Un. of Colorado

What Un. of Colorado does

Hillel of Colorado is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in the early 1950s, that supports Jewish college students across four Colorado campuses — University of Denver, Colorado State University, the Auraria Campus (CU Denver, MSU Denver, and Community College of Denver), and Colorado School of Mines. The organization provides religious, cultural, leadership, and wellness programming including weekly Kabbalat Shabbat dinners, Jewish holiday celebrations, cohort-based learning groups, multi-track leadership development (President, Programming, Engagement, Media & Marketing, Song Leader, Chef, Photography), Israel engagement through Birthright, MASA, Onward Israel, and the Israel Explorers Fellowship, plus a Wellness Center addressing mental health at the intersection of Jewish identity and post-October 7th student anxiety. The organization is affiliated with Hillel International, one of over 500 North American affiliates, and operates a student-led, staff-supported model through student boards, campus interns, and volunteer leadership with roughly 10 professional staff members plus 91+ board and community advisors.

Hillel of Colorado operates from a Denver headquarters at 2390 S. Race St. with physical presences including the Merage & Allon Hillel Center at DU, the Merage Hillel House at CSU, a Hillel Lounge inside the Auraria Tivoli Student Union (opened January 2025), and the newest staffed site at the Colorado School of Mines (launched 2025-2026). Distribution is entirely direct through campus-based programming; services are free to students, and the organization has no proprietary technology product, app, or commercial offering. Outreach occurs via campus-specific Instagram accounts, a website, email/text newsletters, parent town halls, press and earned media, and an annual Hillel Charity Golf Tournament.

The revenue model is donation-funded: individual tax-deductible gifts, event-based fundraising (golf tournament), Colorado Gives Day participation with recurring-donation matching, and likely federation/grant support. Revenue figures are not disclosed. The organization has expanded its fundraising, advocacy, and programmatic partnerships — including with ADL Mountain States, American Jewish Committee Colorado, JEWISHcolorado, JCRC, Israel American Council Colorado, Jewish Family Service, Chabad of Auraria, and Golda Meir House — and Executive Director Daniel Bennett has testified before the Colorado Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on antisemitism at Auraria, signaling a growing statewide advocacy posture alongside campus-level programming.

Name

Un. of Colorado

Legal name

Hillel of Colorado

Website

https://hillelcolorado.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hillel of Colorado is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides Jewish religious, cultural, leadership, and wellness programming to over 2,500 Jewish college students across four Colorado campuses — University of Denver, Colorado State University, Auraria Campus, and Colorado School of Mines — funded entirely by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Jewish Student Community Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Jewish Theological Seminaries & Rabbinical Colleges (EDAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Jewish student services
• Campus community programming
• Religious life support
• Student leadership development
• Israel engagement programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting Jewish student programming. Donations fund Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, Israel programs, and leadership development for 2,500 Jewish students.
2. Event-Based Fundraising: Annual charity golf tournament and other fundraising events. 8th annual Hillel Charity Golf Tournament held at Inverness Golf Course in Englewood.
3. Colorado Gives Day: Participates in Colorado Gives Day with matching incentives for new monthly recurring donations up to $100.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hillel of Colorado is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free Jewish student programming across four Colorado campuses, including weekly Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, Jewish learning cohorts, student leadership development tracks, Israel engagement programs (Birthright, MASA, Onward Israel, Israel Explorers Fellowship), and a Wellness Center with mental health support. The organization is funded entirely through donations, event-based fundraising, and grants, and serves over 2,500 Jewish college students statewide.

