International Institute of Minnesota

Your donation will be matched up to $40,000!

Rapidly changing world conflicts and immigration policies leave little room to predict who is coming to Minnesota. With an influx in arrivals from Afghanistan and Ukraine this year, we are reminded more than ever how important it is to be ready to help.

Since 1919, the International Institute of Minnesota has been a leader in serving refugees and immigrants. We help them meet their immediate needs and achieve their long-term goals. Each year, more than 3,000 refugees and immigrants come to the Institute from all over the world.

There is a lot to overcome in the first days of arrival in Minnesota. Your gift supports new arrivals as they:

• Secure housing
• Apply for work authorization and find employment
• Enroll in health insurance and get medical care
• Learn American systems such as transportation and finance
• Enroll children in school
• Update their vaccination status
• Develop English language skills

Once they’ve established stability through all of these essential needs, New Americans have the building blocks to plan for the future.

It takes supporters like you to give refugees and immigrants a warm welcome and a strong start to a new life. Give before midnight on November 17 and your donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $40,000!

Our Vision: We seek a community where New Americans can find respect, support, and safety, and where they can achieve their full potential in their new lives.

Our Mission: Helping New Americans achieve self-sufficiency and full membership in American life.

Our Programs: The International Institute of Minnesota provides services and resources to empower New Americans (immigrants and refugees) in the pursuit of their goals. From language learning and job training to immigration assistance, citizenship classes, refugee resettlement, and case management, the Institute offers New Americans a pathway for a strong start to a new life in our community. 

See some of our client success stories below!

Refugee Services: Welcoming and stabilizing refugees. Helping new arrivals with their first apartment, job, doctor appointment, school, and winter. Read Mahamed and Muzaahim's Story

Immigration Services: Reuniting families, offering citizenship classes and filing-assistance, and providing accredited, low-cost immigration assistance. Read Batiri's Story

Workforce Development: Training New Americans for their first jobs and their dream jobs with employment counseling, the Medical Careers Pathway and Hospitality Pathway. Read Norma's Story