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Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life

EIN 05-6019146 · Providence, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BROWN RISD HILLEL ENCOURAGES AND SUPPORTS A DIVERSITY OF STUDENTS AS THEY EXPLORE, DEVELOP AND DEEPEN THEIR JEWISH IDENTITIES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO HAVING JUDAISM SERVE AS A SOURCE OF MEANING AND GROWTH DURING THEIR TIME ON COLLEGE HILL AND IN (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THEIR LIVES AFTER GRADUATION.TO THIS END, WE CULTIVATE AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH STUDENTS CAN: - ENJOY A SAFE AND WELCOMING JEWISH HOME ON CAMPUS - CELEBRATE SHABBAT, HOLIDAYS, TRADITIONS AND CULTURE - ENGAGE IN JEWISH LEARNING AND SPIRITUALLY NOURISHING PURSUITS AND CONVERSATIONS - PRACTICE AND EXEMPLIFY JEWISH ETHICAL VALUES AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - TAKE PART IN INTELLECTUAL AND POLITICAL DISCOURSE - ENSURE HILLEL IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE BROWN, RISD AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES - BUILD CONNECTIONS WITH ISRAEL AND THE GLOBAL JEWISH COMMUNITY - BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY - ESTABLISH LASTING FRIENDSHIPS

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
55%
Reserves
11.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
42
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$247,840, 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

Fair: 56 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 66% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    55% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    40 of 40 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 (4)
  1. $1.1 million spent. HOLIDAYS & RELIGIOUS LIFE - HILLEL SERVES AS A NEXUS FOR BROWN AND RISD STUDENTS' RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LARGER JEWISH COMMUNITY. AS A RELIGIOUS HOME, A COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE, AND A BRIDGE BETWEEN PROVIDENCE AND THE STATE OF ISRAEL, HILLEL CONNECTS JEWISH STUDENTS TO EACH OTHER, AS WELL AS JEWS AND JEWISH STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. HILLEL IS A PLURALISTIC ENVIRONMENT THAT WELCOMES AND PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR ALL; A PLACE TO CELEBRATE SHABBAT, ENGAGE IN JEWISH LEARNING, AND OBSERVE ALL THE JEWISH HOLIDAYS.
  2. $186,046 spent. ISRAEL PROGRAMMING - ISRAEL PROGRAMMING REPRESENTS A WIDE RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES; SUPPORTS THE CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL; AND IS COMMITTED TO FOSTERING INFORMED DIALOGUE ABOUT ISRAEL ON CAMPUS AND TO PROVIDING PROGRAMMING THAT ENCOMPASSES PERSPECTIVES AS BROAD AS THOSE OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
  3. $287,525 spent. ENGAGEMENTS & TZEDEK - ENGAGEMENT AND TZEDEK/SOCIAL JUSTICE PROVIDE A VENUE IN WHICH STUDENTS CAN INTEGRATE JEWISH VALUES AND ACTIVELY PURSUING THE REPAIR OF THE WORLD. THROUGH ENGAGEMENT AND TZEDEK STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE, ACTIVISM, EDUCATION AND DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS WITH CAMPUS AND NEIGHBORHOOD AGENCIES. IN ADDITION TO GROUPS DEDICATED TO SPECIFIC ISSUES, ENGAGEMENT AND TZEDEK OFFER GENERAL PROGRAMMING WHERE STUDENTS CAN CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN JUDAISM AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
  4. $118,393 spent. ARTS & CULTURE - ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMMING PROVIDES A UNIQUE WAY FOR STUDENTS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND THEIR JEWISH IDENTITY. IT FOSTERS AND SUPPORTS SEVERAL DIFFERENT ARTISTIC GROUPS, AND IS ALWAYS OPEN TO TALKING WITH STUDENTS TO CREATE A NEW INITIATIVE.

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.