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Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota

EIN 36-3532232 · Saint Paul, MN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1987, VSS IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING MINNESOTA'S REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS, WITH A FOCUS ON THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY. VSS PROVIDES A RANGE OF SERVICES TO SUPPORT REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS AS THEY TRANSITION TO LIFE IN THE U.S., ADDRESSING THEIR UNIQUE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND HEALTH NEEDS. SERVING DIVERSE GROUPS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS FROM VIETNAM, SOMALIA, AND MYANMAR (KAREN), VSS FOSTERS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PROMOTES CULTURAL IDENTITY WHILE HELPING FAMILIES ACHIEVE STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

Income
$961,880
Spending
$829,897
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
12.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 80%
Employees
16
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$132,040, executive of

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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. $358,671 spent. HEALTH PROGRAM THE HEALTH PROGRAM ADDRESSES SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, FOCUSING ON HEALTHCARE ACCESS, ECONOMIC STABILITY, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT. VSS HELPS CLIENTS OVERCOME LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL BARRIERS, WHILE OFFERING CRITICAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND SERVICES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, VSS ALSO SUPPORTED COVID-19 TESTING, VACCINATION, AND PPE DISTRIBUTION. KEY FEATURES: -HEALTHCARE ACCESS & EDUCATION -COVID-19 RESPONSE -EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT & VOCATIONAL TRAINING -SOCIAL & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT -HEALTH LITERACY AND HOUSING SUPPORT HEALTH PROGRAM THE HEALTH PROGRAM ADDRESSES SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, FOCUSING ON HEALTHCARE ACCESS, ECONOMIC STABILITY, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT. VSS HELPS CLIENTS OVERCOME LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL BARRIERS, WHILE OFFERING CRITICAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND SERVICES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, VSS ALSO SUPPORTED COVID-19 TESTING, VACCINATION, AND PPE DISTRIBUTION. KEY FEATURES: -HEALTHCARE ACCESS & EDUCATION -COVID-19 RESPONSE -EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT & VOCATIONAL TRAINING -SOCIAL & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT -HEALTH LITERACY AND HOUSING SUPPORT
  2. $259,841 spent. ADULT BASIC EDUCATION (ABE) PROGRAM THE ABE PROGRAM HELPS REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS IMPROVE ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS AND ENGAGE IN CIVIC LIFE. IT INCLUDES ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER (ELL) CLASSES AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING, PROMOTING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND JOB READINESS. IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, VSS TRANSITIONED TO VIRTUAL CLASSES TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING STUDENTS. KEY FEATURES: -ESL CLASSES FOR WORK AND DAILY LIFE -VIRTUAL LEARNING SUPPORT -VOTER REGISTRATION & LEADERSHIP TRAINING -JOB-READINESS SKILLS
  3. $64,158 spent. ELDERS PROGRAM THE ELDERS PROGRAM IMPROVES THE WELL-BEING OF REFUGEE SENIORS BY OFFERING SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROGRAM HELPS REDUCE ISOLATION AND PROVIDES ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, AND FINANCIAL AID THROUGH BILINGUAL STAFF. KEY FEATURES: -SOCIAL & RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES -LANGUAGE & CULTURAL SUPPORT -HEALTH EDUCATION AND RESOURCES -EXPANDED FOOD SERVICES, INCLUDING FRESH PRODUCE

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

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1987.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 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.