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Dillard University Endowment
Dillard University, founded in 1930 and opened in 1935, emerged from the merger of Straight College and New Orleans University to serve the city's Black...
Dillard University Endowment
Dillard University, founded in 1930 and opened in 1935, emerged from the merger of Straight College and New Orleans University to serve the city's Black community. Dr. Monique Guillory, president, governs a private liberal arts mission with an endowment composed of individual purpose-restricted funds. Its board includes Michael D. Jones, Esq. as chair, and trustees Jennifer Kopylov (Managing Director at Goldman Sachs) and Roland Merchant (Senior Managing Director at CBRE Capital Advisors), whose institutional networks intersect with the endowment's investment posture. The endowment deploys capital across asset classes including venture capital, real estate, and public equities, with a venture strategy spanning seed to growth stages. Confirmed holdings include direct ownership of the main campus at 2601 Gentilly Boulevard, residential assets through Dillard University Apartment Limited and Gentilly Gardens Apartment, and an endowed research fund from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Grant support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, C.V. Starr Foundation, Ray Charles Foundation, and MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving round out non-investment capital flows into the institution. Nuance on scale and team structure is limited. Staff dedicated to investment management is not publicly detailed, though trustee expertise in real estate (CBRE) and global finance (Goldman Sachs) suggests a blend of internal oversight and external manager delegation. Recent known activity includes the university's quiet integration of a 2020 gift from Yield Giving, part of a broader $560 million grant round to HBCUs, reflecting a pattern of large, unrestricted philanthropic support rather than public endowment growth campaigns. Structurally, Dillard's endowment functions less as an allocator competing for brand-name fund access and more as a steward of relationship-dependent assets — its real estate portfolio anchors the university in New Orleans, while philanthropic inflows and UNCF membership provide capital buffers distinct from typical institutional fundraising cycles.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1930
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New Orleans
Corporate office
2601 Gentilly Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70122, United States
Principals
Dr. Monique Guillory
President
Michael D. Jones, Esq.
Board Chair
Roland Merchant
Trustee
Jennifer Kopylov
Trustee
Tiffany H. Brunson
Trustee
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who oversees the endowment's investment decisions?
The board of trustees ultimately governs the endowment's strategy, drawing on the financial expertise of members like Jennifer Kopylov of Goldman Sachs and Roland Merchant of CBRE Capital Advisors. Dr. Monique Guillory, as president, leads the university's administrative and strategic direction. Dillard does not publicly name a dedicated chief investment officer.
What role does Dillard's real estate play in the endowment's portfolio?
Dillard's endowment holds significant real property, including the main campus at 2601 Gentilly Boulevard and residential assets managed through Dillard University Apartment Limited and Gentilly Gardens Apartment, Inc. These holdings are integral to the university's balance sheet strategy rather than part of a tradable investment portfolio. Trustee Roland Merchant's background at CBRE suggests board-level real estate expertise is available.
How does Dillard University's UNCF affiliation affect its capital base?
As a member of the United Negro College Fund, Dillard participates in a network that provides scholarship support and institutional grants to private HBCUs. The university is also supported by the United Methodist Church's Black College Fund. This dual denominational and consortium membership diversifies the university's non-endowment revenue streams.
Has Dillard University received any notable recent philanthropic gifts?
In 2020, Dillard was among the HBCUs that received an unrestricted grant from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving foundation, part of a historic wave of funding following the racial equity protests. The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the Ray Charles Foundation have also provided targeted grants, though specific allocation details remain internal to the university.
What asset classes does the endowment invest in?
Publicly available information indicates the endowment invests in venture capital from seed to growth stages, in addition to holding real estate, public equities, and the NIH minority health research endowment. The venture strategy appears broad-based; no specific external fund commitments or direct co-investments have been confirmed publicly.
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