Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDE SABBATH AND HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING, SERVICES AND MEALS, RUNNING FRESH FEST, PROVIDING KOSHER MEALS, CLASSES, SPEAKERS AND OTHER JEWISH AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- 17.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $132,759, 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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $340,690 spent. GENERAL PROGRAM: SYRACUSE HILLEL HOLDS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHICH ENABLE STUDENTS TO MEET ONE ANOTHER, LEARN, CELEBRATE, AND HAVE FUN. OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO DINNERS, COMMUNITY SERVICE INITIATIVES, WELLNESS-FOCUSED GATHERINGS, AND IDENTITY-BUILDING EXPERIENCES. SYRACUSE HILLEL ENGAGED OVER 1200 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
- $98,164 spent. FRESHFEST: FRESHFEST IS THE LARGEST PRE-ORIENTATION PROGRAM AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, HOSTED BY SYRACUSE HILLEL. STUDENTS THAT SIGN UP FOR FRESHFEST WILL HAVE ACCESS TO EARLY MOVE-IN, BE GUIDED BY AN UPPERCLASS STUDENT MENTOR, AND PARTICIPATE IN TWO DAYS OF ACTIVITIES THAT HELP THEM GET ACCLIMATED TO CAMPUS. PAST ACTIVITIES HAVE INCLUDED FIELD TRIPS TO LOCAL ATTRACTIONS AND PARKS, WELCOME BREAKFAST FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND ICE BREAKER TYPE PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
- $53,168 spent. ISRAEL PROGRAM: SYRACUSE HILLEL SEEKS TO PROVIDE EVERY JEWISH STUDENT WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE AND BUILD AN ENDURING RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL. SYRACUSE HILLEL OFFERS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH ISRAEL INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: ISRAEL LEARNING FELLOWSHIP (ILF) IS HILLEL'S 8 WEEK LEARNING FELLWOSHIP FRO STUDENTS LOOKING TO DIVE DEEPER INTO ISRAELI CULTURE, POLITICS, AND HISTORY, SPEAKERS FOCUSED ON ISRAEL RELATED TOPICS, ISRAEL TRIPS, AND ISRAEL CULTURAL PROGRAMS.
- $150,465 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: CHALLAH FOR HUNGER, BIRTHRIGHT, ALTERNATIVE BREAKS , HANUKKAH , HIGH HOLY DAYS , HJSU , PASSOVER , CEI , SHABBAT , HILLEL INTERNATIONAL , STAFF ENGAGEMENT , SUKKOT , CONFERENCE TOTAL , TZEDEK PROGRAMMING , HILLEL GLOBAL GIVING WEEK , JLF , AWARDS/STUDENT RECOGNITION , RELIGIOUS LIFE , BOOST THE CUSE , GIVING 'CUSEDAY , KOL ISRAEL , SEI ,ONWARD , JVL
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.