IRMA is an international not-for-profit, non-governmental organization sustained by contributions from our members and donors. Their support makes possible our work to define responsible mining, and encourage its adoption by making it more valuable in the marketplace through transparent and independent assessments.
Transparency and Accountability are Necessary for Responsibility
IRMA arose from a joint effort to define responsible mining by labor unions, community groups, NGOs, mining companies, the finance sector, and purchasers of mined materials. Our efforts to improve transparency and accountability in the mining sector are mirrored by our own commitment to these values. We publish organizational financial data when it becomes available, and as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization based in the United States, we follow U.S. Internal Revenue Service public disclosure regulations. Further information can be found on IRMA’s latest form 990 and profile on Candid (Guidestar).
How is IRMA Funded?
We receive funding from the following sources:
- Philanthropy and governments: Funding from foundations and governments constitute two-thirds of IRMA’s revenue, and their support is key for the participation of the affected communities, labor, and NGO sectors in IRMA.
- Membership contributions: Our members support IRMA’s mission and activities by contributing according to a sliding scale of dues. Members from the affected communities, NGOs, and labor sectors are not assessed dues.
- Corporate support: In addition to dues, IRMA receives contributions in support of IRMA’s mission and operations, and to drive dedicated initiatives such as ensuring community members have a meaningful voice in mine audits.
- Program revenues: Revenues generated by our programs directly relate to IRMA’s mission and are intended to offset administrative costs. These include:
- An annual administration fee for mining companies participating in independent assessments.
- A fee ($2,500) for each self-assessment on the IRMA Mine Measure Tool, after a mining company’s first use. The first self-assessment is free of charge.
- An annual participation fee and training fees for independent third-party auditors.
We are sometimes asked whether IRMA is funded by IRMA assessments. Independent assessments are conducted by third-party independent audit firms – an important aspect of the credibility of IRMA’s assurance system, and consistent with international codes of best practice. The cost for conducting IRMA audits is therefore paid directly to audit firms, while IRMA assesses a nominal administration fee to offset administrative program costs. This fee is calculated on a sliding scale, and the fee schedule may be accessed here. For more information about our assessment process, see the Assessment section.
Thank you to our generous FY 2024 funders
- Waverley Street Foundation
- USAID / JET Minerals Challenge
- Tortuga Foundation
- Open Society Foundations
- Microsoft Corporation
- ISEAL Innovations Fund
- GIZ-MinSus
- Ford Foundation
- ClimateWorks Foundation
- Anglo American
- 11th Hour Project / Schmidt Family Foundation
Forms 990
How Contributions to IRMA Make a Difference
IRMA is not a trade association. It is a mission-driven non-profit organization.
IRMA creates and oversees the only transparent, comprehensive process for assessing individual mines’ performance against an independent best-practice standard, and for measuring their subsequent progress in reducing social and environmental harm.
Six houses equally govern IRMA through their service on our Board of Directors: miners, purchasers, finance, NGOs, affected communities, and labour unions. All six of those houses have two seats each on our governing board, and each seat has one vote. All houses have veto authority: if there are two no votes from the same house, a decision is blocked.
If you have any questions about IRMA’s funding or are interested in supporting IRMA’s work, please reach out to us.
