Karen Organization of Minnesota

This year, we were hit harder than you know. We’re on the front lines as majority refugee and immigrant-led and staffed.

Our community continues to face a multi-sided crisis: Operation PARRIS – a federal program targeting refugees who were legally admitted to the U.S. between 2021 and 2025, Operation Metro Surge and the effects, the loss of TPS – Temporary Protected Status (including for Burma and Afghanistan), and significant cuts to social services.

It's not easy to be an organization serving refugees and immigrants right now.

It's not easy to be a social services organization right now.

It's doubly as hard to be an organization that does both.

Help us reach our $10,000 goal this Give to the Max Day and fund services led by refugees, immigrants, and people with lived experience working hard to make sure no one is left behind. We understand our community's challenges because we've lived them.

  We fight poverty at 3x the rate of the average nonprofit. Our job placement rate is close to 70%.  

- according to the 2026 Constellation Fund Report. 

Elders, kids, adults, and families rely on KOM for support and connection. We make sure our clients can get to treatment programs, engage in school, have a ride to their career class, follow up on their job interviews, and so much more.

Join us in the work creating pathways from survival to stability. 

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Our Organization

The Karen Organization of Minnesota is the first social services agency in the country founded by Karen (K'nyaw) refugees from Burma. We offer a variety of programs to help refugees transition to life in a new country and achieve their goals, not only for refugees from Burma, but for new arrivals from around the world. We provide services in employment, financial empowerment, social services, community health, youth development, and walk-in services. See our Programs tab.

Our Community

Karen New Year in St. Paul in 2026

More than 20,000 Karen people live in Minnesota, making it the largest Karen community in the country. Minnesota is also home to more than 3,000 refugees from other ethnic groups in Burma, including Karenni and Mon. Refugees from Burma come to Minnesota for the same reasons many people do: to find good jobs, access high-quality education, and connect with a strong community. Learn more about Karen people and other ethnic groups from Burma.

While most of our clients are from Burma, we also serve clients from areas including Afghanistan, Ukraine, Southeast Asia, East Africa, and Latin America who now live in the Twin Cities.

Our Impact

KOM is a leading service provider helping over 2,000 refugees and immigrants each year achieve their goals. Our success is due to:

• Programs designed by and for the community: KOM is founded and led by refugees from Burma who understand the needs and goals of the community we serve. Most of our staff and board members are from the communities we serve, giving us a unique ability to provide culturally responsive services and keep pace with the community’s changing needs.
• Providing wraparound support: Our staff take time to understand each person’s situation and make sure they can access all of the resources they need.
• Strong partnerships: KOM values working with partners to help refugees and immigrants access more opportunities and to help other service providers learn how to work with these growing communities.

Be a Part of Our Impact

Every Give to the Max Day gift helps more families build brighter futures. Thank you for funding refugee and immigrant-led services in Minnesota. Donors like you are part of an effective network with local roots and state-wide impact.

TA BLUT DOE MAH (Thank you so much)!

To learn more about what we do, visit our website: www.mnkaren.org