WE NEED TO RAISE $54 MILLION BY June 30, 2025
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We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a HOME for Jewish students at Cornell.

Our Campaign Goal

$0M
$54M
For nearly a century, Hillel has supported generations of Jewish Cornell students and empowered them to pursue meaningful and engaged Jewish lives.
Due largely to the vision and significant investment of Bernard Yudowitz z”l about 25 years ago, Hillel at Cornell has been remarkably successful, despite our limited space and the constraints of Anabel Taylor Hall, the historical location of all faith organizations at Cornell. The Yudowitz legacy has ensured that Hillel is where Jewish students can take pride in their Jewish identity and joyfully celebrate Judaism on campus. Grinspoon Hillel is both a safe space and platform for Jewish expression. It is also a central fixture of Cornell student life.
As we enter our second century, we have an opportunity to be the final Ivy League campus to build a stand-alone Hillel building and to guarantee a vital Jewish future at Cornell. We've envisioned a welcoming, inviting, modern, and secure Hillel Center minutes away from the heart of campus — a home-away-from-home and a space where Jewish students can feel they belong.
Now is the time to dream of a Jewish home on campus, a haven, and a gateway to a world of opportunity. Join us.

The new Hillel building will be a place for Jewish students to gather, to celebrate, to explore their identity, and to connect with each other. Most importantly it will be a home. A place where they can be themselves. A place for support. A place they can belong.

The Hillel building will also be a welcoming space for all Cornellians. We hope that student clubs and other faith traditions will use the space for their own programs. Through the building, we will connect and build bridges throughout the campus.

Rabbi Ari Weiss, Grinspoon Hillel at Cornell CEO

We’ve really missed having our own place – somewhere we could meet our friends and celebrate our authentic Jewish selves together. The new Grinspoon Hillel Center will be our home on campus.

Harlie, Class of 2025

A student’s involvement with Hillel is one of the strongest predictors of future Jewish leadership — stronger than Jewish day school enrollment, Jewish camp experiences, or membership in a Jewish youth group. As the leading authority on Jewish campus life, Hillel reaches, engages, and equips tomorrow’s leaders today.

Avi Chai Foundation Study

Campus Map
Herb's Cafe Interior
Blocking and Stacking Section
University Avenue Axon
Exterior Design

Hillel Belongs to Everyone

Reaching our goal will ensure that the new Hillel center is built to meet student needs – from study and snacking to recreation and prayer. At the same time, our goal of reaching 1,800 donors will secure Cornell’s future for the coming decades.

Guaranteeing a Vital Jewish Future at Cornell

As we build our new Hillel home, we are also creating a permanent fund for programs and staffing. Sustained vibrant and meaningful activities will attract students, foster their intellectual growth, and nurture their emotional wellbeing.

The Grinspoon Hillel Center will feature:

We expect over 3,000 Cornellians will use the new Hillel building every year – one of the most visited and popular buildings on campus.

Cafe

A Kosher cafe, making Hillel the go-to spot for a convenient and delicious lunch or coffee

Huddle Rooms

Huddle rooms for one-on-one, meaningful conversations and group work

Event Space

A large multi-purpose event space with room enough for Shabbat dinner for 150 students

Beit Midrash

Beit Midrash and classrooms for enriching encounters with Jewish ideas and texts

Communal Kitchen

A communal Kosher kitchen for group challah baking and cooking classes

Rooftop Deck & Sukkah

A roof deck where students can catch the sun and enjoy a picturesque rooftop sukkah

Lounge

A lounge, the heart of the building, a comfortable and cozy space where students feel at home

Admin Offices

Administrative offices for the Hillel staff and conference room

Floorplans

Preliminary Design

Legend
Gather
Circulation
Food Service
Office
Huddle
Classroom
Lower Level
First Floor
Second Floor
Third Floor

Our Campaign Goal is $54 Million

Join us in creating the Hillel of tomorrow at Cornell. Construction costs for the building are $25 million. A fund for building maintenance will require $7 million. An endowment of $22 million will support ongoing professional support and programmatic costs and ensure the future of Jewish life at Cornell.

Naming Opportunities

Make a lasting impression. All gifts are payable of a 5 year period.

