Walter J. Dillingham Jr., CFA
Director of Endowments & Foundations Practice for Wealth Markets
Walter specializes in working with endowments, foundations, and nonprofit organizations to help them grow, evolve, and weather changing financial and economic environments. He works closely with his clients on their investment, philanthropic, endowment management, and planned giving objectives.
With more than three decades of experience in the financial services industry, much of which focused on nonprofit and institutional clients, Walter has a unique perspective on the changing needs of the endowment and foundation marketplace. He has authored original research that has been covered by the financial press on a number of nonprofit sectors, including health care organizations, community colleges, public libraries, private schools, and religious organizations. Please visit our Research & Insights library to read Walter’s research papers.
Walter is a recipient of Wilmington Trust’s Chairman’s Club award and he launched the firm’s highly successful Philanthropic Speaker Series in 2011, which showcases strategies for nonprofit organizations. He is also regularly called upon to speak at industry conferences and with key advisors in the philanthropic arena. Walter holds an MBA from Babson College, a master’s degree in philanthropy from New York University, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Bates College. He is a CFA® charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute. He is also a member of the New York Society of Securities Analysts, the Philanthropic Planning Group of Greater New York, and the Healthcare Finance Management Association.
Passionate about philanthropy and perpetuating the ability of nonprofits to impact their communities, Walter is a trustee and treasurer of Fisher College (Boston) and serves on the Forest Hills Gardens Corp. Finance Committee. He is also an adjunct professor at NYU where he teaches endowment concepts and practices.
Walter and his family enjoy hiking, traveling throughout New England and internationally, and experiencing music and the arts. An avid runner, Walter has completed three marathons and can be found in his garage refinishing furniture in his spare time.