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Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life

EIN 65-1090524 · Gainesville, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GAINESVILLE JEWISH STUDENT FOUNDATION, INC. (KNOWN AS SCHILIT HILLEL AT UF) MISSION: SCHILIT HILLEL AT UF ENRICHES THE LIVES OF JEWISH STUDENTS, INSPIRING THEM TO MAKE AN ENDURING COMMITMENT TO JEWISH LIFE, LEARNING, AND ISRAEL

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
12
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$163,624, 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

Weak: 40 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 66% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Fair: 68 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (3)
  1. $603,540 spent. ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY BUILDING SCHILIT HILLEL AT UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HILLEL OFFERS JEWISH STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN VIBRANT JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE AND BUILD MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. SCHILIT HILLEL FUNCTIONS AS A CENTRAL HUB WHERE STUDENTS CAN FIND A SENSE OF BELONGING, PEER SUPPORT, AND CHANCES FOR PERSONAL GROWTH. THROUGH RELATIONSHIP-BASED ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNITY-BUILDING PROGRAMS, STUDENT OUTREACH INITIATIVES, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, SCHILIT HILLEL CREATES AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO EXPLORE AND EXPRESS THEIR JEWISH IDENTITY. SCHILIT HILLEL ALSO PROVIDES STUDENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALLOW STUDENTS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR TIES TO JEWISH LIFE WHILE GAINING PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT DURING COLLEGE.
  2. $603,540 spent. JEWISH LIFE AND LEARNING SCHILIT HILLEL PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS AIMED AT HELPING STUDENTS CONNECT WITH JEWISH TRADITIONS, STRENGTHEN THEIR JEWISH IDENTITY, AND BUILD LASTING COMMUNITY. EACH YEAR, SCHILIT HILLEL SUPPORTS HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS THROUGH FELLOWSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, LEADERSHIP PROJECTS, AND IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES CENTERED ON JEWISH EDUCATION, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, ISRAEL STUDIES, AND CIVIC INVOLVEMENT. SCHILIT HILLEL ALSO HOSTS COMPREHENSIVE SHABBAT AND HOLIDAY PROGRAMS, SERVING THOUSANDS OF MEALS ANNUALLY AND OFFERING ACCESSIBLE ENTRY POINTS FOR STUDENTS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS AND LEVELS OF JEWISH EXPERIENCE. IN COLLABORATION WITH HUNDREDS OF STUDENT LEADERS, SCHILIT HILLEL MAINTAINS A BUSY SCHEDULE OF RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND WELLNESS ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ENSURE EVERY JEWISH STUDENT CAN DEVELOP A MEANINGFUL AND LASTING CONNECTION TO JUDAISM AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
  3. $301,772 spent. ANTISEMITISM AND ISRAEL EDUCATION SCHILIT HILLEL EDUCATES STUDENTS, FACULTY, ADMINISTRATORS, AND CAMPUS PARTNERS ABOUT THE JEWISH STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ALLYSHIP IN RESPONSE TO RISING ANTISEMITISM ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES. THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, ADVOCACY INITIATIVES, INTERGROUP DIALOGUE, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, INCLUDING THE AWARD-WINNING SPREAD CREAM CHEESE NOT HATE INITIATIVE, SCHILIT HILLEL WORKS TO CREATE A SAFER AND MORE INCLUSIVE CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT FOR JEWISH STUDENTS. SCHILIT HILLEL ALSO OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOCUSED ON ISRAEL, COVERING HISTORICAL, CULTURAL, AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES TO DEEPEN STUDENTS' UNDERSTANDING AND CONNECTIONS TO ISRAEL. ADDITIONALLY, SCHILIT HILLEL ORGANIZES IMMERSIVE TRAVEL AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN ISRAEL FOR BOTH JEWISH AND NON-JEWISH STUDENTS. EACH YEAR, OVER 500 STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS SUCH AS BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TRIPS, THE BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL ONWARD SUMMER INTERNSHIP IN TEL AVIV, THE FACT FINDERS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR NON-JEWISH STUDENT LEADERS, AND OTHER ISRAEL-BASED INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING.

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 November 6, 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 November 4, 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.