What Hillel International does

Hillel International, legally Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life (EIN# 52-1844823), is the world's largest Jewish campus organization, founded in 1923 by Benjamin Frankel at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. It operates 850+ campus Hillels across the United States, Canada, and 16 countries on four continents, employing 1,200 professionals and serving nearly 200,000 Jewish college students annually (187,000 in the 2024-2025 school year). The organization delivers pluralistic Jewish programming including Jewish learning, holiday observance, leadership development, Birthright Israel trips, civic engagement (MitzVote), Israel engagement via 65 Jewish Agency Israel Fellows on 75+ campuses, antisemitism response (Campus for All, CALL, Campus Climate Initiative across 100+ universities), and a Jewish Scholarships Portal covering 650+ scholarships. The organization is led by President and CEO Adam Lehman and governed by an independent board.

Hillel's technology platform centers on hillel.org (500,000 annual unique users), supporting a college search/comparison tool, scholarship database, event registration, antisemitism resource hubs (campus4all.org, reportcampushate.org), and email outreach to 400,000+ subscribers. The site runs on standard commercial infrastructure (Stripe, PayPal, Calendly, Cloudflare, AWS, Hotjar, LinkedIn) and does not disclose proprietary technology or AI capabilities. Hillel also publishes the Hillel College Guide Magazine (50,000+ print copies, 200,000 online visitors annually) and produces signature events including the Yallapalooza concert series (5,000+ students from 350 campuses), Israel Summit (500+ leaders from 200+ universities), National Hillel Basketball Tournament (1,500+ students), and the annual Global Assembly reaching 1,200 professionals.

Hillel is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that does not charge membership fees. Revenue is generated through individual donations (including triple-match monthly giving campaigns), foundation grants (notably $63M+ cumulatively from the Jim Joseph Foundation including $12M in March 2025), event sponsorships (annual NYC gala, Texas Hold'em, regional events), digital and print advertising, and capital campaigns (e.g., $9.3M San Francisco). Major strategic partners include Birthright Israel Foundation, Jewish Agency for Israel, ADL, the Brandeis Center, Masa Israel Journey, and Repair the World. The organization is headquartered in Washington, DC, with regional offices including San Francisco.

Name

Hillel International

Legal name

Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life

Website

https://hillel.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Hillel International is the world's largest Jewish campus organization, serving nearly 200,000 students across 850+ colleges in 16 countries through community programming, scholarships, Israel engagement, and antisemitism response, funded by donations and grants as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Jewish Campus Engagement Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (813110), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural, Identity & Inclusion Programs (EDALAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic & Education Conference Organizers (THAHACAE), Degree-Level Scholarships (Undergrad/Masters/PhD/Postdoc) (EDAIAOAE), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Jewish campus engagement
• Student community programming
• College antisemitism support
• Israel engagement programs
• Jewish educational services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Hillel International raises funds from individual donors supporting Jewish campus life. The organization runs ongoing donation campaigns including triple-match monthly giving campaigns. EIN# 52-1844823; Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life is a 501(c)(3) organization.
2. Foundation Grants: Hillel International has received major grants from foundations including the Jim Joseph Foundation (totaling over $63 million across multiple grants), supporting Jewish learning experiences, leadership training, emergency aid for Ukraine, and strategic priority projects ($12 million awarded March 2025). Additional foundation funding supports talent grants and campus Hillel operations.
3. Event Sponsorships: Organizations sponsor Hillel events including the annual gala in New York City, Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament, and major donor events in Jerusalem, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and the Hamptons. Sponsors reach Jewish college students, alumni, and young professionals.
4. Digital and Print Advertising: Organizations purchase digital advertising on hillel.org (500,000 annual unique users) and space in the Hillel College Guide Magazine (50,000+ copies distributed, 200,000 online visitors annually). Geotargeting and audience segmentation (current students, parents) available.
5. No Membership Fees: Hillel never charges membership fees or dues. Students participate free of charge, with all programming funded through donor contributions and grants.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Hillel International is the world's largest Jewish campus organization, delivering free programs in Jewish education, religious holiday celebration, Israel engagement (including Birthright Israel trips), leadership development, social impact, antisemitism response (Campus Climate Initiative, Campus Antisemitism Legal Line, Report Campus Hate), scholarships (650+ through the Jewish Scholarships Portal), and civic engagement (MitzVote) across 850+ college campuses. All programs and services are offered to students at no charge, with no membership fees, and are funded through individual donations, foundation grants, event sponsorships, and advertising.

