International Institute of Metropolitan St Louis
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O.FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS HAS SERVED AS THE ST. LOUIS REGION'S HUB FOR IMMIGRANT SERVICES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. ITS MISSION IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES TO THRIVE IN ORDER TO CREATE A MORE WELCOMING, PROSPEROUS, AND HEALTHY REGION FOR ALL. ANNUALLY, MORE THAN 3,500 IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES FROM MORE THAN 80 COUNTRIES BENEFIT FROM ESSENTIAL INTEGRATIVE SERVICES FOCUSED ON CONNECTING NEW ARRIVALS WITH FIRST-TOUCH SERVICES AND RESOURCES, ENGAGING FOREIGN-BORN WITH THE WIDER COMMUNITY, AND BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. INSTITUTE STAFF ARE RECOGNIZED AUTHORITIES ABOUT REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION SERVICES. THEY SERVE ON DOZENS OF COMMITTEES, TASK FORCES AND BOARDS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.
- Income
- $41.3 million
- Spending
- $39.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 81%
- Employees
- 220
- Volunteers
- 728
- Highest pay
- $236,132, president and ceo (thru 12/24)
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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 69% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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 (5)
- $8.7 million spent. CASE MANAGEMENT & RESETTLEMENT - SEE SCHEDULE OCASE MANAGEMENT & RESETTLEMENT:REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT OCCURS OVER THE FIRST 90 DAYS AFTER A REFUGEE ARRIVES TO ST. LOUIS. REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SERVICES INCLUDE AIRPORT PICK-UP, PROVISION OF HOUSING AND FURNISHINGS ON ARRIVAL, FOOD, CLOTHING, AND TRANSPORTATION. IN ADDITION TO THESE BASIC NEEDS, WE PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT, CULTURAL ORIENTATION, LINKAGES FOR INITIAL HEALTH SCREENINGS, BENEFITS ENROLLMENT, SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND VARIOUS COMMUNITY REFERRALS. STAFF MEMBERS MEET REFUGEES AT THE AIRPORT, DELIVER THEM TO HOUSING RENTED FOR THEM, PROVIDE INITIAL HOME ORIENTATION, AND HELP THEM BEGIN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A NEW LIFE IN ST. LOUIS. DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF EACH REFUGEE FAMILY, SERVICES CAN INCLUDE REFERRALS TO REGISTRATION FOR ENGLISH CLASSES FOR ADULTS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, AND STATE AND FEDERAL BENEFITS APPLICATIONS. CLIENTS ARE ASSIGNED A CASE SPECIALIST OF SIMILAR LANGUAGE AND CULTURE WHEN AVAILABLE. IN 2024, A TOTAL OF 1,549 REFUGEES WERE SERVED, INCLUDING 432 AFGHANS, 288 CONGOLESE, AND 185 SYRIANS.THE LATINO OUTREACH INITIATIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ST. LOUIS SUPPORTED WORK-ELIGIBLE IMMIGRANTS RELOCATING TO THE ST. LOUIS REGION. THE PROGRAM OFFERS RELOCATION GUIDANCE, HOUSING RESOURCES, JOB SEARCH SUPPORT, AND EDUCATION REFERRALS, WHILE HELPING NEWCOMERS CONNECT WITH LOCAL NETWORKS AND SERVICES TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION. THE PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY TARGETING LATINO POPULATIONS TO HELP ADDRESS WORKFORCE NEEDS AND STRENGTHEN REGIONAL GROWTH. WITH A STRONG JOB MARKET, AFFORDABLE COST OF LIVING, AND HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE, THE LATINO OUTREACH INITIATIVE HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN ST. LOUIS.THE AFGHAN SUPPORT PROGRAM AT IISTL HELPS LEGALLY-PRESENT, WORK-ELIGIBLE AFGHAN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES RESETTLE IN ST. LOUIS, WITH A FOCUS ON SECONDARY MIGRANTS WHO WERE INITIALLY RESETTLED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND SEEKING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND STABILITY. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES HOUSING PLACEMENT, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND MOVE-IN SUPPORT, ALONG WITH ORIENTATIONS ON TENANT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROMOTE LONG-TERM STABILITY. FAMILIES ALSO RECEIVE TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, GROCERY CARDS, ACCESS TO SOCIAL BENEFITS, JOB READINESS CLASSES, EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT, ENGLISH INSTRUCTION, AND LEGAL SERVICES. CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM SCHOOL ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS LIKE SOCCER, WHILE WOMEN CAN BUILD WORKFORCE SKILLS THROUGH SEWING CLASSES. IN ADDITION, ELIGIBLE AFGHANS WHO ARRIVED AFTER AUGUST 2021 MAY APPLY FOR $20,000 ENTREPRENEURSHIP GRANTS. THE AFGHAN JOURNAL, CREATED AND PUBLISHED BY THE AFGHAN SUPPORT PROGRAM OFFERS RESOURCES TO HELP FAMILIES STAY INFORMED AND CONNECTED AS THEY BUILD NEW LIVES IN THE UNITED STATES.
