International Institute of Minnesota

What International Institute of Minnesota does

International Institute of Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1919 and headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, that provides a comprehensive continuum of services for immigrants, refugees, and asylees in the Twin Cities area. Its program portfolio spans refugee resettlement, citizenship and immigration legal assistance, free English language instruction delivered online and in-person, and a layered set of workforce development programs including Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training, Medical Career Advancement for internationally trained healthcare professionals, Dietary Aide Training, Housekeeping Training, and a Hospitality Careers Pathway. Supporting services include Community Workshops (in partnership with the Minnesota Council of Churches), Economic Empowerment financial coaching, a College Readiness Academy, and Anti-Trafficking Services.

The underlying service delivery model is hybrid: most programs combine in-person instruction and case management at the 1694 Como Avenue campus and satellite sites with online components delivered via Zoom. The organization uses the Neon CRM platform (iimn.app.neoncrm.com) to manage donors and client intake, and supports self-enrollment through walk-in Friday intake sessions as well as online registration. Service is delivered by a multilingual staff representing 28 languages, enabling the Institute to serve clients from 121 countries in a single year (6,017 clients, with 140,000+ hours of English instruction delivered). Workforce programs report strong outcomes, including a 90% CNA certification pass rate, 100% job placement guarantee for CNA graduates, and progression in the Medical Career Advancement program from $25.98/hour at enrollment to $39.35/hour for RNs.

The business model is nonprofit: all core programs are free to eligible participants, with revenue derived primarily from individual donations (including monthly giving and triple-matched campaigns), corporate and foundation grants, and state funding from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and the MN DHS Refugee Programs Office. A small amount of fee revenue (revenue codes 4850, 4210–4320) comes from client reimbursements and the $125 state nursing assistant certification test paid by students. The go-to-market motion combines community-led outreach, direct-to-consumer enrollment, event-driven engagement, and structured employer partnerships through the 'Hire Our Clients' labor-matching program serving Minnesota employers in healthcare, hospitality, and building services.

Name

International Institute of Minnesota

Legal name

International Institute of Minnesota

Website

https://iimn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

International Institute of Minnesota is a 105-year-old nonprofit in Saint Paul that provides free English classes, refugee resettlement, citizenship and immigration services, and job training programs to immigrants, refugees, and asylees across Minnesota's Twin Cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee and Immigrant Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ), Immigrant & Refugee Community Education (Integration/Navigation) (EDAAAFAH), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)

Keywords

• Refugee resettlement services
• English language instruction
• Immigration legal services
• Workforce development training
• Citizenship test preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals via its website donation portal (iimn.app.neoncrm.com). Monthly giving options are available, and donations are triple-matched during campaigns.
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Funded in part by grants from organizations such as the State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The organization publishes an annual report and maintains a funders page listing grant-making partners.
3. Program Service Fees: The organization generates some fee revenue through direct client reimbursements (revenue code 4850) and direct client contributions from individuals and corporations/foundations (revenue codes 4210-4320). However, core programs including English classes, CNA training, and job training are free to clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

International Institute of Minnesota is a Minnesota-based nonprofit that provides free refugee resettlement, citizenship and immigration legal services, anti-trafficking support, English language instruction, and workforce development programs (certified nursing assistant, medical career advancement, housekeeping, dietary aide, hospitality, and college readiness) for adult immigrants, refugees, and asylees. Programs are delivered in-person at its Saint Paul campus and online, with additional employer matching to Minnesota healthcare, hospitality, and building maintenance employers facing labor shortages.

Product overview

International Institute of Minnesota is a non-profit service organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs for immigrants and refugees. The core offerings include English language instruction (online and in-person), citizenship and immigration services, and workforce development programs. The job training portfolio includes Nursing Assistant Training, Medical Career Advancement, Housekeeping Training, Dietary Aide Training, Hospitality Careers Pathway, International Medical Graduates support, and Internationally Trained Professionals programs. Supporting services include Economic Empowerment (financial coaching and homebuying workshops), Community Workshops (life skills education), College Readiness Academy, Refugee Services, and Anti-Trafficking Services. All programs are free for eligible participants and serve New Americans at various stages of their integration journey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• English Classes Free classes offered online and in-person for adult refugees, immigrants, and asylees to learn English at all levels (beginning, intermediate, advanced), with 140,000+ hours of instruction delivered last year.
• Citizenship and Immigration Services Free or low-cost assistance with filing for U.S. citizenship and other immigration legal services, helping eligible permanent residents navigate the naturalization process.
• Refugee Services Comprehensive refugee resettlement support including initial resettlement assistance, ongoing case management, housing support, employment navigation, and cultural orientation for individuals and families fleeing persecution.
• Anti-Trafficking Services Support services for victims of human trafficking, providing assistance with safety planning, recovery, and legal support.
• Nursing Assistant Training (CNA) Free 7-week intensive or 11-week supportive certified nursing assistant training for New Americans, delivered in a hybrid in-person and online format with a 90% certification pass rate, 100% job placement guarantee, and $19.90/hour average starting salary.
• Medical Career Advancement Support program for internationally trained medical professionals pursuing nursing or other U.S. medical careers, providing scholarship funding, academic advising, tutoring, and employment navigation at no cost. 800+ clients have been upgraded to nursing or healthcare positions, with wages rising from $25.98/hour at enrollment to $39.35/hour for RNs.
• International Medical Graduates Program Guidance and financial support for internationally trained physicians working toward U.S. medical relicensing, including assistance with exam fees, credential evaluations, and Minnesota residency applications.
• Internationally Trained Professionals Support services for internationally trained healthcare professionals seeking to relicense in their field or pursue alternate medical career training in Minnesota.
• Housekeeping Training Free training for New Americans in hospitality and cleaning industry skills, including proper cleaning procedures, chemical safety, customer service, and English for work, with job placement assistance at $15–$17/hour and bus passes or gas cards provided for transportation.
• Dietary Aide Training Free 6-week employment training program covering food safety, nutrition, special diets, customer service, and computer skills, with job placement assistance for dietary aide roles in nursing homes and hospitals at $14–$17/hour.
• Hospitality Careers Pathway English language training combined with job skills preparation for entry-level employment in housekeeping, dietary aide, and customer service roles at hotels and retail service centers, with job shadowing, internships, and hiring support from employer partner TPI Hospitality.
• Economic Empowerment Financial coaching and education services including classes on debt, credit, savings, and budgeting, plus the Home Stretch Workshop for homebuyer education and private financial advising appointments.
• Community Workshops Free classes teaching topics including transportation, jobs, money management, healthcare, housing, and citizenship preparation, offered online and in-person with interpretation available for qualifying students at offsite partner locations.
• College Readiness Academy Support program helping New Americans prepare for college or higher education, teaching skills comparable to expensive prep classes to improve college readiness and access.