Product overview

Hillel International operates as a nonprofit campus organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings center on Jewish student engagement, education, and community-building across 850+ campuses globally. The main digital platform (Hillel.org) serves as a gateway to services including the College Decision Hub with comparison tools and scholarship search, the Jewish Scholarships Portal (650+ scholarships), Birthright Israel trips, Campus for All antisemitism education resources, and Campus Climate Initiative university partnerships. Supporting programs include HillelU professional development, Israel programming (Israel Fellows, Israel Summit, leadership summits), civic engagement (MitzVote), Social Impact service initiatives, career networking, internships, and the Graduation Giveaway. The organization delivers content via Hillel.org (500K annual users), the College Guide Magazine (50K+ print, 200K online), email newsletters (400K+ subscribers), and virtual programming, while maintaining strategic partnerships with organizations including ADL, Brandeis Center, Birthright Israel Foundation, Masa Israel Journey, and Repair the World.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hillel France: Hillel chapter serving Jewish students in France
• Hillel Germany
• Hillel Hungary
• Hillel Israel
• Hillel Poland
• Hillel Russia
• Hillel CASE (Central and Southeastern Europe)
• Hillel South America
• Campus for All
• Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL)
• Neshamah

Products and services

• Campus Climate Initiative (CCI) A partnership program with 100+ colleges and universities that provides data assessment, administrator training, and adoption of best-practice policies to counter antisemitism and create inclusive campus environments for Jewish students.
• Hillel: Birthright Israel Free 10-day trips to Israel for Jewish college students and young adults ages 18-26, enabling exploration of Jewish identity and heritage through immersive travel experiences. Hillel organizes campus and national trip cohorts departing from cities including New York and San Francisco.
• Campus for All An online resource platform empowering Jewish students to identify and report antisemitism, understand their rights on campus, and engage in informed conversations about Israel, providing expert insights, diverse perspectives, and tools for meaningful conversations.
• Jewish Scholarships Portal Searchable, sortable database of 650+ college scholarships specifically for Jewish students, enabling students to filter by location, school year, award amount, and study abroad criteria.
• Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL) Free legal assistance and representation for Jewish college students impacted by antisemitism, provided in partnership with ADL, Brandeis Center, and Arnold and Porter.
• College Decision Hub Comprehensive resource for Jewish families covering the college decision process, including the Compare Colleges tool, scholarship access, and campus antisemitism navigation.
• Jewish Agency Israel Fellows Program placing 65 young Israeli college graduates as Israel Fellows on 75+ North American campuses to cultivate relationships with approximately 20,000 Jewish and non-Jewish students and create opportunities for interaction with Israeli peers.
• MitzVote Civic engagement campaign equipping Jewish students with education and tools to fully participate in elections while empowering student leaders to increase access for others, partnered with Andrew Goodman Foundation, OneAmerica Movement, A More Perfect Union, and Interfaith America.
• Social Impact Program Service and civic engagement initiatives including Alternative Spring Break trips, Environmental Sustainability programs, Interfaith Outreach, and Racial Justice initiatives such as Black and Jewish Unity dinners.
• Springboard Fellowship Early-career professional development program providing professional development and entry pathways into Jewish communal work for emerging professionals.
• Hillel International Scholarships Direct scholarship programs administered by Hillel International, including the $18,000 Renewable Aronson Fussman Excellence Scholarship, First-Year Student Scholarship, Campus Leadership Award, First Generation Student Scholarship, and location-based awards for specific institutions.
• Jewish Career Network Professional networking and career resources platform for Jewish college graduates and young professionals, providing mentoring opportunities, job postings, and alumni connections.
• Compare Colleges Tool Digital tool enabling Jewish students and families to search 965 campuses for Jewish life information and compare up to 3 schools across Jewish population, Hillel services, kosher dining, campus climate, and academic factors.
• Report Campus Hate Portal Online reporting portal enabling Jewish students to report antisemitic incidents on campus and receive immediate support and resources.
• Graduation Giveaway Annual program awarding $500 gift cards to 18 graduating high school seniors headed to college, with automatic connection to campus Hillels and the College Decision Hub resources.
• Jewish Learning Fellowship Peer-facilitated Jewish learning initiative enabling students at all knowledge levels to explore Jewish tradition and practice through cohort-based study.
• Hillel College Guide Magazine Annual print and digital publication distributed to 50,000+ students and families, with 200,000 unique annual online users, covering Jewish campus life, antisemitism guidance, and college decision resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 187,000 Jewish college students connected, grew, and learned at Hillel during the 2024-2025 school year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Birthright Israel FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel International is a primary partner for Taglit-Birthright Israel, organizing free 10-day trips to Israel for Jewish college students and young adults ages 18-26. Hillel coordinates campus and national trip cohorts, with trips subsidized by Birthright Israel Foundation funding from individual donors, foundations, the Government of Israel, and Jewish communities worldwide. Over 50,000 students have traveled to Israel on Hillel-led trips in the past 10 years.
