Illini Hillel

Name

Illini Hillel

Legal name

Illini Hillel

Website

https://illinihillel.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Jewish Campus Life Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAKAH

Jewish Theological Seminaries & Rabbinical Colleges

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

SECONDARYEDALADAJ

Nutrition, Dietary Management & Allergen/Accommodation Services

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Dining, Food Services & Campus Retail

SECONDARYEDAMALAK

Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Summer & Holiday Enrichment Camps (Multi-Activity, Academic)

Keywords

• Jewish campus life
• Student religious services
• Kosher meal programs
• Jewish learning fellowships
• Interfaith campus programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Champaign

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Illini Hillel relies heavily on individual donations from alumni, parents, community members, and supporters. Donation options include one-time gifts, monthly recurring giving (Take A Student Out campaign), and the Hillel Global Giving Week campaign (which raised over $110,000 in a recent campaign).
2. Endowment Funds: Illini Hillel maintains several endowment funds including the Allen (Susan Linowes Allen Memorial Fund for the Hillel Foundation), the Illini Hillel Cohen Center for Jewish Life Endowment, Hillel Director's Fund, CU Eruv Endowment ($100,000 goal), Krakower Torah Fund, and the Karson Family Scholarship Fund. Income from endowments supports ongoing programs.
3. Meal Sponsorship: Parents, grandparents, and alumni sponsor specific Shabbat meals, bagel brunches, or holiday meals. Sponsorship tiers include Full Weekend ($1,800), Shabbat Dinner ($900), Co-Sponsor Shabbat Dinner ($500), Bagel Brunch ($500), and Holiday Meal ($900).
4. Family Giving Society (Monthly Membership): The Family Giving Society is a parent fundraising campaign with annual gift tiers: M'Dor l'Dor ($2,400/year or $200/month), Dean's List ($1,080/year or $90/month), Chai Society ($1,800/year or $150/month), Honor Roll ($540/year or $45/month), and L'Chaim ($360/year or $30/month). Memberships provide benefits including Shabbat and Swag boxes, Challah deliveries, finals care packages, and holiday care packages.
5. Monthly Giving (Take A Student Out): Monthly giving campaign at levels including $5/month (coffee with a student), $10/month (dinner with a student), $18/month (holidays with a student), $25/month (coffee dates every week), and $30/month (dinner every week).
6. Campaign Designations: Donors can give to designated funds including Annual Campaign, Shabbat Dinners and Services, Jewish Learning, Israel Programming, Sponsoring Students for Conferences and Trips, Sponsoring a Meal, and Donate to the Endowment.
7. Camp Fees: Camp Orange Ruach summer day camp for kids aged 5-14 runs $280 per child for the week-long program (June 8-12, 2026), from 8:30am to 4pm daily.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Illini Hillel is a nonprofit Jewish campus life organization at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign that provides a pluralistic environment for nearly 3,000 Jewish students to explore and celebrate Judaism. Core offerings include weekly Shabbat meals and services, holiday programming (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover), Jewish Learning Fellowships and Israel Learning Fellowships, Birthright Israel trips, cRc-certified kosher dining, the Champaign Urbana Eruv, scholarships, paid student internships, and the Camp Orange Ruach summer day camp, all delivered through the Cohen Center for Jewish Life facility and a network of student groups and micro-communities.