Product overview

Hillel of Colorado is a multi-campus Jewish student engagement nonprofit offering a portfolio of programs across four Colorado campuses (University of Denver, Colorado State University, Auraria Campus, and Colorado School of Mines). The core offerings include weekly Shabbat programming with dinners, Jewish holiday celebrations, cohort-based learning groups, and multiple leadership development tracks (President, Programming, Engagement, Marketing, Song Leader, Chef, Photography). Israel engagement programs include free Birthright trips, MASA Israel experiences, Onward Israel internships, and the Israel Explorers Fellowship. The organization also provides a Wellness Center with mental health resources, community-building activities, and Tikkun Olam service opportunities. Campus-specific Hillel programs serve students at each institution with dedicated staff, student leadership boards, and tailored programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shabbat Programming Weekly Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat ceremonies followed by festive and nutritious dinners connecting students to Jewish tradition and community, offered free of charge across all four Colorado campuses.
• Holiday Celebrations Programs for Jewish holidays including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Purim, and Passover with meaningful, authentic observance opportunities for Jewish college students.
• Jewish Learning Programs Cohort-based thematic learning groups exploring Israel, social justice, Jewish identity, and core Jewish questions through discussion and interactive activities for Jewish college students.
• Leadership Development Program Multiple leadership tracks including President, Treasurer, Programming, Engagement, Media & Marketing, Song Leader, Chef, Photography/Videography positions for student board members and campus interns.
• Birthright Israel Trips Free one-in-a-lifetime trips to Israel connecting Jewish students to their Jewish identities and the land of Israel.
• MASA Israel Journey Immersive international experiences in Israel for young people ages 18-30, including study, internship, and fellowship opportunities.
• Onward Israel Resume-building opportunities including internships, academic study, and fellowships in Israel with immersive cross-cultural experiences for Jewish students.
• Israel Explorers Fellowship Six-session learning fellowship for deeper Israel education with stipend upon completion.
• Wellness Center Mental health and wellness resources including one-on-one support, therapeutic crafting sessions, spiritual experiences, and peer support networks for Jewish students navigating the intersection of mental health and Jewish identity.
• Community Building (Kehilah) Welcoming, inclusive Jewish community building on campuses with no membership fees, providing free food and companionship to Jewish students.
• Tikkun Olam Service Engagement Service engagement opportunities through partnerships with MitzVote for civic engagement and community service projects for Jewish students.
• Matzah Ball Soup Hotline Delivery of homemade matzah ball soup to Jewish college students feeling under the weather as a community care offering.
• Birthright Recruitment Internship Paid internship for students to recruit peers for Birthright Israel trips.
• Engagement Internship Campus engagement roles focused on attracting uninvolved Jewish students to Hillel with focus projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 49% increase in depth engagement year-over-year (105 to 156 students)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Hillel InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillel of Colorado is one of over 500 North American affiliates of Hillel International. Named after Rabbi Hillel the Elder, Hillel International is one of the world's largest Jewish campus organizations, engaging more Jewish college students than all other endeavors combined.
• University of DenvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with DU administration for Jewish student support, campus safety, and programming space. Hillel works with university leadership to address antisemitism and create safer campus environments.
• Colorado State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CSU for Jewish student life, campus safety, and Hillel House operations. Scott Gerstel led growth at CSU Hillel before transition.
• Auraria Campus (CU Denver, MSU Denver, CCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with three institutions on Auraria Campus. Director Lauren Behm has built relationships with faculty and administrators. Tivoli Student Union Hillel lounge opened January 2025.
• Colorado School of MinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewest campus expansion. Hillel provides Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, wellness resources, Israel programming, and leadership development for Mines students.
• ADL Mountain StatesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for antisemitism response, advocacy, and security coordination. ADL provides training and resources for campus safety.
• American Jewish Committee (AJC) ColoradomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed Hillel's letter to DU leadership regarding encampment response. Advocacy partnership for Jewish student rights.
• Israel American Council ColoradomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed Hillel's advocacy efforts. Joint work on campus antisemitism response.
• JEWISHcoloradomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed Hillel's letter to DU leadership. JEWISHcolorado's Safe Security Network partnership for campus security.
• Jewish Community Relations Council for ColoradomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed Hillel's advocacy efforts. JCRC partnership for community-wide response to antisemitism.
• MitzVoteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonpartisan partnership encouraging students to become educated and engaged voters through a Jewish lens. Part of Service Engagement Internship program.
• ColoradoGivesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDonation processing partner for Hillel of Colorado. Platform for Colorado Gives Day participation.
• Chabad of Auraria CampusmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Shabbat and holiday programming at Auraria Campus. Chabad has run select programs there for over two decades. Works with Hillel on joint programming.
• Golda Meir House (Auraria Campus)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Golda Meir House for Auraria Campus Hillel space. Demonstration grant funding enabled Hillel expansion to campus.
• Jewish Family Service (JFS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with JFS to increase capacity for wellness and mental health support for students.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chabad on Campus: Chabad's campus division serves Jewish college students with religious programming, Shabbat dinners, and holiday events. Hillel of Colorado explicitly collaborates with Chabad of Auraria Campus on joint programming, making it a direct peer in the Jewish campus engagement space.

Broad incumbents

• Hillel International: The parent network organization of which Hillel of Colorado is one of 500+ affiliates. Operates the broader Hillel movement across North American college campuses, providing shared resources, programming frameworks, and fundraising infrastructure that Hillel of Colorado draws upon.

Others

• Birthright Israel Foundation: Funds and organizes the free Birthright Israel trips that Hillel of Colorado recruits for and sends students on. Operates as an upstream provider in the Israel engagement value chain that Hillel delivers to students.
• Jewish Family Service of Colorado: Partners with Hillel of Colorado to expand mental health and wellness capacity for Jewish students. Operates as a complementary service provider in the Colorado Jewish community rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• ADL (Anti-Defamation League) Mountain States: Provides antisemitism response training, security coordination, and resources to Hillel of Colorado. ADL Mountain States shares overlap in serving Jewish community safety and advocacy in Colorado, though ADL's scope is broader than campus engagement.
• BBYO (B'nai B'rith Youth Organization): Operates Jewish youth programming that feeds into Hillel's college pipeline. While focused on high school rather than college, BBYO cultivates the same donor and volunteer community and shares the Jewish identity-development mission.
• American Jewish Committee (AJC) Colorado: Endorsed Hillel of Colorado's advocacy letter to DU leadership regarding encampment response. Operates as a peer in Jewish community advocacy and antisemitism response within Colorado and shares several major donor constituencies.
• Israel American Council: Endorsed Hillel of Colorado's advocacy efforts and partners on campus antisemitism response. Operates in the same Israel engagement and Jewish student support space with overlapping donor bases.
• Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) for Colorado: Partnered with Hillel of Colorado on community-wide antisemitism response and advocacy. Operates in the same Colorado Jewish community space with overlapping institutional donors and partners.

Regional players

• JEWISHcolorado: The state-wide Jewish federation serving Colorado, partnering with Hillel of Colorado on advocacy, security coordination via the Safe Security Network, and joint donor engagement. Operates in the same Colorado geographic territory with overlapping community programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/hillelcolorado
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hillel-of-colorado

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Un. of Colorado