Kimbra and Mark Walter Strengthen Access to Northwestern Pritzker Law with $1 Million Commitment

Kimbra (BA ’85) and Mark Walter (JD ’85) have made a $1 million commitment to the Walter Family Foundation Scholarship Fund in support of Opening Doors: The Scholarship Campaign for Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. This commitment strengthens their enduring investment in expanding access to legal education and advancing opportunity for future generations of students.

“Mark and I have always believed that education is one of the most powerful ways to create meaningful change over generations,” she said. “Supporting scholarships is especially important because it opens doors for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend a school of Northwestern’s caliber.”

Kimbra emphasized that scholarships play a critical role in fostering a more diverse legal field. “That diversity of backgrounds leads to better outcomes,” she said, “including a deeper pool of lawyers equipped to serve the whole of society.”

Kimbra and Mark have pledged their $1 million commitment to match gifts to the Law School Fund in support of scholarships.

She noted that philanthropic efforts, particularly those structured as lead or matching gifts, can also inspire broader participation.

“We’ve seen that commitments like this can motivate others to give,” Kimbra said. “If our support helps generate additional resources for scholarships, the impact grows well beyond a single gift.”

Kimbra’s philanthropic leadership extends across education, social justice, and conservation. She serves on the boards of trustees for the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Goodman Theatre. The Walters direct much of their philanthropy toward addressing inequities in education and expanding pathways for students from under-resourced backgrounds.

She also cited the leadership and direction of Northwestern Pritzker Law as a motivating factor in making the new gift. “We are particularly excited about the current outlook for the Law School and the dean’s vision and priorities,” Kimbra said.

“Kimbra and Mark Walter have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to expanding access to legal education,” said Zachary D. Clopton, dean of Northwestern Pritzker Law. “This gift will have a lasting impact on our students and the legal profession.”

The Walter Family Foundation Scholarship Fund has supported 11 students to date, helping to remove financial barriers for those seeking to pursue a legal education at one of the nation’s leading institutions.

The new commitment, the largest single contribution to the fund since its founding in 2015, will bring the Walters’ total giving to Northwestern Pritzker Law to nearly $2.3 million.