Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HILLEL'S MISSION IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF JEWISH UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS SO THAT THEY MAY ENRICH THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND THE WORLD.
- Income
- $72.8 million
- Spending
- $69.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 264
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $731,633, president & ceo
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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (religion, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 36% of charities in its peer group (religion, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 17 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 (10)
- $5.7 million spent. Hillel International functions as a trip organizer for young Jewish adults to engage in immersive experiences in Israel, among other countries. These trips have a goal of providing meaningful opportunities to travel with other Hillel students and staff, deepening connection to Jewish identity, and advancing our movement wide goals of student engagement and leadership development. Hillel International enables this work through its campus connections. (Expenses $ 19,100,782 including grants of $ 3,992,923)(Revenue $ 3,107,540) OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES (Expenses $ 4,718,203 including grants of $ 87,141)(Revenue $ 164,824) INNOVATION (Expenses $ 3,938,349 including grants of $ 2,063,556)(Revenue $ 53,015) INTERNATIONAL SIMILAR TO THE U.S. HILLEL HAS AFFILIATES ACROSS THE GLOBE INCLUDING EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA, AND RUSSIA. HILLEL FUNDRAISES ON BEHALF OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH US BASED DONORS AND FOUNDATIONS AS WELL FOUNDATIONS AND DONORS INTERNATIONALLY. (Expenses $ 3,881,022 including grants of $ 3,278) A MEASUREMENT PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO ASSESS THE SUCCESS OF LOCAL HILLELS ON KEY STUDENT OUTCOMES, OUTPUTS THAT CORRELATE WITH THOSE OUTCOMES, AND THE KEY DRIVERS OF HILLEL'S SUCCESS (MONEY, TALENT, ETC.). HILLELS RECEIVE VALUABLE PERFORMANCE AND BENCHMARKING DATA AND ARE USING THE DATA TO HELP THEM TELL THEIR STORY, INFORM THEIR STRATEGIES, AND RAISE FUNDS. THE DATA IS ALSO USED TO EVALUATE THE BEST WAYS HILLEL INTERNATIONAL CAN SUPPORT HILLELS ON THE PATH TO EXCELLENCE. CURRENTLY 126 NORTH AMERICAN HILLELS AND 8 INTERNATIONAL HILLELS PARTICIPATE IN THE MEASUREMENT PROGRAM. (Expenses $ 3,717,282 including grants of $ 2,343,134) SPRINGBOARD FELLOWSHIP THAT BRINGS RECENT COLLEGE GRADS WITH PASSION FOR BUILDING JEWISH LIFE AND SKILLS IN INNOVATION OR JEWISH EDUCATION TO COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. THERE ARE SPRINGBOARD FELLOWS ACROSS 65+ CAMPUSES FOCUSING ON SOCIAL JUSTICE, INNOVATION AND EZRA JEWISH EDUCATION. IACT, INSPIRED, ACTIVE, COMMITTED, TRANSFORMED, IS A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY THAT LEVERAGES BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TO TRANSFORM JEWISH LIFE ON CAMPUS. IACT'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY JEWISH STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A MEANINGFUL IMMERSIVE ISRAEL EXPERIENCE AND BE SUPPORTED ON A JOURNEY OF JEWISH DISCOVERY BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE. IACT ACHIEVES ITS GOALS BY PROVIDING FUNDING, RESOURCES, LESSER-AFFILIATE AND SUPPORT FOR A DEDICATED CAMPUS PROFESSIONAL WHO WILL IDENTIFY AND ENGAGE FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS AND SOPHOMORES, RECRUIT THEM TO JOIN A BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TRIP, AND STEWARD THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE. (Expenses $ 2,484,831 including grants of $ 1,296,884) IACT, INSPIRED, ACTIVE, COMMITTED, TRANSFORMED, IS A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY THAT LEVERAGES BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TO TRANSFORM JEWISH LIFE ON CAMPUS. IACT'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY JEWISH STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A MEANINGFUL IMMERSIVE ISRAEL EXPERIENCE AND BE SUPPORTED ON A JOURNEY OF JEWISH DISCOVERY BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE. IACT ACHIEVES ITS GOALS BY PROVIDING FUNDING, RESOURCES, LESSER-AFFILIATE AND SUPPORT FOR A DEDICATED CAMPUS PROFESSIONAL WHO WILLIDENTIFY AND ENGAGE FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS AND SOPHOMORES, RECRUIT THEM TO JOIN A BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TRIP, AND STEWARD THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE. (Expenses $ 1,972,295 including grants of $ 1,255,654) MEYERHOFF
