The International Institute of Buffalo

What it reported doing in 2024

Refugee integration - iib's resettlement program assisted 229 arrivals to buffalo in fy25, with our expected total of 460. All arrivals in the refugee resettlement program are provided core resettlement services after arrival. Trained interpreters are used for all meetings and translated documents are provided in the client's own language. Vital services included rental and food assistance, connections to and enrollments in allowable social services, and health screenings. All adult clients are connected to english language learning programs, while all minor arrivals are enrolled in local public schools. All arrivals also receive important community orientation, learning about laws and culture, healthcare systems, employment, education, and community services. The largest group of resettled individuals was from myanmar (burma), with 89 arrivals, or 39% of the total. This was followed by afghanistan with 48 (21%), the democratic republic of the congo with 36 (16%), and syria with 23 (10%). Other arrivals came from venezuela, iraq, sudan, somalia, nicaragua, eritrea, ethiopia, algeria, sri lanka, and pakistan. Iib's employment team assisted almost 90 people with employment assistance in fy25. Iib's match grant team worked with 98 clients in fy25, helping individuals find jobs in buffalo and western New York. Almost 90% of enrolled adults were self-sufficient within 6 months of arrival and able to pay all bills without external assistance. Iib's rssp/bria employment program helped 60 individuals find jobs in fy25, of which 54 achieved self-sufficiency within 6 months of starting work. Iib also created and managed two programs focused on pathways to professional careers - one funded by New York state's office of new americans, and one by the office of refugee resettlement. Combined, these programs helped over 70 people in fy25 begin their journey to professional employment and economic independence. Of these, over 50 people were placed in jobs, with over 30 of them placed in professional jobs similar to those they left behind. Enrolled clients included architects, nurses, dentists, accountants, social service workers, and those in skilled trades. Iib also hosted job fairs with local employers, created and managed a job club for job seekers become more familiar with the american workplace, including working on resumes, job interviews, and opening bank accounts, and a career club for more advanced candidates. Roughly 20 individuals enrolled in career club were also matched with professional mentors in their chosen career field. The preferred communities program worked with individuals who have medical concerns or other needs that could place them at risk in buffalo. This includes people with chronic illness, short term medical needs, and single mothers. Iib's legal program assisted over 70 clients in fy25 in securing employment documents, applying for green cards, and securing citizenship.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 73%; rating input score 73
• Program expense ratio: 76.1%; rating input score 76
• Fundraising efficiency: $20.91 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 4.1%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.82; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.07; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.9%; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.8% per year; rating input score 100; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.8% per year; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 7.8% per year; rating input score 100; 49th percentile among comparable filings