The Karen Organization of Minnesota
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO BUILD ON THE STRENGTHS OF REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND REMOVE BARRIERS TO ACHIEVING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL WELLBEING.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $4.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 80%
- Employees
- 71
- Volunteers
- 49
- Highest pay
- $97,754, co-executive director
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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $1.3 million spent. HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICESKOM OFFERS AN ARRAY OF SERVICES TO HELP REFUGEES ACCESS RESOURCES AND EDUCATION THAT IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. IN 2024, KOM PROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT FOR OVER 675 ADULTS TO ADDRESS NEEDS INCLUDING: PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACCESS, MNSURE NAVIGATION, HOUSING SUPPORT, IMMIGRATION SERVICES, AND SERVICES TO ELDERS. KOM'S YOUTH CASE MANAGER PROVIDED WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR 76 KAREN YOUTH WITH SUBSTANCE USE AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. KOM PROVIDED COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION TO KAREN ADULTS AND YOUTH ON TOPICS INCLUDING SUBSTANCE USE, MENTAL HEALTH, PARENTING SKILLS, AND FAMILY PLANNING METHODS. FINALLY, KOM STAFF HELD OVER 1,600 WALK-IN/ON-CALL APPOINTMENTS TO ASSIST CLIENTS WITH URGENT AND COMPLEX NEEDS OUTSIDE OF AVAILABLE PROGRAMS.
- $1.3 million spent. EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS KOM PROVIDES WORKFORCE READINESS SKILLS, JOB PLACEMENT, AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO ABOUT 300 PEOPLE PER YEAR. IN 2024, 63 ADULTS COMPLETED CREDENTIALED TRAINING IN HUMAN SERVICES, INTERPRETING, COMMERCIAL DRIVING, AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES. KOM PLACED 142 ADULTS IN JOBS AND PROVIDED WORKFORCE READINESS TRAINING AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO IMPROVE JOB RETENTION. 81 PEOPLE RECEIVED SUPPORT THROUGH FINANCIAL WORKSHOPS AND COACHING TO INCREASE THEIR HOUSEHOLD'S NET INCOME AND ACCESS FINANCIAL SERVICES.
- $1.2 million spent. YOUTH SERVICESKOM PARTNERS WITH THE MINNESOETA REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT NETWORK TO OFFER ACADEMIC AND CAREER COACHING FOR ABOUT 50 REFUGEE YOUTH IN GRADES K-12. KOM ALSO LEADS AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING, SOCIOEMOTIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, AND VOLUNTEER MENTORSHIP FOR ABOUT 75 KAREN/KARENNI YOUTH IN GRADES 6-12 ST. PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. DURING THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR, 92% OF STUDENTS IN KOM'S AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS REPORTED INCREASES IN THEIR ABILITY TO OVERCOME PROBLEMS, MANAGE STRESS, BUILD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, UNDERSTAND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, AND USE LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
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
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.
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.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.