• Jewish Agency for IsraelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Jewish Agency for Israel operates the Israel Fellows program in partnership with Hillel. 65 young Israeli college graduates serve as Israel Fellows on 75+ North American campuses, engaging approximately 20,000 Jewish and non-Jewish students annually in programming about Israel. The Fellows bring authentic, diverse Israeli perspectives to campus, creating ongoing dialogue and relationship-building opportunities.
• Repair the WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel International partners with Repair the World on the Service Engagement Internship program, powered by both organizations. Student interns receive skills and resources to engage peers in service, civic engagement, and social change work. Area experts from partner organizations provide deep-dive learning sessions on topics including Racial Justice, Climate Justice, Disability Justice, and Food Justice. Hillel also supports students' alternative break service trips.
• ADL (Anti-Defamation League)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel works with ADL as part of the Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL) initiative, providing free legal assistance and representation to Jewish college students impacted by antisemitism. Nearly 1,000 students have received CALL support over two years.
• Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Hillel on the Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL), providing free legal representation to Jewish college students who have been impacted by antisemitism. Nearly 1,000 students have received support over two years.
• Arnold and PortercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArnold and Porter provides pro bono legal assistance to Jewish college students through the Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL) partnership with Hillel, ADL, and the Brandeis Center.
• Andrew Goodman FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel partners with the Andrew Goodman Foundation as part of its expanded civic engagement work, equipping students with education and tools to fully participate in elections and build democratic participation.
• OneAmerica MovementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel partners with OneAmerica Movement as part of its civic engagement strategy, working to bridge building across communities and strengthen democratic norms among college students.
• A More Perfect UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel partners with A More Perfect Union as part of its civic engagement and bridge-building work on college campuses, supporting democratic participation and cross-community dialogue.
• Interfaith AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel partners with Interfaith America to support interfaith outreach and bridge-building between Jewish students and students from other faith traditions, including through Interfaith Outreach Micro Grants for collaborative student projects.
• National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel partners with NCJW to create resources supporting abortion access and reproductive freedom for staff and students, ensuring students know Hillel is a safe and supportive place, particularly following the 2022 Dobbs decision.
• Thrive Coalition (Keshet)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel International is a member of Thrive: The Jewish Coalition to Defend Trans and LGBQ+ Youth, operated by Keshet. Hillel also participates in the Greater Washington Keshet Shivyan Cohort for institutional self-assessment on LGBTQ+ inclusion.
• JQY (Keshet LGBTQ Youth)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel partners with JQY to provide timely and meaningful resources for Queer Jews on campus as part of its LGBTQ+ inclusion programming.
• Academic Engagement Network (AEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel International partnered with the Academic Engagement Network to create a statement of Best Practices and Principles to assist higher education leaders in protecting free inquiry and diversity of viewpoints on campus.
• Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition / HazonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel International is a signatory of the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition, launched September 2022. Hillel released its first Climate Action Plan in 2023 and a 2024 Climate Action Plan to reduce climate impact worldwide. Hillel also supports students' climate action alternative break trips.
• Masa Israel JourneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel partners with Masa Israel Journey for immersive Israel experiences beyond Birthright, including summer internships through Onward Israel. Masa offers longer-term programs for students seeking extended Israel engagement.
• Resetting the TableminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel partners with Resetting the Table to provide expert-led education and models for students to engage in dialogue across difference in a safe and respectful environment on campuses.
• Leading Edge (Talent Alliance)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHillel International is a member of the Talent Alliance, a community of practice focused on talent and culture run by Leading Edge. Employees can move seamlessly between Talent Alliance organizations and receive credit for years worked.

