The Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota (TAFM), a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization was established in 1992 to aid in the resettlement of Tibetans under the 1990 Immigration Act. The national legislation granted immigrant visas to 1,000 Tibetan refugees living in India and Nepal, 160 of whom settled in the Twin Cities area in 1992-93.

Unlike other immigrants, these Tibetans were required by Congress to become self-sufficient immediately. Each person spent their first three months living with an American host family to begin the process of acculturation and acquired a job at the same time. A dedicated team of Minnesota volunteers provided medical, legal, educational and associated services to the new arrivals.

The community now numbers about 1,300 and TAFM's role has evolved to meet growing and changing needs. The primary TAFM programs include the Tibetan cultural school, English as a second language, cultural and educational programs for the community at large, social service referrals, a speaker's bureau, and a quarterly newsletter called Yakkety Yak.