fora impactful and complementary to its existing work.

Giving Green believes that additional climate donations are likely to be most impactful when directed to our top nonprofits. For several reasons, we may choose to recommend grants to other organizations for work that we believe is at least as impactful as grants to our top recommendations. We are highlighting this grant to offer transparency to donors to the Giving Green Fund, as well as to provide a resource for donors who are particularly interested in this impact strategy. This is a nonpartisan analysis (study or research) and is provided for educational purposes.

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