Scale indicators25 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BBYO (B'nai B'rith Youth Organization): BBYO is the premier pluralistic Jewish teen movement, feeding the Hillel pipeline from high school to college. Hillel was historically part of B'nai B'rith before splitting in the 1990s, making BBYO both a feeder and a sibling organization competing for Jewish youth engagement and family dollars.
• Moishe House: Moishe House creates community for Jewish young adults (primarily post-college, ages 22-30) through resident-led programming globally. It targets an adjacent life stage but competes directly for the same cohort Hillel serves, with overlapping donor bases and parallel programmatic models.
• Repair the World: Repair the World mobilizes Jewish young adults in service engagement — Hillel's direct Service Engagement Internship partner. It targets overlapping demographics and values (tzedek, tikkun olam) and competes for service-oriented Jewish communal funding from the same foundation pool.
• Chabad on Campus: Chabad on Campus is the largest direct peer to Hillel, also serving Jewish college students across hundreds of North American campuses with religious, educational, and social programming. While Orthodox in orientation versus Hillel's pluralistic approach, both compete for the same Jewish student time, identity formation, and donor dollars.
• Birthright Israel Foundation: Birthright Israel Foundation funds the free 10-day Israel trips that Hillel delivers to 18-26 year-olds. While Hillel is a primary trip organizer (not funder), Birthright's brand and funding model are tightly coupled with Hillel's most high-profile programming and donor cultivation pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Jewish Federations of North America: JFNA is the umbrella organization for 146 Jewish federations and the central address for North American Jewish communal fundraising. Hillel competes with and relies on local federations for institutional funding; multiple Hillel executives (e.g., Sarah Fried, Shari Merrill) came from federation roles.
• JCC Association of North America: JCC Association represents 170 Jewish Community Centers serving broader Jewish family audiences across North America. JCCs compete with Hillel for Jewish family engagement, early-childhood programming, and communal dollars, though they serve a wider age range.
• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC): JDC is a century-old global Jewish humanitarian organization and a broader incumbent in the Jewish nonprofit space. Hillel International's VP of Marketing and Brand was previously JDC's brand director, illustrating the shared talent and donor overlap across the established Jewish communal sector.

Emerging players

• Hazon: Hazon is the largest Jewish environmental organization, a co-convener of the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition that Hillel signed. It represents an emerging player overlapping with Hillel's social-impact, sustainability, and alternative-break programming on a narrower thematic axis.
• Keshet: Keshet advances LGBTQ+ inclusion in Jewish life and operates the Thrive Coalition that Hillel participates in. It is an emerging niche player whose work intersects with Hillel's DEI, pluralistic-identity, and student-engagement programming without competing for the same core audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HillelIntl
• Facebookfacebook.com/HillelFJCL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hillel
• Instagraminstagram.com/hillelintl
• TikToktiktok.com/@hillelintl

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hillel International