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Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life

EIN 62-6073391 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENHANCE THE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS BY PROVIDING ACTIVITIES THAT STRENGTHEN JEWISH LIFE ON CAMPUS WHILE PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT COMPLEMENT CLASSROOM LEARNING. VANDERBILT HILLEL OCCUPIES A UNIVERSITY-OWNED, SELF-STANDING, 10,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING WHERE ROOMS ARE AVAILABLE TO UNIVERSITY GROUPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING INTERFAITH AND INTERCULTURAL RELATIONSHIPS.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
12.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
8
Volunteers
28
Highest pay
$215,052, 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: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 93 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 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

    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

    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. $87,311 spent. HIGH HOLIDAYS/PASSOVER/SHABBAT/OTHER HOLIDAYS: VANDERBILT HILLEL HOSTS SABBATH AND HOLIDAY EVENTS, INCLUDING RELIGIOUS SERVICES AND DINNER, EACH YEAR TO VANDERBILT STUDENTS. STUDENTS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THESE EVENTS. THE PURPOSE OF THESE EVENTS IS TO PROVIDE A TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE TO STUDENTS ON CAMPUS AND TO BUILD COMMUNITY.VANDERBILT HILLEL PROVIDES MULTIPLE DENOMINATION RELIGIOUS SERVICES DURING THE HIGH HOLIDAYS ALONG WITH CEREMONIAL MEALS AND PROGRAMS. DURING PASSOVER, VANDERBILT HILLEL PROVIDES PASSOVER SEDERS, EXPERIENCES, AND OUTREACH TO MULTIPLE CAMPUS GROUPS. IN ADDITION, DURING THE EIGHT DAYS OF PASSOVER, VANDERBILT HILLEL PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH PASSOVER MEALS IN THE HILLEL BUILDING AND ALSO AT THE CAMPUS DINING HALL.
  2. $30,820 spent. FAMILY PROGRAMMING EVENTS AND FUNDRAISER: VANDERBILT HILLEL HOLDS EVENTS FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT COINCIDE WITH EVENTS AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY. DURING MOVE-IN WEEKEND, FAMILY WEEKEND, AND HOMECOMING WEEKEND, VANDERBILT HILLEL HOSTS SHABBAT EXPERIENCES, FOOTBALL TAILGATES, AND BRUNCHES FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.IN ADDITION, VANDERBILT HILLEL HOLDS AN ANNUAL FUNDRAISER EACH YEAR TO SUPPORT STUDENT PROGRAMMING AND OPERATIONS.
  3. $201,554 spent. STUDENT PROGRAMMING: VANDERBILT HILLEL PROVIDES PROGRAMMING FOR JEWISH VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY AND BELMONT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. EXAMPLES OF STUDENT PROGRAMMING INCLUDE FIRST YEAR STUDENTS OF HILLEL WEEKEND, JEWISH LEARNING FELLOWSHIP, SENIOR AND GRADUATE STUDENT SPECIFIC PROGRAMMING, CAMPUS ACTIVITIES AND STUDENT COMMITTEES, AND ISRAEL EDUCATION. STUDENT PROGRAMMING AT VANDERBILT HILLEL PROVIDES A RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE BUILDING COMMUNITY.IN ADDITION, VANDERBILT HILLEL ORGANIZED AND STAFFED A TRIP TO ISRAEL. A GRANT WAS RECEIVED TO PAY FOR THE TRIP.
  4. $566,710 spent. VARIOUS PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES THAT STRENGTHEN JEWISH LIFE ON CAMPUS WHILE PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT COMPLEMENT CLASSROOM LEARNING AND PROMOTE INTERFAITH AND INTERCULTURAL RELATIONSHIPS.

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.