irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $82KIsrael Programming - We host two Israel advocacy events, Aroma Cafe and a Day of Independence Party, which are some of the largest events on campus each year. We send students on a Birthright-Israel experience each winter and summer break for ten days. Throughout the year, numerous speaker events and learning opportunities are made available regarding Israel. All programs are open to any undergraduate Binghamton University student.
- #2 $44KShabbat and Holiday experiences - We provide a weekly Shabbat experience every Friday night through Saturday evening during the academic year. Hillel provides numerous religious services, three festive meals, and programming for students to elevate their Shabbat observance. Additionally, these opportunities are offered for every Jewish holiday while students are on campus. All programs are open to any undergraduate Binghamton University student.
named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Bearcats for Israel (B4I)
Student group fostering cultural, spiritual, and physical connections to Israel through programming, events, and advocacy.
Challah for Hunger
Student-run initiative that bakes and sells challah to raise funds for social justice causes while building community.
Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF)
10-week conversational seminar for students to explore Judaism, build community, and deepen Jewish learning in a social and educational setting.
Kaskeset
Binghamton’s Jewish a cappella group performing a repertoire of Jewish liturgical, Israeli pop, and English pop music.
Kol Yisrael
6-week cohort program exploring contemporary Israeli discourse through value-based discussions, offering participants a $175 stipend.
OU-JLIC
Orthodox Jewish community program offering weekly Shabbat services, learning opportunities, and social events led by Rav Jared and Sarit Anstandig.
Shabbat Experience
Weekly event hosting over 200 students for Shabbat dinner on Fridays and Seudah Shlishit on Saturdays, featuring kosher meals from the Kosher Korner under Orthodox Union supervision.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
-
Jewish Holiday and Shabbat Community Events 2 activities
- Annual and Recurring Cultural EventsOrganizes annual celebrations such as Yom Haatzmaut featuring Israeli food, music, and education, and recurring events like FreshFest for first-year students, which includes early move-in, orientation, and community-building activities centered around a Shabbat experience.
- Weekly Shabbat Programs and MealsHosts weekly Shabbat experiences including Friday night dinners, Saturday afternoon meals (Seudah Shlishit), and student-led services across Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox traditions, serving over 200 students weekly with kosher meals in campus spaces like UU 120 and the Hillel Lounge.
-
-
Student Club and Organization Support 2 activities
- Student-Led Programming and Leadership DevelopmentPlans and hosts over 200 student-led programs annually through subgroups and leadership initiatives, supported by regular meetings of a leadership body that develops unified programming vision and connects with the Student Association.
- Support for Jewish Student Organizations and LeadershipHas historically supported the development and evolution of Jewish student groups on campus, such as the transition from the Jewish Friendship Society to the Jewish Student Union in 1948, and continues to serve as an organizational resource and support system for student leadership.
-
-
Israel and Jewish Heritage Educational Travel 1 activity
- Educational Travel Programs to Israel and the Palestinian TerritoriesOrganizes fully funded 10-day trips to Israel and educational trips to Israel and the Palestinian territories for undergraduate leaders, covering flights, accommodations, meals, and activities including hiking, cultural exploration, and conflict discourse.
-
-
Structured Jewish Text Study Programs 1 activity
- Educational and Fellowship ProgramsOffers structured educational programs including a 10-week Jewish Learning Fellowship and a 6-week Kol Yisrael cohort on Israeli discourse, both designed to foster experiential and conversational learning, with stipends provided for participation in the latter.
-
-
Kosher Meal Services 1 activity
- Kosher Dining ServicesOperates a full-service kosher dining station providing Glatt kosher, OU-certified dairy and meat meals, and offers free kosher meals outside regular dining hours through the Kosher Nowl program.
-
-
Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
- Wellness and Community Engagement InitiativesRuns a weekly Caffeination Station offering free coffee and relaxation opportunities, and organizes challah baking and sales every other week with proceeds donated to charity, fostering informal community engagement.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$701K
Contributions & grants$538K77%
Program service revenue$65K9%
Investment income$25K4%
Other revenue$73K
expenses
Total expenses$482K
Program expenses64%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising15%
Salaries & benefits$164K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$553K
Cash$510K
Investments$0
Liabilities$53K
Net assets$500K
Liquid reserves12.7 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -1.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea Rego | Executive Director | 40 | $59K |
| Ira Glasser | Past Executive Director | 40 | $14K |
| Abbe Lyons | Business Manager | 1 | $4K |
board members · 6
- Alison Hoffer — Board Member
- Ari Burstein — Executive Comm.
- Craig Cooper — Board Member
- Deborah Powsner — Co-President
- Deborah Rau — Board Member
- Marc Lessner — Co-President
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- Binghamton Student Association Partner — Collaborates with Hillel at Binghamton to connect student leadership and community engagement.
- Binghamton University Partner — Partner institution through which donations can be made with dual recognition and donor benefits.
- CRC (Chicago Rabbinical Council) Government — Defines acceptable kosher certification standards for pre-packaged food used in Hillel events.
- Hillel International Partner — Partner agency facilitating electronic transfer of donated securities.
- Hillel International Partner — Partner organization collaborating with Hillel at Binghamton to deliver Birthright Israel trips.
- Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life Network — Hillel at Binghamton is a subordinate organization of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life.
- Orthodox Union Government — Supervises kosher certification at The Kosher Korner and Hillel events.
- Orthodox Union (OU) Partner — Co-sponsors the JLIC program with Hillel at Binghamton through Rav Jared & Sarit Anstandig as OU-JLIC Directors.
- Temple Israel Vestal Partner — Collaborates with KOACH for weekly Kabbalat Shabbat and occasional Saturday morning services.
- The Jewish Theological Seminary Partner — Provides rabbinical intern support through Maddie Herrup, a first-year rabbinical student.
- UJA-Federation of New York Funder — Provided funding to establish Hillel at Binghamton in Fall 2001.
- University Partner — Coordinates early move-in for FreshFest participants in collaboration with Hillel at Binghamton.
strategies · 4
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.
- Early Integration for Belongingmethodology: early-integration community buildingBy immersing first-year students in Jewish community from the start of college, Hillel fosters lasting belonging because early positive experiences anchor identity and participation.
- Experiential Heritage and Global Connectionmethodology: experiential-heritage-travelBy organizing experiential trips to Israel and immersive cultural travel, Hillel strengthens Jewish identity because direct, personal encounters with heritage and history deepen connection more than abstract learning alone.
- Pluralistic and Experiential Identity Formationmethodology: pluralistic_engagementBy offering a pluralistic environment with diverse, student-led, and experiential programming, Hillel enables Jewish students to explore identity on their own terms, because autonomy and personal relevance increase engagement and belonging.
- Relationship-Based Engagementmethodology: relationship-based engagementBy building intentional, personal relationships with students, Hillel fosters meaningful Jewish engagement because trust and connection form the foundation for identity exploration and sustained involvement.