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Passes our checks

Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life

EIN 20-2804389 · Bloomington, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceWeak45 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

To create an array of Jewish activities that offer different opportunities for involvement, including social, religious, social action, Israel oriented, cultural, educational, and cultural arts programming. It is also part of IU Hillel's mission to create a "Jewish Home Away from Home."

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
18
Volunteers
49
Highest pay
$115,097, executive dir.

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: 65 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    52% 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

Weak: 45 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (2)
  1. $400,188 spent. RELGIOUS/SOCIAL/CULTURAL (HIGH HOLIDAYS, PASSOVER, AND WEEKLY SHABBAT SERVICES): BY OFFERING SERVICES AND KOSHER MEALS DURING HIGH HOLIDAYS, PASSOVER, AND WEEKLY SHABBAT SERVICES, IU HILLEL IS PROVIDING RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL EXPERIENCES FOR ALL WHO ATTEND (JEWISH AND NONJEWISH MEMBERS OF THE STUDENT BODY AND THE COMMUNITY). RELIGIOUS SERVICES AND THE HOMESTYLE DINING OFFERED PROVIDE A "JEWISH HOME AWAY FROM HOME" FOR THE STUDENTS. BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT JEWISH SOMETIMES ATTEND SHABBAT SERVICES, HILLEL USES THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWJEWISH CULTURE AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT JUDAISM.
  2. $166,749 spent. ISRAEL ORIENTED PROGRAMMING/CULTURAL (ISRAELPALOOZA AND OTHER ISRAEL CENTERED EVENTS): ISRAELPALOOZA IS AN EVENT THAT BRINGS ISRAELI CULTURE, FOOD, MUSIC, PEOPLE, EDUCATION, AND ART TO THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY. IT PROMOTES ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH ON CAMPUS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 7, 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 September 7, 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 7, 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.