Product overview

Illini Hillel is a Jewish campus life organization at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign operating within the Cohen Center for Jewish Life. The organization provides a pluralistic environment for nearly 3,000 Jewish students through a diverse portfolio of programs and services. Core offerings include weekly Shabbat meals and services, holiday programming (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover), and the Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF) with topic-specific tracks. Israel-focused programming includes the Israel Learning Fellowship (ILF) and Birthright Israel trips. The organization supports student leadership through the Hillel Leadership Council, various student groups (LGBTJew, ISSI), and micro-communities. Financial support is available through multiple scholarships (Karson Family, Bernard Heerey, Joe Pedott). Additional services include engagement and administrative internships, Camp Orange Ruach summer day camp, Sababa Plus kosher food ordering, Soup Hotline for ill students, and the Champaign Urbana Eruv maintenance. The organization is affiliated with Hillel International and supported by the Jewish United Fund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Illini Hillel Jewish Campus Life (Cohen Center for Jewish Life) The primary Jewish campus life organization at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, providing a pluralistic environment for nearly 3,000 Jewish students to explore and celebrate Judaism through Shabbat, holidays, learning, Israel, leadership, and community programs at the Cohen Center.
• Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF) An experiential, conversational learning program for Jewish students to deepen their understanding of Judaism on their own terms, with topic-specific tracks (Sex/Love/Relationships, Shabbat, Life's Big Questions, Art) and completion stipends.
• Israel Learning Fellowship (ILF) A 6-week discussion-based, experiential program for students interested in deepening their understanding of Israel; participants receive a $150 stipend upon completion.
• Illini Hillel Scholarships Scholarship programs for incoming and current Jewish students at UIUC, including the Karson Family Scholarship ($1,500 per scholarship), Bernard Heerey Family Foundation Scholarship ($2,000 tuition), and Joe Pedott Student Assistance Fund for financial hardship support.
• Birthright Israel with Shorashim Free 10-day trips to Israel for Jewish young adults, partnering with the government of Israel, private philanthropists, and Jewish communities worldwide.
• Student Groups and Micro-Communities Student-led groups including Hillel Leadership Council, LGBTJew, Illini Students Supporting Israel (ISSI), UIUC Discussing Israel, Orthodox Jewish Students, NERF Wars, Co-Ed Intramural Sports, and Reform/Renewal Community.
• Camp Orange Ruach Summer day camp for children aged 5-14 running June 8-12, 2026, on the UIUC campus with activities and field trips; $280 per child for the week-long program.
• Engagement Internship Paid internship program where students help connect Jewish students to community, assist with programs, and receive mentorship and training with a semester stipend.
• Administrative Internship Paid internship offering professional skills experience and training in communications, data management, development, office assistant, finance, and cafe operations.
• Sababa Plus Program allowing students and community members to order Kosher meat and pizzas from Campus Kosher Catering using Illini Hillel's cRc-certified Kosher kitchens for at-home preparation in Urbana-Champaign.
• Champaign Urbana Eruv An eruv (symbolic boundary) inaugurated in August 2017, certified by the OU and endorsed by the cRc, allowing observant Jews to carry items on Shabbat; maintained by Illini Hillel's OU-JLIC Rabbi and student leaders.
• Reform/Renewal Community Reform/Renewal community holding Shabbat services every Friday night during the school year, with a Siddur Supplement and praylist for participants.
• Shabbat Meals and Services Weekly Shabbat programming including Friday services at 6:00 PM and dinner at 7:00 PM, and Saturday Orthodox services at 9:30 AM with Kosher Kiddush lunch.
• Holiday Programming Events and services for Jewish holidays including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, and Passover with multiple seders and kosher meals.
• Hillel Soup Hotline Support service for students who are not feeling well, providing soup and care packages.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 3,000 Jewish students served annually on a single campus
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hillel International (Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllini Hillel is an Accredited Campus Foundation of Hillel International. Hillel International provides institutional accreditation, best practices, programming resources, scholarships (including Jack and Harriet Kudine First-Year Student Scholarship, Behrman Campus Leadership Award, Lilly E. Reiser Graduate Student Award, Frimer First Generation Student Scholarship), and connects campus Hillels to a global network of Jewish campus communities.
• Jewish United Fund / Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Jewish United Fund supports the Cohen Center for Jewish Life and processes online donations for Illini Hillel, providing secure donation processing. JUF amplifies collective strength to address Jewish community needs and connects Illini Hillel to the broader Chicago Jewish community.
• OU (Orthodox Union) and OU-JLICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOU-JLIC (Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus) provides a rabbinic couple (Rabbi Shmuel Hauss and Jackie Hauss) who serve the Orthodox Jewish community at UIUC. The OU certifies the Champaign Urbana Eruv under the supervision of Rabbi Howard Jachter. The partnership provides Orthodox Jewish programming, daily Maariv Minyan services, Mishmar sessions, and the Eruv maintenance.
• Champaign Urbana Jewish Federation (CUJF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCUJF established the CUJEF (Champaign Urbana Jewish Education Fund) which manages several endowment funds for Illini Hillel, including the Allen Fund (established 1993 by the Linowes family) and the Illini Hillel Cohen Center for Jewish Life Endowment. CUJF is a key funder and institutional partner.
• Champaign Urbana Eruv Partnership (Illini Chabad, JET, Temple Sinai, University of Illinois, Ameren Illinois, Champaign County, Cities of Champaign and Urbana)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA multi-partner initiative inaugurated in August 2017 to establish and maintain the Champaign Urbana Eruv. The Eruv is certified by the OU and endorsed by the cRc. Partners include Illini Hillel, Illini Chabad, JET (Jewish Education Team), Temple Sinai, the University of Illinois, Ameren Illinois, Champaign County, and the Cities of Champaign and Urbana. The inaugural gift was provided by Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Weinstein.
• University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllini Hillel is embedded in the University of Illinois campus ecosystem. The university provides space, student engagement infrastructure, and collaborates on interfaith programming. The Hillel Leadership Council is a Registered Student Organization (RSO) at UIUC.
• Sinai Temple (Champaign)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllini Hillel partners with Sinai Temple for community Seders (e.g., Seder with Sinai during Passover) and collaborates on joint programming. Sinai Temple also posts job openings for religious school teachers that are shared with Illini Hillel students.
• cRc (Chicago Rabbinical Council)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe cRc (Chicago Rabbinical Council) provides Kosher certification for Illini Hillel's kitchens, enabling the organization to serve cRc kosher meals for Shabbat, holidays, and daily dining. The cRc also endorses the Champaign Urbana Eruv.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hillel at UCLA: Hillel foundation at another major US public university with a large Jewish student body. Closely comparable operating model, programming slate, and revenue mix (donations, sponsorships, endowments, fellowships), making it a strong benchmark for Illini Hillel's scale and trajectory.
• Hillel at the University of Michigan: Peer Hillel foundation at a fellow Big Ten public university, serving a comparable large Jewish student population with similar programming tracks (fellowships, Shabbat, Israel, kosher dining). Direct structural and operational analogue at a peer institution.
• Hillel at NYU: Hillel foundation at a major US university with a large and diverse Jewish student body. Closely comparable operating model with a similar mix of pluralistic programming, fellowships, kosher dining, and donor-funded operations.
• Illini Chabad: Parallel Jewish campus organization at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, co-maintaining the CU Eruv and providing overlapping religious programming including Shabbat meals and Orthodox services. Most direct same-campus peer competing for the same donor and student pool.