- $5.5 million spent. HILLEL'S ISRAEL ACTION AND ADDRESSING ANTISEMITISM PROGRAM (IAP) IS A LEADING PROVIDER OF ISRAEL EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES, EQUIPPING STUDENTS TO NAVIGATE AN INCREASINGLY CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT. AS ANTI-ISRAEL AND ANTISEMITIC ACTIVITY TAKE ON MORE OVERT AND EXCLUSIONARY FORMS, IAP PROVIDES ONGOING SUPPORT FOR CAMPUSES FACING CRISES WHILE ALSO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR POSITIVE ISRAEL ENGAGEMENT THROUGH BROAD-REACHING PROGRAMS AND EXPERIENCES. THROUGH PROACTIVE PROGRAMMING, CRISIS RESPONSE, AND POST-CRISIS SUPPORT, IAP STRENGTHENS CAMPUS HILLELS AND FOSTERS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AMONG PRO-ISRAEL STUDENTS. BY BUILDING COMPREHENSIVE ISRAEL ENGAGEMENT PLANS AND PROVIDING CRITICAL RESOURCES, IAP ENSURES THAT JEWISH STUDENTS FEEL EMPOWERED TO EXPRESS THEIR IDENTITY AND ADVOCATE FOR ISRAEL. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, IAP HELPS CREATE A NEW GENERATION OF STUDENT ACTIVISTS WHO CONFIDENTLY SUPPORT ISRAEL WHILE MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR BROADER CAMPUS COMMUNITIES. THE HILLEL INTERNATIONAL ISRAEL LEADERSHIP NETWORK (ILN) EMPOWERS A NEW GENERATION OF TOP ISRAEL FOCUSED STUDENT LEADERS ACROSS NORTH AMERICAN CAMPUSES THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING AND RESOURCES, ILN EQUIPS STUDENTS TO EFFECTIVELY COUNTER ANTI-ISRAEL NARRATIVES, FOSTER MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE, AND CREATE VIBRANT ISRAEL-FOCUSED PROGRAMMING ON THEIR RESPECTIVE CAMPUSES. ILN MEMBERSHIP EMPOWERS HUNDREDS OF CAMPUS HILLELS WITH STRONG LEADERS WHO MOBILIZE PEERS IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
- $5.2 million spent. TALENT GRANTS PROVIDE LOCAL HILLELS WITH CAMPUS SUPPORT DIRECTORS, AS WELL AS RESOURCES TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND TRAIN TOP TALENT. TALENT GRANTS HAVE INFUSED THE MOVEMENT WITH FUNDS IN TALENT INVESTMENTS, DISTRIBUTED ACROSS 400 GRANTS, TRAINING PROGRAMS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND CONFERENCE SUBSIDIES, IMPACTING OVER 160 LOCAL HILLELS. (Expenses $ 19,100,782 including grants of $ 3,992,923)(Revenue $ 3,107,540) OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES (Expenses $ 4,718,203 including grants of $ 87,141)(Revenue $ 164,824) INNOVATION (Expenses $ 3,938,349 including grants of $ 2,063,556)(Revenue $ 53,015) INTERNATIONAL SIMILAR TO THE U.S. HILLEL HAS AFFILIATES ACROSS THE GLOBE INCLUDING EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA, AND RUSSIA. HILLEL FUNDRAISES ON BEHALF OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH US BASED DONORS AND FOUNDATIONS AS WELL FOUNDATIONS AND DONORS INTERNATIONALLY. (Expenses $ 3,881,022 including grants of $ 3,278) A MEASUREMENT PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO ASSESS THE SUCCESS OF LOCAL HILLELS ON KEY STUDENT OUTCOMES, OUTPUTS THAT CORRELATE WITH THOSE OUTCOMES, AND THE KEY DRIVERS OF HILLEL'S SUCCESS (MONEY, TALENT, ETC.). HILLELS RECEIVE VALUABLE PERFORMANCE AND BENCHMARKING DATA AND ARE USING THE DATA TO HELP THEM TELL THEIR STORY, INFORM THEIR STRATEGIES, AND RAISE FUNDS. THE DATA IS ALSO USED TO EVALUATE THE BEST WAYS HILLEL INTERNATIONAL CAN SUPPORT HILLELS ON THE PATH TO EXCELLENCE. CURRENTLY 126 NORTH AMERICAN HILLELS AND 8 INTERNATIONAL HILLELS PARTICIPATE IN THE MEASUREMENT PROGRAM. (Expenses $ 3,717,282 including grants of $ 2,343,134) SPRINGBOARD FELLOWSHIP THAT BRINGS RECENT COLLEGE GRADS WITH PASSION FOR BUILDING JEWISH LIFE AND SKILLS IN INNOVATION OR JEWISH EDUCATION TO COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. THERE ARE SPRINGBOARD FELLOWS ACROSS 65+ CAMPUSES FOCUSING ON SOCIAL JUSTICE, INNOVATION AND EZRA JEWISH EDUCATION. IACT, INSPIRED, ACTIVE, COMMITTED, TRANSFORMED, IS A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY THAT LEVERAGES BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TO TRANSFORM JEWISH LIFE ON CAMPUS. IACT'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY JEWISH STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A MEANINGFUL IMMERSIVE ISRAEL EXPERIENCE AND BE SUPPORTED ON A JOURNEY OF JEWISH DISCOVERY BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE. IACT ACHIEVES ITS GOALS BY PROVIDING FUNDING, RESOURCES, LESSER-AFFILIATE AND SUPPORT FOR A DEDICATED CAMPUS PROFESSIONAL