Giving Level: $5–10 MILLION
AVAILABLE NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
GIVING LEVEL
AVAILABILITY

Hillel Name

$10,000,000

X

Building

$8,000,000

X

Campus

$5,000,000

Giving Level: $1–3 MILLION
AVAILABLE NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
GIVING LEVEL
AVAILABILITY

Beit Midrash

$3,000,000

Cafe

$2,500,000

X

First Floor

$2,500,000

Lounge

$2,500,000

Events Hall

$2,500,000

Second Floor

$2,000,000

Third Floor

$2,000,000

Lobby

$1,500,000

X

Learning Center

$1,000,000

Community Room

$1,000,000

X

Roof Deck

$1,000,000

X

Giving Level: $300–500 THOUSAND
AVAILABLE NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
GIVING LEVEL
AVAILABILITY

Front Porch

$500,000

X

Stairway

$500,000

X

Classrooms (1/2 available)

$500,000

Sustainability Initiative

$500,000

Security Envelope

$500,000

Vestibule

$360,000

Fireplace

$360,000

X

Backyard Garden

$360,000

X

Conference Room

$360,000

Community Kitchen

$300,000

X

Giving Level: $100–250 THOUSAND
AVAILABLE NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
GIVING LEVEL
AVAILABILITY

Holocaust Memorial

$250,000

X

Executive Director's Office

$250,000

Rabbi's Office

$250,000

X

Engagement Team Office

$250,000

First Floor Art Gallery

$250,000

X

Huddle Rooms (3 available)

$180,000

Wellness Room

$180,000

X

Asst. Executive Director's Office

$180,000

Sukkah Trellis

$180,000

X

Book Collection, Beit Midrash

$180,000

Elevator

$180,000

Sefer Torah (1/2 available)

$180,000

Café Kitchen

$100,000

X

Hallways (2/3 available)

$100,000

Mezuzah, Front Door

$100,000

X

Reception Desk

$100,000

X

Torah Arks (0/2 available)

$100,000

X

Admin Office

$100,000

X

Giving Level: $50–75 THOUSAND
AVAILABLE NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
GIVING LEVEL
AVAILABILITY

Judaica Display Case

$72,000

X

Mezuzah, Beit Midrash

$72,000

Community Room Seating Area

$50,000

X

Feature Wall in Community Kitchen

$50,000

X

Front Lawn Menorah

$50,000

X

Reception Seating Area

$50,000

X

Shabbat Candle Lighting Station

$50,000

X

Eternal Light

$50,000

X

Giving Level: $25–45 THOUSAND
AVAILABLE NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
GIVING LEVEL
AVAILABILITY

Coffee Station

$36,000

X

Handicap Accessible Outdoor Ramp

$36,000

X

Café Mezuzah

$36,000

X

Lobby Mezuzah

$36,000

X

Lounge Mezuzah

$36,000

Nosh Station

$36,000

X

Purim Megillah

$36,000

Shabbat Dinner Tables (13/15 available)

$25,000

Torah Stand

$25,000

X

Work Stations (1/2 available)

$25,000

Community Kitchen Island

$25,000

X

Giving Level: $10–20 THOUSAND
AVAILABLE NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
GIVING LEVEL
AVAILABILITY

Beit Midrash Bookshelves (10 available)

$18,000

Indoor Mezuzot (11/15 available)

$18,000

Shabbat Closet

$18,000

X

Tallis Rack

$18,000

Conference Room Table

$10,000

X

Huddle Room Tables

$10,000

X

Lectern (1/2 available)

$10,000

Lounge Bookshelves (0/4 available)

$10,000

X

Student Activity Closets (4 available)

$10,000

Water Stations

$10,000

X

Benches (0/10 available)

$10,000

X

Etch your name on the Founders Wall

This is a special opportunity to add your name to the Grinspoon Hillel Center or to honor a relative, mentor, friend, or classmate.

This permanent mosaic will honor the visionary donors who are building the Jewish community’s new home at Cornell. Bearing names of alumni and families from across the generations, the Wall will be centrally located in the new Grinspoon Hillel Center. It will inspire students for decades to come.

Gift options: 

$1,800
5 Year Plan
$360/Year or $30/Month
Cannot be a group donation
$3,600
5 Year Plan
$720/Year or $60/Month
Cannot be a group donation
$5,400
5 Year Plan
$1,080/Year or $90/Month
$7,200
5 Year Plan
$1,440/Year or $120/Month
$10,000
5 Year Plan
$2,000/Year or $167/Month

*All donors above $1,800 to the capital campaign will be recognized on the Founders Wall

*Tiles may be reserved over a 5-year payment plan or with a one-time donation