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Hmong Cultural Center of Minnesota

EIN 41-1752391 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To promote the personal development of children, youth, adults through education while providing resources that enhance cross cultural awareness and understanding between Hmong and non-Hmong

Income
$473,063
Spending
$499,495
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 65%
Employees
12
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$49,500, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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, 2025, 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. $220,203 spent. Adult Basic Education programs. They include English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes, Occupational English Classes Our Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs served 193 students in 2025. This included 19,419 hours of instruction Some students enroll in both ESL and Citizenship classes. We served many Hmong newcomers from Vietnam and Laos over the course of the year as well as other immigrants and refugees from throughout the world. Our Citizenship program is one of the largest Citizenship programs in the Twin Cities metro and provides important help to assist students to improve their English and study American Civics so that they can pass the U.S. Naturalization exam.
  2. $136,816 spent. Resource Center and Museum for local and national use. The collections of the Hmong Resource Center library include more than 800 Hmong-related books, 400 Hmong-related theses and dissertations, 1000 Hmong-related academic journal articless and over 3,500 Hmong-related newspaper articles. The library also hosts a growing virtual library collection on the internet (www.hmonglibrary.org). The Hmong Cultural Center Museum provides a growing selection of interactive exhibits and interpretive materials that teach visitors about Hmong culture and history with an emphasis on the experiences of Hmong Minnesotans and the rich Hmong folk arts tradition In early 2025, the number of visitors were 1,411 and online visitors totalled 1,787
  3. $67,982 spent. Cultural programs. Hmong Wedding and Funeral Songs Program - This 28 year old program teaches adults and youth traditional orally recited songs and procedures associated with MeejKoob (the traditional Hmong Marriage Ceremony) and Kev PamTuag Qeej Musical Instrument Program - The popular afterschool Qeej classes teach students in the art of the Qeej - a traditional instrument with students served with instruction in the Hmong Qeej instrument and Qeej songs played in the tradi-tional Hmong funeral ceremony Wedding and Funeral Songs Program 50 students served with instruction in traditional Hmong Wedding and Funeral Songs More than 2,000 persons attended a day-long celebration of the Qeej instrument and Hmong music and arts and crafts vendors, showcasing Hmong Cultural Centers heritage as the primary Hmong folk arts organization in Minnesota.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 March 1994.

    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.