Quantifiable outcome

• 140,000+ hours of English instruction provided in a single year
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Minnesota Council of ChurchescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Workshops are offered in partnership with the Minnesota Council of Churches with support from the MN Refugee Program Offices (MN DHS). The partnership serves adults with humanitarian protection immigrant status who have been in the U.S. for five years or less.
• Open Door Learning CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffsite Community Workshop location at 1115 Greenbrier St, St Paul, MN 55106, offered every Friday 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. in-person. No registration needed.
• English Learning CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffsite Community Workshop location at 2315 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404, offered Mondays–Thursdays 4:30–5:30 p.m. in-person.
• M Health FairviewcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorM Health Fairview is a key employer partner that hires graduates of the Institute's Nursing Assistant Training program. Their workforce job navigator collaborates directly with IIMN's employment services team.
• TPI HospitalitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTPI Hospitality is an employer partner that provides job shadowing, internships, class tours, mock interview opportunities, and employment for graduates of the Hospitality Careers Pathway program.
• Marsden Building Maintenance, L.L.C.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarsden Building Maintenance partners with IIMN for hiring referrals of trained New Americans for building maintenance and cleaning positions.
• Presbyterian Home ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPresbyterian Home Services is a senior living employer that hired IIMN Dietary Aide Training graduate Rose as a chef. The organization benefits from IIMN's pipeline of trained multicultural staff.
• Minnesota State Refugee Resettlement NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Institute is one of seven agencies in Minnesota that help resettle refugees. It operates within the broader U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program network, coordinated through national Voluntary Agencies (VOLAGs) contracted by the U.S. Department of State.
• Metro TransitminorOthersPublic transit access via Metro Transit (metrotransit.org) serves the Institute's main campus. Bus stops #870 and #929 on Como Avenue are a 5–10 minute walk from 1694 Como Avenue, St. Paul. The Institute provides bus passes for eligible students.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Large national refugee resettlement agency operating in Minnesota (and globally) with similar refugee resettlement, employment, and immigration services - represents the broader VOLAG model IIMN operates within.
• HIAS: Jewish-founded international refugee resettlement agency operating under the same U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program VOLAG framework, providing overlapping refugee and immigrant services in MN and other states.
• International Institute of New England: Direct peer nonprofit operating the same 'International Institute' model across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, providing refugee resettlement, English classes, employment training, and immigration legal services with comparable funding mix.
• World Relief: Faith-based national nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, employment navigation, and English instruction across multiple U.S. cities, comparable in mission and funding model to IIMN.
• International Institute of Buffalo: Sister International Institute serving refugee and immigrant populations in Buffalo, NY with similar refugee resettlement, workforce training, and immigration services portfolio - part of the broader International Institute network.
• Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis: Large regional nonprofit operating one of the seven Minnesota refugee resettlement agencies, with adjacent workforce, housing, and immigrant integration services competing for similar clients and funders.
• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS): National faith-based refugee resettlement and immigration services network operating in Minnesota and other states; comparable scope of refugee and immigrant services and federal funding model.

Regional players

• Jewish Family Service of St. Paul: Local Twin Cities social services nonprofit offering overlapping immigration legal services, financial coaching, and case management for immigrant and refugee clients in the same geography.
• Neighborhood House: Saint Paul-based settlement house providing immigrant integration, employment, and adult education services to a similar demographic in overlapping service geography.
• Minnesota Council of Churches: Minnesota statewide interfaith body partnering with IIMN on Community Workshops at Open Door and English Learning Centers, providing parallel refugee resettlement and English education programs locally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IIMN.COMO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-institute-of-minnesota
• Instagraminstagram.com/internationalinstituteofmn
• Xx.com/IntlInstituteMN

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Institute of Minnesota