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Hillel Foundation For Jewish Life
Amherst, NY · EIN 166065281 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · hillelofbuffalo.org
revenue
$505K
expenses
$309K
net assets
$388K
employees
0
program ratio
60%
mission · from form 990

Hillel of Buffalo serves the jewish community at the NYS University at Buffalo and encourages the participation of jewish students and faculty from all area colleges and universities. It is Hillel of Buffalo's mission to foster jewish involvement, strengthen jewish identity, and empower jewish students to be today's campus leaders and tomorrow's community leaders. Hillel is a pluralistic community where cultural, spiritual, educational and social aspects of jewsih life can be explored, experienced and celebrated.

profile · synthesized from sources

Hillel of Buffalo serves Jewish students at the University at Buffalo and other Western New York colleges, fostering Jewish identity, leadership, and community through cultural, spiritual, and educational programs. It offers Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, Israel trips, and one-on-one engagement with staff. The organization operates as a pluralistic hub for Jewish life on campus, serving students from diverse backgrounds and affiliations.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Birthright Israel
Free 10-day trips to Israel for Jewish students, including tours, hikes, and cultural experiences to connect with Jewish identity and heritage.
High Holidays Services
Student-led Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services and meals, featuring traditional prayers in Hebrew with English readings for accessibility.
Jewish Learning Experience
Peer-led study sessions exploring Jewish texts and ideas, open to all students regardless of prior knowledge, with stipends for participation.
Leadership Development
Opportunities for students to lead programs, join boards, or participate in internships and fellowships through Hillel.
Shabbat Dinners
Weekly Friday evening musical services followed by free dinners open to Jewish students across Buffalo-area campuses.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Jewish Religious Education and Outreach 2 activities
    • Facilitate Jewish student life and engagement on campus
      Provides cultural, religious, and social programming for Jewish college students across six higher education institutions, including the University at Buffalo, Buffalo State University, Canisius University, Daemen University, Niagara University, and SUNY Erie. Activities include Shabbat celebrations, holiday observances, social events, and leadership development to foster inclusive Jewish campus communities.
    • Maintain campus infrastructure and community spaces
      Operates an office and suite in the Commons building on North Campus of the University at Buffalo to support Jewish student life and programming.
  • Alumni Community Building 1 activity
    • Communicate with students and alumni
      Distributes a weekly student newsletter to keep students informed about events and opportunities, and hosts alumni events in NYC and Buffalo to maintain intergenerational connections within the Hillel community.
  • Israel and Jewish Heritage Educational Travel 1 activity
    • Offer Jewish learning and identity development programs
      Provides paid educational programs that allow students to explore Jewish traditions and questions through Jewish learning experiences, and organizes Birthright Israel trips to deepen connections with Jewish identity, history, and Israeli culture.
  • Jewish Holiday and Shabbat Community Events 1 activity
    • Organize Shabbat and holiday programs
      Hosts weekly musical Shabbat services followed by free dinners, as well as student-led Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services with bilingual prayer and readings. Also hosts annual Family Weekend and Graduation Shabbat events for families.
  • Kosher Meal Services 1 activity
    • Provide kosher dining and free holiday meals
      Offers kosher dining options at the University at Buffalo North Campus through the NY Deli and Diner, with food prepared under rabbinical supervision. Also provides free meals to undergraduate and graduate students during High Holidays.
  • Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
    • Support student leadership and professional development
      Offers internships, fellowships, student boards, and new initiative opportunities to help students build leadership and professional life skills within a supportive Jewish environment.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$505K
Contributions & grants$498K99%
Program service revenue$2K0%
Investment income$4K1%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$309K
Program expenses60%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising17%
Salaries & benefits$183K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$390K
Cash$231K
Investments$155K
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$388K
Liquid reserves15.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +61.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Mike Steklof Executive Director 35 $79K
board members · 12
  • Craig Mondschein — Treasurer
  • Edie Kreifels — Board Member
  • Elyse Skerker-Sigal — Board Member
  • Howard Rosenhoch — Board Member
  • Iris Danziger — Immediate Past President
  • Jennifer Patrick — Board Member
  • Jessica Lemons — Board Member
  • Laura Hemlock-Schaeffer — President
  • Philip Glick — Board Member
  • Rose Berkun — Board Member
  • Ruth Klienman — Volunteer Engagement Chair
  • Shiri Kester — Board Member
relationships · 15

Who they work with

  • Birthright Israel Partner — Partners with Birthright Israel to offer free trips to Jewish students.
  • Buffalo State University Partner — Served by Hillel of Buffalo as part of its campus outreach.
  • Campus for All Partner — Collaborates to support Jewish students' rights and access to campus resources.
  • Canisius University Partner — Served by Hillel of Buffalo as part of its campus outreach.
  • Daeman University Partner — Served by Hillel of Buffalo as part of its campus outreach.
  • Family Society Partner — Donor program for families supporting students through recurring or one-time gifts.
  • Hillel of Buffalo Partner — Alumni are invited to remain connected and involved with Hillel of Buffalo through events, mentoring, and giving.
  • Niagara University Partner — Served by Hillel of Buffalo as part of its campus outreach.
  • SUNY Buffalo State University Partner — Implied secondary campus partner for Hillel of Buffalo's programs and services.
  • SUNY Erie Partner — Served by Hillel of Buffalo as part of its campus outreach.
  • University at Buffalo Partner — Hillel of Buffalo operates on the University at Buffalo campus, providing programming and services to students.
  • University at Buffalo Partner — Hosts Hillel of Buffalo on its North Campus in the Commons Suite 101B.
  • University at Buffalo Partner — Hosts Hillel of Buffalo's office and suite on North Campus.
  • University at Buffalo Partner — Hosts Shabbat services at UB Commons, indicating a partnership with the university.
  • University at Buffalo Partner — Implied primary campus partner for Hillel of Buffalo's programs and services.
strategies · 2

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Pluralistic Identity Exploration
    methodology: pluralistic_engagement
    By providing a pluralistic environment that welcomes all Jewish affiliations and expressions, Hillel enables students to explore and develop their Jewish identity safely and authentically, because inclusion of diverse practices increases ownership and engagement in Jewish life.
  • Relational Engagement Model
    methodology: relational_engagement
    By building individualized, one-on-one relationships with students, Hillel fosters trust and personalized support that deepens engagement and promotes personal growth in Jewish identity, because meaningful relationships are foundational to sustained involvement.