Hillel at Washington University is among 10 campuses nationwide selected to participate in Hillel International’s “Excellence Accelerator” program. This is the pilot year of the program, which will provide increased resources designed to support campus Hillels as they seek to achieve strategic goals to improve operations and increase engagement with Jewish students.

The Accelerator will focus on developing effective leadership and governance within the campus Hillel; developing donor databases and strategic growth plans; assessing fiscal health and building a financial plan for the future; and aiding the measurement and collection of data to quantify successes.

 “The Excellence Accelerator is an important step in helping our Hillels improve Jewish student life on campus, no matter its size or level of funding,” said Eric D. Fingerhut, President and CEO of Hillel International, in a news release. “This new approach will streamline the process for providing much needed resources to help campus Hillels do the important work of inspiring every Jewish student to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.”

The other campus Hillels selected for the pilot program are University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign Hillel, Cleveland Hillel Foundation, Hillel at Arizona State University, Hillel at Syracuse University, Hillel at the University of Rochester, Houston Hillel, Long Beach Hillel, Oregon Hillel Foundation and University of Miami Hillel. 

After the pilot year, Hillel International intends to expand the “Excellence Accelerator” to provide guidance to Hillels of all sizes in creating strategic plans for growth.

Separate from the Excellence Accelerator program, Hillel at Washington University also received from Hillel International $4,114 for a Drive to Excellence Innovation Grant as well as $1,614 for an Engagement Internship Grant. The University of Missouri-Columbia Hillel also received $3,980 for an Engagement Internship Grant. The University of Kansas Hillel received $25,000 for a Drive to Excellence Innovation Grant.