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Urban Village Inc

EIN 83-3672434 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak46 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE URBAN VILLAGE IS A KAREN AND KARENNI COMMUNITY SPACE DESIGNED TO CULTIVATE CONNECTION, COLLABORATION, AND KINSHIP BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ITS WALLS. SINCE EARLY 2019, THE URBAN VILLAGE HAS ACTED AS AN INCUBATOR FOR COMMUNITY LED PROJECTS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING, SUPPORTING AND CULTIVATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR KAREN AND KARENNI REFUGEES IN MINNESOTA.

Income
$740,438
Spending
$439,436
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
14.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
4
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$74,350, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 79% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $69,617 spent. LAUNCH PROGRAMS: OUR VILLAGE LAUNCH PROGRAMS INCUBATE DREAMS AND FUTURE LEADERS. WE DON'T STOP AT A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT. WE INTENTIONALLY CARVE OUT AND ENGAGE OPPORTUNITIES THAT TACTICALLY ALLOW OUR YOUTH TO GROW AND THRIVE BEYOND OUR VILLAGE. KLUB IS OUR STAPLE PROGRAM AT THE URBAN VILLAGE. KLUB INCORPORATES ACADEMIC SUPPORT, HIGH ENERGY GAMES, AND A PEER SUPPORT MODEL THAT CREATES A DEEP SENSE OF BELONGING FOR STUDENTS. THE URBAN VILLAGE IS PROUD TO OFFER FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS TO EMERGING ORGANIZATIONS. WITHIN THE KNYAW AND KARENNI COMMUNITIES. WE PROVIDE SEED, MONEY, OVERSIGHT, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, AND GROWTH TRAINING TO GROUPS WHOSE MISSIONS ALIGN WITH OUR OWN. WE DON'T JUST LAUNCH YOUTH. WE EMPOWER OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. THE "FIGHT FOR SOMETHING" SCHOLARSHIP EXISTS TO REMOVE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FACED BY MANY OF OUR KNYAW AND KARENNI YOUTH LIVING HERE IN MINNESOTA, THROUGH 4-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS.
  2. $144,682 spent. CONNECT PROGRAMS: OUR CONNECT PROGRAMS ALIGN WITH OUR BELIEF THAT CONNECTING STARTS INWARD AND THEN BRAVELY GROWS OUTWARD INTO RELATIONSHIPS THAT REACH ACROSS DIVIDES. THIS INCLUDES OUR K'NYAW AND KARENNI SUMMER CAMPS AND OUR ARCHIVE. OUR YOUTH DESERVE TO BE ROOTED IN WHO THEY ARE AND HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE THEIR CULTURAL HERITAGE, HISTORY, AND HOMELAND IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THEIR IDENTITY AS THEY GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AS CONNECTORS AND PEACEMAKERS. THE URBAN VILLAGE CAMP IS A SUMMER IMMERSION EXPERIENCE CENTERED ON CREATING A SAFE SPACE FOR KNYAW YOUTH TO EXPLORE AND ENGAGE THE INTERSECTION OF THEIR IDENTITIES AS BOTH KNYAW/KARENNI AND AMERICAN YOUTH. LASTLY, OUR K'NYAW DIGITAL ARCHIVE WHERE KAREN YOUTH SET UP RECORDED INTERVIEWS WITH ELDERS TO PRESERVE THEIR STORIES, EXPERIENCES, AND WISDOM FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THIS CONTENT IS EXPANDING, AND WILL LIVE ON THE URBAN VILLAGE WEBSITE FOR FREE ACCESS TO ALL.
  3. $128,279 spent. HEAL PROGRAMS: GIVEN THE REALITIES OF VIOLENCE AND DISPLACEMENT OUR COMMUNITY HAS FACED, WE BELIEVE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO ENGAGE WITH AND HEAL FROM PAST AND PRESENT TRAUMAS/HURTS/ INJUSTICES ARE NECESSARY FOR A MORE ROBUST AND SUSTAINABLE LAUNCH. THIS IS WHY WE OFFER HEAL PROGRAMS KNOWN AS ASIAN YOUTH OUTREACH (AYO) AND URBAN VILLAGE OUTDOORS. IN AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE A HOPEFUL ALTERNATIVE FOR STRUGGLING YOUTH, THE URBAN VILLAGE HAS PARTNERED WITH MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO CREATE AND GROW THE ASIAN YOUTH OUTREACH (AYO) INITIATIVE. THIS PROGRAM RECOGNIZES AND ADDRESSES THE ISSUES OF GANG VIOLENCE, TRUANCY, AND CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY BY PROVIDING CONSISTENT ONE TO ONE CULTURALLY RELEVANT MENTORSHIP AND GROUP FACILITATION FOR OUR YOUTH. OUR SECOND HEAL PROGRAM IS THE URBAN VILLAGE OUTDOORS WHICH TAKES PLACE IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS AND AT VARIOUS STATE PARKS WHERE ROCK CLIMBING IS ACCESSIBLE. WE SEE GETTING OUTDOORS AS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE FOR YOUTH, FOSTERING PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONALWELL-BEING. LN AN ERA DOMINATED BY DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND URBANIZATION, ENGAGING WITH OUR INDIGENOUS ROOTS IN NATURE PROVIDES A VITAL ANTIDOTE TO OUR SCREEN-CENTRIC CULTURE.

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 November 6, 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 June 2019.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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