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Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life

EIN 04-2620801 · Cambridge, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.

Income
$6.8 million
Spending
$4.4 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
25.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
21
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$192,503, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 72% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 32 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (6)
  1. $2.4 million spent. UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM: HARVARD HILLEL'S CORE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY. THIS PROGRAM IS LED BY AN ELECTED UNDERGRADUATE LEADERSHIP AND CONSISTS OF EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL, SOCIAL ACTION, INTERFAITH AND INTERGENERATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
  2. $210,659 spent. MINYANIM: FOUR MULTIDENOMINATIONAL PRAYER GROUPS/COMMUNITIES, MANY LED BY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, PROVIDING FOR THE RELIGIOUS NEEDS AND EDUCATION OF THE STUDENTS OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
  3. $266,567 spent. KOSHER DINING: A KOSHER DINING PROGRAM FOR THE BENEFIT OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND OPEN TO MEMBERS OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY, PROVIDING DAILY DINNER AND SPECIAL MEALS TO COMMEMORATE SHABBAT, MAJOR JEWISH HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
  4. $162,624 spent. COMMUNITY, PARENTS & ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT: A PROGRAM TO ENGAGE ALUMNI, PARENTS OF STUDENS AND ALUMN AND MEMBERS OF THE HARVARD FACULTY AND COMMUNITY.
  5. $143,985 spent. HIGH HOLIDAYS: A PROGRAM PROVIDING ROSH HASHANAH, YOM KIPPUR AND SUKKOT SERVICES AND FESTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
  6. $243,960 spent. GRADUATE PROGRAM: A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT GRADUATE STUDENTS OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY CONSISTING OF EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS PROGRAMMING, AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND MEALS TO COMMEMORATE JEWISH HOLIDAYS AND SABBATH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1993.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.