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Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life

EIN 81-0554021 · Burlington, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE UVM HILLEL MISSION IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF JEWISH STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT SO THAT THEY MAY ENRICH THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND THE WORLD.

Income
$867,406
Spending
$869,737
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
-1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
28
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$151,158, 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: 35 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 92% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% 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: 91 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $481,400 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS - EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS FOR THE GREATER UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT COMMUNITY RELATED TO JEWISH LIFE, LEARNING, AND VALUES. THESE INCLUDED EVENTS ON CAMPUS AND THROUGHOUT VERMONT. THESE EVENTS REFLECTED CORE HILLEL VALUES LIKE COMMUNITY, CONNECTION, AND A LIVING TORAH.
  2. $50,482 spent. ISRAEL PROGRAM - MULTIPLE EDUCATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS, PROGRAMS, AND EVENTS RELATED TO ISRAEL EDUCATION, ENGAGEMENT, AND ADVOCACY. PROGRAMS ARE OPEN TO ALL WHO WANT TO ENGAGE WITH DIALOGUE ACROSS DIFFERENCES FOR THE SAKE OF GREATER UNDERSTANDING. SPEAKER EVENTS, PERSONAL STORIES, AND MEMORIAL OBSERVANCES, INCLUDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE UNIVERSITY AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.
  3. $41,853 spent. HOLIDAYS - JEWISH HOLIDAY AND LIFECYCLE EVENTS INCLUDING MAJOR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS. PASSOVER AND HIGH HOLIDAY OBSERVANCES IN THE DAVIS CENTER ON CAMPUS REACHED MORE THAN 400 STUDENTS. STUDENTS WERE ALSO OFFERED THE CHANCE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS IN CLASSES AT HILLEL.
  4. $44,473 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE FRESH FEST, SHABBAT, JEWISH LEARNING FELLOWSHIP (JLF), HILLEL FRESH, DISCOVERY, STUDENT LEADERSHIP.

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.