Project FINE

What Project FINE does

Project FINE is a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 and headquartered in Winona, Minnesota, that provides foreign-language interpretation, translation, cultural competency training, and community integration services to refugees and immigrants across Winona County and the surrounding southeastern Minnesota region. Its core programs span Language Services (interpretation and translation in 20+ languages at $55/hour), Navigating Community Systems (advocacy, employment assistance, healthcare and benefits navigation), Building Communities (Intercultural Development Inventory assessments, Welcoming Table gatherings, Cultural Healing Circles, diversity training), and Empowering Youth (Girls Reaching Above and Beyond, Exploring Nature, Safety and Prevention, College Education Connection). The organization is operated by a small staff of seven plus a contracted interpreter roster and a network of more than 100 partner organizations spanning healthcare providers, schools, local and state government agencies, foundations, and religious institutions.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is entirely people-intensive, centered on multilingual in-person interpretation and trained IDI-qualified facilitators. Its core proprietary asset is a set of multilingual resource guides (English, Hmong, Spanish) developed over decades covering healthcare, transportation, criminal justice, financial services, education, and employment. Distribution occurs primarily through direct service delivery at the 202 W 3rd Street office and on-site at partner locations, supported by community-based marketing through referrals, multilingual web and social media presence, and recurring community events such as the annual Taste of International Cuisine fundraiser and Welcoming Week participation.

Project FINE's business model is a hybrid nonprofit funding stack: (a) fee-for-service professional services revenue from interpretation, translation, and corporate diversity training; (b) foundation and government grants from entities including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, Minnesota Department of Human Services, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Women's Foundation of Minnesota, Winona Foundation, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Otto Bremer Trust, and United Way of Southeast MN; and (c) individual donations and annual fundraising events. Customer segments are bifurcated between individual refugees/immigrants receiving free or subsidized services and institutional clients (government agencies, healthcare systems, schools, businesses) purchasing interpretation and training on a transactional basis.

Name

Project FINE

Legal name

Project FINE

Website

https://projectfine.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Project FINE is a nonprofit founded in 1990 in Winona, Minnesota that provides foreign-language interpretation, translation, cultural competency training, and community integration programs for refugees and immigrants in southeastern Minnesota, operating through a small staff and a 100+ partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigrant and Refugee Services

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (54193), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Language & Cross-Cultural Training (BPACANAL), Immigration Law Literacy & Rights Education (EDAAADAB), Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ)

Keywords

• Language interpretation services
• Immigrant integration programs
• Refugee community services
• Cultural competency training
• Translator services

Headquarters

HQ city

Winona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Interpretation and Translation Services: Project FINE provides foreign-language interpretation and translation services for businesses, organizations, and service providers. The rate for interpreting is $55/hour with a one-hour minimum and billed in 15-minute increments thereafter. Translation of documents is also available for a quoted price.
2. Foundation and Government Grants: Project FINE receives funding from multiple foundations and government agencies including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, Minnesota Department of Human Services, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Women's Foundation of Minnesota, Winona Foundation, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Minnesota State Arts Board.
3. Training and Consulting Services: Project FINE offers training and consulting services on culture, diversity, equity, and inclusion topics including in-person, virtual, and hybrid training for groups of all sizes, diversity assessments, document and policy review, and customized coaching services.
4. Annual Fundraising Events: Project FINE hosts one annual fundraising event called the Taste of International Cuisine which highlights the culture and cuisine of a specific region of the globe.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Project FINE provides foreign-language interpretation, document translation, and cultural competency training to local organizations, businesses, and service providers, while running direct community programs that help refugees and immigrants navigate systems, build community connections, and empower youth in Winona County, Minnesota. The organization serves as a centralized connection point linking immigrants and refugees to local resources, employers, and service providers across 20+ languages.

