Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
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
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
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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
States
Cities
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.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
Ask Big Questions Campus Hillel Grants
HILLEL THE FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE
Amount
$1,500
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Hillel International Writers Program
HILLEL THE FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
HillelWell Microgrants
HILLEL THE FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hillel-university of Florida ($412,730), Hillel-university of Arizona ($282,425), Hillel of San Diego ($278,384).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HILLEL-UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA GAINESVILLE, FL | Program Grant | $412,730 |
| HILLEL-UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA TUCSON, AZ | Program Grant | $282,425 |
| HILLEL OF SAN DIEGO LA JOLLA, CA | Program Grant | $278,384 |
| HILLEL 818 NORTHRIDGE, CA | Program Grant | $251,366 |
| Hillels of Illinois CHICAGO, IL | Program Grant | $243,083 |
| HILLEL-UNIV OF CA DAVIS DAVIS, CA | Program Grant | $237,370 |
| HILLEL-UNIV OF CENTRAL FL OVIEDO, FL | Program Grant | $235,076 |
| HILLEL-UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK, MD | Program Grant | $225,888 |
| HILLEL-CUNY QUEENS COLLEGE FLUSHING, NY | Program Grant | $218,507 |
| HILLEL-UNIV OF WI MADISON MADISON, WI | Program Grant | $195,560 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President and CEO: Adam Lehman
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADAM LEHMAN | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $590,981 |
| SARA FRIED | Chief External Affairs Officer | 40 | $306,242 |
| MARK ROTENBERG | VP OF UNIVERSITY INITIATIVES | 40 | $300,977 |
| TIM COHEN | SR VP OF LEADERSHIP GIVING | 40 | $310,078 |
| SHARI MERRILL | COO | 40 | $307,147 |
| DAN SMOKLER | CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER | 40 | $254,934 |
| BENJAMIN BERGER | VP JEWISH EDUCATION | 40 | $249,089 |
| GRAHAM NOAH HOFFMAN | Chief Stragety Officer | 40 | $259,461 |
| SAM KLEIN | CFO | 40 | $247,987 |
| SHIRA KOCH EPSTEIN | Exc Dir of Ctr for Rabbinic | 40 | $234,178 |
| LEE DRANIKOFF | CHAIR | 2 | — |
| ESTEE PORTNOY | VICE CHAIR | 2 | — |
| ABBY DOFT | VICE CHAIR | 2 | — |
| SKIP VICHNESS | PAST CHAIR | 2 | — |
| DOUG BERMAN | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| HILDA APPLBAUM | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| JACK AZAGURY | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| LAURIE BLITZER | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| SAMANTHA BRODY | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| CHARLES COHEN | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| DEBBIE YUNKER KAIL | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| SIDNEY PERYNOY | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| GALI POLICHUK | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| TINA PRICE | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| TAMAR REMZ | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| DAVID RITTBERG | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| BRUCE SHOLK | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| DAVID YAFFE | MEMBER | 2 | — |
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 HistoryGrinspoon 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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life fund?
**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 …
How do I apply for a grant from Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life?
Hillel distributes grants to support its network of campus organizations and programs: • **Total giving (2024):** $15,152,745 • **Typical award range:** $5,040–$871,260 • **Grant types include:** • Talent grants providing campus support directors and resources for recruiting, retaining, and training staff across local Hillels • Talent investments distributed across approximately 400 grants, training programs, scholarships, and conference subsidies, impacting over 160 local Hillels • Ripples of …
Where does Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life make 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
What size grants does Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life award?
In 2024, Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life awarded 150 grants totaling $10.6M — an average of about $71K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life's EIN?
Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1844823. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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