WHO WILL IDENTIFY AND ENGAGE FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS AND SOPHOMORES, RECRUIT THEM TO JOIN A BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TRIP, AND STEWARD THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE. (Expenses $ 2,484,831 including grants of $ 1,296,884) IACT, INSPIRED, ACTIVE, COMMITTED, TRANSFORMED, IS A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY THAT LEVERAGES BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TO TRANSFORM JEWISH LIFE ON CAMPUS. IACT'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY JEWISH STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A MEANINGFUL IMMERSIVE ISRAEL EXPERIENCE AND BE SUPPORTED ON A JOURNEY OF JEWISH DISCOVERY BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE. IACT ACHIEVES ITS GOALS BY PROVIDING FUNDING, RESOURCES, LESSER-AFFILIATE AND SUPPORT FOR A DEDICATED CAMPUS PROFESSIONAL WHO WILLIDENTIFY AND ENGAGE FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS AND SOPHOMORES, RECRUIT THEM TO JOIN A BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TRIP, AND STEWARD THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE. (Expenses $ 1,972,295 including grants of $ 1,255,654) MEYERHOFF
- $19.1 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
- $4.7 million spent. INNOVATION
- $3.9 million spent. INTERNATIONAL SIMILAR TO THE U.S. HILLEL HAS AFFILIATES ACROSS THE GLOBE INCLUDING EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA, AND RUSSIA. HILLEL FUNDRAISES ON BEHALF OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH US BASED DONORS AND FOUNDATIONS AS WELL FOUNDATIONS AND DONORS INTERNATIONALLY.
- $3.9 million spent. A MEASUREMENT PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO ASSESS THE SUCCESS OF LOCAL HILLELS ON KEY STUDENT OUTCOMES, OUTPUTS THAT CORRELATE WITH THOSE OUTCOMES, AND THE KEY DRIVERS OF HILLEL'S SUCCESS (MONEY, TALENT, ETC.). HILLELS RECEIVE VALUABLE PERFORMANCE AND BENCHMARKING DATA AND ARE USING THE DATA TO HELP THEM TELL THEIR STORY, INFORM THEIR STRATEGIES, AND RAISE FUNDS. THE DATA IS ALSO USED TO EVALUATE THE BEST WAYS HILLEL INTERNATIONAL CAN SUPPORT HILLELS ON THE PATH TO EXCELLENCE. CURRENTLY 126 NORTH AMERICAN HILLELS AND 8 INTERNATIONAL HILLELS PARTICIPATE IN THE MEASUREMENT PROGRAM.
- $3.7 million spent. SPRINGBOARD FELLOWSHIP THAT BRINGS RECENT COLLEGE GRADS WITH PASSION FOR BUILDING JEWISH LIFE AND SKILLS IN INNOVATION OR JEWISH EDUCATION TO COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. THERE ARE SPRINGBOARD FELLOWS ACROSS 65+ CAMPUSES FOCUSING ON SOCIAL JUSTICE, INNOVATION AND EZRA JEWISH EDUCATION. IACT, INSPIRED, ACTIVE, COMMITTED, TRANSFORMED, IS A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY THAT LEVERAGES BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TO TRANSFORM JEWISH LIFE ON CAMPUS. IACT'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY JEWISH STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A MEANINGFUL IMMERSIVE ISRAEL EXPERIENCE AND BE SUPPORTED ON A JOURNEY OF JEWISH DISCOVERY BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE. IACT ACHIEVES ITS GOALS BY PROVIDING FUNDING, RESOURCES, LESSER-AFFILIATE AND SUPPORT FOR A DEDICATED CAMPUS PROFESSIONAL WHO WILL IDENTIFY AND ENGAGE FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS AND SOPHOMORES, RECRUIT THEM TO JOIN A BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TRIP, AND STEWARD THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE.
- $2.5 million spent. IACT, INSPIRED, ACTIVE, COMMITTED, TRANSFORMED, IS A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY THAT LEVERAGES BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TO TRANSFORM JEWISH LIFE ON CAMPUS. IACT'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY JEWISH STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A MEANINGFUL IMMERSIVE ISRAEL EXPERIENCE AND BE SUPPORTED ON A JOURNEY OF JEWISH DISCOVERY BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE. IACT ACHIEVES ITS GOALS BY PROVIDING FUNDING, RESOURCES, LESSER-AFFILIATE AND SUPPORT FOR A DEDICATED CAMPUS PROFESSIONAL WHO WILLIDENTIFY AND ENGAGE FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS AND SOPHOMORES, RECRUIT THEM TO JOIN A BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TRIP, AND STEWARD THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE.
- $2.0 million spent. MEYERHOFF
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? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, 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.