Product overview

Project FINE is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of programs and services for refugees and immigrants. The core offerings include Language Services (interpretation and translation in 20+ languages), Navigating Community Systems Programs (advocacy, employment services, and community connections), Building Communities Programs (cultural training, Intercultural Development Inventory assessments, Welcoming Table gatherings, Cultural Healing Circles, and historical education), and Empowering Youth Programs (GRAB for girls, Exploring Nature outdoor activities, Safety and Prevention, and College Education Connection). The organization also provides a multilingual Resource Guide available in English, Hmong, and Spanish covering healthcare, transportation, financial services, education, and more. These programs work together to help newcomers integrate into the Winona County community while building cross-cultural relationships among all residents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Language Interpretation and Translation Services
• Training and Consulting
• Navigating Community Systems Programs
• Building Communities Programs
• Empowering Youth Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• The Tastes of Winona project (2025) engaged 170 people from 17 different countries with 14 refugee and immigrant instructors leading cooking classes.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Grant funding of $24,851.20 for the Exploring Nature project (June 18, 2026 - June 30, 2027). Provides youth from refugee and immigrant families with hands-on outdoor experiences including paddle sports, fishing, camping trips, and educational programs at local state parks.
• Minnesota Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Funding for Connecting to Home and Community Based Services program aimed at connecting refugees and immigrants to health services to improve health outcomes and quality of life.
• Minnesota Department of Public SafetycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Funding for Safety and Prevention for Youth program providing after school and summer enrichment opportunities to prevent involvement in unlawful activities and avoid truancy.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding for Cultural Healing Circles program designed to reduce isolation and improve mental health among refugees and immigrants through engagement, relationship-building, and traditional healing practices.
• Women's Foundation of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding for Girls Reaching Above and Beyond (GRAB) program designed to help girls aged 10-18 discover their identity and strengths and create a roadmap to pursue their dreams.
• Minnesota State Arts BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoter-funded grants through legislative appropriation from arts and cultural heritage fund supporting arts and cultural programs.
• Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrants for individual artists and arts programming. Project FINE available for translation and grant coaching services related to SEMAC opportunities.
• Welcoming AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit that leads the Welcoming Week initiative. Featured Project FINE in national webinar series and recognized Executive Director Fatima Said as a Champion of Change.
• Immigrant Law Center of MinnesotacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides free or reduced cost legal assistance for immigration matters including asylum, DACA, naturalization, permanent residency, and visas. Referrals made between organizations for client services.
• Winona HealthcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHealthcare provider partnership providing quality healthcare and educational services to Winona County residents. Project FINE provides interpreters to ensure healthcare access for non-English speakers.
• Gundersen Health SystemcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHealthcare provider partnership for family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, women's health, orthopedics, physical therapy, and urgent care services.
• Winona Area Public SchoolscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSchool district partnership providing educational services. Collaborates on adult education including GED and ESL classes, and various student and family support programs.
• Minnesota State College SoutheastcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPost-secondary educational institution partnership. Collaborates on workforce development and cultural competency training.
• Winona State UniversitycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUniversity partnership providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recipient of Engaged Partnership Award from WSU.
• Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPost-secondary institution providing undergraduate and graduate degrees. Awarded Presidential Award for Outstanding Merit to Executive Director Fatima Said.
• Winona CountycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal government partnership including Winona County Health & Human Services, Winona County Sheriff, and various county departments. Project FINE interpreters assist county workers with non-English speaking clients.
• City of WinonacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCity government partnership. Project FINE provides diversity training and interpretation services for city operations.
• Central Lutheran ChurchminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerReligious institution partnership providing venue for Welcoming Table community gatherings and other events.
• Merchants BankminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBanking partner. Received diversity training from Project FINE for employees on serving immigrant customers.
• Hiawatha Valley Mental HealthcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMental health services provider partnership offering services for children, adolescents, and adults in the community.
• Mayo CliniccoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHealthcare provider partnership for specialized medical services and referrals.
• SemcaccoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunity action agency providing transportation to medical appointments, energy assistance, food shelf, and other social services. Referrals made between organizations.
• Engage WinonaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal engagement organization working to strengthen the Winona community.
• Winona Family YMCAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunity fitness and recreation organization partnership for youth programs and community wellness.
• Minnesota Humanities CenterminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEducational organization providing resources and programming related to humanities and cultural understanding.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HIAS: Global Jewish refugee resettlement agency providing legal aid, resettlement, and integration services in the U.S. Broad incumbent in the same refugee support space as Project FINE.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Major international humanitarian organization providing refugee resettlement, interpretation, employment, and integration services across the U.S. Represents the scaled, established version of the service model Project FINE operates regionally.
• Catholic Charities USA: National network providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, interpretation, and community integration. Operates a comparable service portfolio at significantly greater scale and geographic reach.

Direct peers

• CAPI USA: Brooklyn Park, MN-based nonprofit serving immigrants and refugees with interpretation, employment, citizenship, and youth services. Highly comparable service portfolio and immigrant integration mission.
• Centro de los Derechos del Migrante: National migrant support organization providing legal aid, advocacy, and information services to immigrant workers. Comparable in immigrant-serving mission though focused on a different functional niche.
• International Institute of Minnesota: Regional immigrant and refugee services organization providing interpretation, resettlement, employment, and integration programming. Directly comparable in mission, service mix, and Midwestern regional scope to Project FINE.
• Welcoming America: National nonprofit that Project FINE actively partners with on the Welcoming Week initiative. Operates in the same immigrant integration and welcoming community space, providing standards, peer learning, and national recognition that Project FINE leverages.
• Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota: Minnesota-based nonprofit providing free/reduced-cost immigration legal services including asylum, naturalization, and permanent residency. Project FINE has an active referral partnership with this organization, indicating direct service overlap.
• Multicultural Development Association: Minnesota-based immigrant integration nonprofit offering interpretation, employment services, and community education. Closely aligned with Project FINE's service model and immigrant/refugee focus.
• Casa de Esperanza: Minnesota-based organization focused on Latino community services including interpretation, family advocacy, and integration support. Overlaps with Project FINE's Hispanic/Latino community liaison work and interpretation services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100064368384249
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/project-fine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Project FINE