Others

• Birthright Israel Foundation: Organization that funds and coordinates the free 10-day Birthright Israel trips that Illini Hillel recruits for and runs through its Shorashim partnership. Operates upstream of Illini Hillel's Israel programming pipeline.
• Jewish United Fund / Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago: Affiliated federation that processes donations and provides core institutional funding to Illini Hillel. Operates in the same Jewish communal ecosystem and is the principal conduit to the broader Chicago Jewish community, making it a key adjacent institution rather than a direct competitor.
• OU-JLIC (Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus): Orthodox Union program placing rabbinic couples on US campuses; provides the OU-JLIC couple (Rabbi Shmuel and Jackie Hauss) who serve Illini Hillel's Orthodox community and maintain the CU Eruv. Adjacent enabling partner rather than direct competitor.
• Sinai Temple (Champaign): Local Reform congregation in Champaign that partners with Illini Hillel on community Seders and joint programming. Operates in the same local Jewish ecosystem and shares constituents, but functions as a congregational rather than campus-based peer.

Broad incumbents

• Hillel International: Parent organization and global network of Jewish campus organizations. Illini Hillel is an Accredited Campus Foundation of Hillel International, making the parent the closest structural and operational analogue and the source of shared programming, scholarships, and accreditation standards.
• Chabad on Campus International: National network of Chabad houses serving Jewish students at universities across the US. Operates the same Jewish campus life mission as Illini Hillel but through a denomination-specific Orthodox lens, and competes with Hillel-affiliated foundations for students, rabbis, and philanthropic dollars.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IlliniHillel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjWryK-rmcCLpzjN6T07QEQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/IlliniHillel
• Instagraminstagram.com/illinihillel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uiuc-hillel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Illini Hillel