Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life logo

Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life

WASHINGTON, DC EIN: 52-1844823 Website

Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Washington, DC. As the world's largest Jewish campus organization, Hillel operates at more than 850 colleges and universities across the United States, Canada, and 16 countries worldwide. The organization serves Jewish undergraduate and graduate students, providing community, programming, and support for Jewish life and identity on campus.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$69.4M

+17.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$10.6M

+8.8% YoY

Grant Count

150

+12.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$71K

-3.5% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission: Enriching the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world.

Vision: A world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel.

Hillel's primary focus areas include:

  • Building Jewish identity and community among college students
  • Providing pluralistic Jewish engagement across diverse student backgrounds
  • Supporting student leadership development
  • Facilitating connections to Jewish learning and Israel
  • Creating inclusive environments for Jewish students of all backgrounds

The organization addresses the critical role it plays for students living independently for the first time, many with limited Jewish background, in developing Jewish identity and community connection.

Grantmaking

Hillel distributes grants to support its network of campus organizations and programs:

Grant Types

include:**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Hillel operates across:

  • 850+ colleges and universities in the United States and Canada
  • 16 countries worldwide
  • Primary funding activity in New York, California, and Massachusetts

Grant Distribution by State

39states
+31 more states

Cities

AlbanyAlbuquerqueAmherstAnn HarborAthensAtlantaAustinBaltimoreBellinghamBerkeleyBethlehemBinghamtonBlacksburgBloomingtonBoca RatonBostonBoulderBronxvilleBrooklynBurlington

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2024:

Metric Amount
Total Assets $69,398,102
Total Revenue $73,217,039
Total Expenses $65,786,735
Total Liabilities $5,840,000
Total Giving $15,152,745
Number of Employees 241

The organization maintains a four-star rating based on accountability and financial metrics.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$20M$40M$60M$81M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$69,398,102$59,051,644$59,597,632
Revenue$73,217,039$64,053,823$57,858,837
Expenses$65,786,735$61,438,103$52,709,797
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income$1,117,925$987,460$307,862
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$3M$7M$10M$14M135 grants2020143 grants2021145 grants2022133 grants2023150 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

HILLEL-UNIVERSITY OF FLO…$413KHILLEL-UNIVERSITY OF ARI…$282KHILLEL OF SAN DIEGO$278KHILLEL 818$251KHillels of Illinois$243KHILLEL-UNIV OF CA DAVIS$237KHILLEL-UNIV OF CENTRAL FL$235KHILLEL-UNIVERSITY OF MAR…$226KHILLEL-CUNY QUEENS COLLEGE$219KHILLEL-UNIV OF WI MADISON$196K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

39<$50K64$50–100K133$100–250K14$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

5 open opportunities from Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life

Show all 5 →

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

President and CEO: Adam Lehman

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

ADAM LEHMANPRESIDENT & CEO$591KTIM COHENSR VP OF LEADERSHIP GIVING$310KSHARI MERRILLCOO$307KSARA FRIEDChief External Affairs Officer$306KMARK ROTENBERGVP OF UNIVERSITY INITIATIVES$301KGRAHAM NOAH HOFFMANChief Stragety Officer$259KDAN SMOKLERCHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER$255KBENJAMIN BERGERVP JEWISH EDUCATION$249KSAM KLEINCFO$248KSHIRA KOCH EPSTEINExc Dir of Ctr for Rabbinic$234K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
ADAM LEHMANPRESIDENT & CEO40$590,981
SARA FRIEDChief External Affairs Officer40$306,242
MARK ROTENBERGVP OF UNIVERSITY INITIATIVES40$300,977
TIM COHENSR VP OF LEADERSHIP GIVING40$310,078
SHARI MERRILLCOO40$307,147
DAN SMOKLERCHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER40$254,934
BENJAMIN BERGERVP JEWISH EDUCATION40$249,089
GRAHAM NOAH HOFFMANChief Stragety Officer40$259,461
SAM KLEINCFO40$247,987
SHIRA KOCH EPSTEINExc Dir of Ctr for Rabbinic40$234,178
LEE DRANIKOFFCHAIR2
ESTEE PORTNOYVICE CHAIR2
ABBY DOFTVICE CHAIR2
SKIP VICHNESSPAST CHAIR2
DOUG BERMANTREASURER2
HILDA APPLBAUMMEMBER2
JACK AZAGURYMEMBER2
LAURIE BLITZERMEMBER2
SAMANTHA BRODYMEMBER2
CHARLES COHENMEMBER2
DEBBIE YUNKER KAILMEMBER2
SIDNEY PERYNOYMEMBER2
GALI POLICHUKMEMBER2
TINA PRICEMEMBER2
TAMAR REMZMEMBER2
DAVID RITTBERGMEMBER2
BRUCE SHOLKMEMBER2
DAVID YAFFEMEMBER2

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

Hillel International launched a major Talent Grants initiative funded by a $38 million gift from the Marcus Foundation, providing campus support directors and resources to local Hillels

Hillel International Launches Talent Grants for Campuses with $38 ...

Announced the largest scholarship awards in the organization's history for the upcoming school year

Hillel International Announces Largest Scholarship Awards in its History

Grinspoon Hillel at Cornell broke ground on a new Jewish Student Center

Grinspoon Hillel at Cornell Breaks Ground on New Jewish Student Center -

Operates Birthright Israel programming, seeking to provide educational trips to Israel to 50,000 young Jewish adults annually

Established the Israel Leadership Network and Israel Summit programming

Created the College Decision Hub to support Jewish students in the college selection process

Launched Campus for All, a resource addressing antisemitism on campus and supporting Jewish student rights

Hillel International Launches Talent Grants for Campuses with $38 ...

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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