10/28/2026
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is funded primarily through contributions from its Member States and other donors. IOM's funding model is different from that of some other United Nations organizations because a large part of its operational activities are financed through voluntary, often earmarked contributions for specific projects and programmes.
IOM is the leading intergovernmental organization working on migration and is now part of the United Nations system. It operates in more than 170 countries and territories and works with governments, UN agencies, international organizations and other partners.
IOM receives funding from a broad range of sources.
These include:
National governments
European Union institutions
UN entities
International financial institutions
Other intergovernmental organizations
Foundations
Private-sector organizations
Other institutional donors
Governments are particularly important because IOM's programmes frequently support national migration-management and humanitarian priorities.
For example, IOM's 2023 funding information shows substantial contributions from the United States, Denmark, Norway, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands and other governments.
IOM is part of the UN system, but it does not simply receive its entire budget from the regular UN budget.
IOM has its own membership, governing structure and financial arrangements.
Its Constitution provides the framework for the organization's finance, membership and operations. IOM became a member of the United Nations system through an agreement signed with the UN in 2016.
IOM's funding can broadly be divided into assessed contributions and voluntary contributions.
Assessed contributions are mandatory contributions from IOM Member States and primarily support the organization's Administrative Part of the Budget.
Voluntary contributions finance much of IOM's operational work.
According to IOM's financial reporting, earmarked voluntary contributions accounted for approximately 92% of revenues in the cited financial reporting period, while assessed contributions financed the Administrative Part of the Budget.
This means that a large proportion of IOM's work is directly connected to donor-funded programmes.
Donors support IOM because migration is connected to many international policy areas.
IOM programmes can involve:
Refugee and migrant assistance
Humanitarian response
Emergency shelter
Migration health
Labour migration
Border management
Return and reintegration
Disaster response
Climate-related mobility
Anti-trafficking programmes
Migrant protection
Migration data and research
In 2025, IOM reported assisting 17.8 million people across 170 countries and territories, including through humanitarian assistance, protection, displacement solutions and regular migration pathways.
The United States has historically been one of IOM's largest contributors. Other major donors include European governments and the European Union.
However, the ranking of donors can change from year to year depending on humanitarian emergencies and programme funding.
For example, the Netherlands announced a new EUR 16 million unearmarked contribution over four years in May 2026, demonstrating the continuing importance of flexible government funding.
IOM relies heavily on external funding for its operational programmes.
This is why donor commitments are important to its ability to respond to humanitarian emergencies and implement migration-related programmes.
IOM also has mechanisms such as the IOM Development Fund, which provides seed funding to eligible developing Member States for migration-management capacity-building projects. In 2026, the fund reported an annual budget of USD 15 million.
IOM is funded mainly by Member States and other institutional donors through assessed and voluntary contributions. Voluntary contributions—particularly earmarked project funding—make up the majority of IOM's revenue. Major donors include the United States, European governments and the European Union, although the exact funding structure changes each year.
IOM – Official Website
IOM – Annual Report 2025
IOM – Constitution and Basic Texts
Wikipedia – International Organization for Migration
Unchannel - 10/28/2026