- $5.2 million spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - SEE SCHEDULE OCOMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOCUSES ON CREATING A MORE WELCOMING REGION THROUGH; 1) CONNECTING ST. LOUISANS TO THE EXPERIENCE OF NEW ARRIVALS, 2) IMPROVING THE CULTURAL COMPETENCY OF CUSTOMERS AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY, 3) BEING A LEADER AND A VOICE ON ISSUES, WHICH IMPACT REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS, LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. TO HELP BUILD A MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY, THE INSTITUTE PRODUCES THE FESTIVAL OF NATIONS, OUR REGION'S LARGEST MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL THAT ANNUALLY CONNECTS MORE THAN 100,000 VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE REGION WITH THE CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF NEWCOMERS AND LONG-TIMERS. THE FESTIVAL FOCUSES ON COMMON CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS, FOOD, MUSIC, AND DANCE AND IS A HIGHLY ENTERTAINING OPPORTUNITY FOR ST. LOUISANS TO LEARN ABOUT AND BUILD GREATER APPRECIATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S GROWING DIVERSITY. THE FESTIVAL IS ALSO A VALUABLE VENUE FOR OTHER LOCAL NON-PROFITS TO CONNECT WITH THESE NEWCOMERS, WHO ARE DIFFICULT TO REACH THROUGH TRADITIONAL MEDIA. AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, WE OFFER TOURS TO GROUPS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELPS CONNECT THE WIDER COMMUNITY TO OUR WORK. WE ORGANIZED 12 COMMUNITY MONTHLY UPDATES AIMED AT PROVIDING COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF OUR WORK AND OFFERING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED. WE INTRODUCED OUR MISSION AND SERVICES TO OVER 24 COMMUNITY GROUPS, WHO PARTICIPATED IN SERVICE DAYS HERE ON CAMPUS. STAFF PRESENTED OVER 50 PRESENTATIONS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT OUR REGIONS. WE ALSO MAINTAINED A STRONG SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, INSPIRING THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR WORK. ALL THROUGH THE YEAR, SEVERAL MEDIA STORIES REPORTED ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE ESPECIALLY RELATED TO FOOD INSECURITY, AND OUR INITIATIVES AIMED AT WELCOMING MORE IMMIGRANTS TO OUR REGION. WE ALSO PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT LANGUAGE SERVICES TO SUPPORT SERVICE DELIVERY TO OUR CLIENTS BUT ALSO TO A WIDE RANGE OF CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE REGION, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND COURT ROOMS.
- $1.3 million spent. EDUCATION & CITIZENSHIP - SEE SCHEDULE OEDUCATION & CITIZENSHIP:WE PROVIDE A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE ADULT LEARNERS, INCLUDING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (ESOL) CLASSES AND SESSION-BASED CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION CLASSES, EACH TYPE WITH LEVELS RANGING FROM LITERACY TO INTERMEDIATE AND HELD WEEKDAY MORNINGS, AFTERNOONS AND EVENINGS. MOST ESOL AND CITIZENSHIP CLASSES HAVE BOTH IN-PERSON AND REMOTE OPTIONS. FURTHERMORE, WE OFFER COMPUTER CLASSES RANGING FROM BASIC TO INTERMEDIATE LEVELS, DRIVING CLASS WITH AN INSTALLED DRIVING SIMULATOR AND A BRIDGE TO COLLEGE COURSE. ADDITIONALLY, OUR TEEN PROGRAMS PROVIDE TUTORING AND MENTORING SERVICES TO IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE YOUTH AGES 14 TO 24 THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE RESULTING NUMBERS FOR 2024 EVIDENCED AN OVERALL TOTAL OF 1,440 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS WITH 1,074 SERVED IN ESOL CLASSES, 76 IN COMPUTER CLASSES, 174 IN DRIVING CLASSES AND 43 IN BRIDGE TO COLLEGE CLASSES. 208 STUDENTS PREPARED FOR US CITIZENSHIP WITH 56 PASSING THE CITIZENSHIP INTERVIEW. THE TEEN PROGRAMS SERVED 118 YOUTH.
- $1.2 million spent. SOCIAL WORK & HEALTH SERVICES: SOCIAL WORK STAFF PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND FAMILY-CENTERED SERVICES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS; GRIEF, DEPRESSION AND OTHER RESPONSES TO MIGRATION-RELATED TRAUMA. POPULATIONS SERVED INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING CHALLENGES WITH SUCH ISSUES AS AGING, MENTAL HEALTH, CRIME (I.E. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE), DISABILITIES (I.E. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT), FAMILY CONFLICT, AND TRAFFICKING VICTIMS.IISTL IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE CARE ACCESS FOR NEW AMERICANS (CANA) MENTAL HEALTH REFERRAL SYSTEM FOR FOREIGN-BORN INDIVIDUALS WITH THE ST. LOUIS MENTAL HEALTH BOARD (MHB). ANTI-TRAFFICKING STAFF MANAGE AND SUPPORT THE EASTERN MISSOURI/SOUTHERN ILLINOIS RESCUE AND RESTORE CONSORTIUM. THE CONSORTIUM IS A COLLABORATIVE OF FOUR NETWORKS, WHICH CONDUCT OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO IDENTIFY TRAFFICKING VICTIMS.
- $20.8 million spent. MO-ORA:MISSOURI OFFICE OF REFUGEE ADMINISTRATION IS AN OFFICE WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ST. LOUIS AND SERVES AS THE DE FACTO STATE REFUGEE OFFICE. THE OFFICE ADMINISTERS FEDERAL FUNDS FROM THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT (ORR) AND DISTRIBUTES THEM STATEWIDE TO LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS IN A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. IN 2024, MO-ORA FUNDED PROGRAMS TO 7 REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES, 9 NON-RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES PROVIDING SERVICES TO AFGHAN PAROLEES AND APPROXIMATELY 30 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FUNDING, MO-ORA ALSO MONITORS THOSE AGENCIES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND PROVIDES TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. MO-ORA HAS STAFF IN ST. LOUIS, KANSAS CITY AND NEAR JEFFERSON CITY.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1938.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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