Founded in 1971, Commonfund is an asset management firm dedicated to enhancing our clients’ financial resources by delivering exceptional performance, service, and insight.
Our extensive experience in the investment industry allows us to provide informed and relevant solutions to institutional investors. Our comprehensive approach is designed to help you navigate the complexities of investing. The size of our firm differentiates us from many other managers; we’re large enough to have a full team of experienced investors and back-office staff to assist with everything you need to run a sophisticated global portfolio but we’re small enough that we can get to know you and understand your needs. We also have enough buying power to gain access to high-quality managers and negotiate fees on behalf of our investors.
We deliver outsourced CIO services through Commonfund OCIO and Private Equity solutions through CF Private Equity.
Commonfund’s core mission is to enhance the financial resources of our clients and help them improve their investment management practices. As a private, nonprofit organization, we are beholden to our clients, not shareholders or outside owners. This enables us to align our interests with those of our clients and lets us focus our undivided attention on institutional asset management. We execute our mission through three components that form our foundation. This base allows us to hire, grow, and retain talented individuals, invest in resources and support assets, and deliver a wide range of educational programs specifically for institutional investors.
The idea of Commonfund came about in the late 1960s. Investment returns of college endowments were lagging behind the growth in operating budgets. This lag caused increasing concern throughout the higher education industry about the future sustainability of these institutions. Traditional endowment practices of the time also hampered the ability to fully address these issues.
To dive deeper into this subject, The Ford Foundation sponsored a seminal study ‘The Law and the Lore of Endowment Funds’ that helped shed light on the then-new concept of total return and the impact it could have on institutions.
As a result of The Ford Foundation’s study, a grant for $2.8 million was given for the founding of The Common Fund for Nonprofit Organizations (Commonfund). Two years later, The Common Fund was officially founded.
Over the years, we’ve grown and expanded the range of investment funds and supporting services we offers. Along the way, our company has experienced a variety of key milestones.
Speakers: Maria Tapia, former President, Commonfund Securities, Inc., Peter Burns, former President & CEO, CF Private Equity; John Griswold, former Executive Director, Commonfund Institute; Tim Yates, CEO & President, Commonfund OCIO; Elaine Mizer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Commonfund; Caroline Greer, Managing Director, Commonfund OCIO; George Suttles, Executive Director, Commonfund Institute. Video was published in July 2021 in celebration of 50 years.
1969
The Ford Foundation publishes two studies:
The Law and Lore of Endowment Funds and
Managing Educational Endowments
These reports paved the way for the creation of Commonfund.
1971
“The Common Fund for Nonprofit Organizations” commences operation.
The firm is founded with a $2.8 million grant from the Ford Foundation.
1972
1st research publication, Measuring Investment Performance and Setting Investment Objectives by J. Peter Williamson was released.
1974
1st fund for management of operating cash created
1976
1st endowment fixed income fund created
1981
AUM reaches $500 million after 10 years of operation
1982
1st use of hedging strategy in diversifying equity portfolio
1983
1st international equity fund opened
1985
1st global fixed income fund opened
1986
1st in a series of South Africa Free (SAF) funds launched
1988
Commonfund Capital, Inc. created to access opportunities in private market investing
The APM, a tool for simulating endowment performance with various asset allocation variables, is made available to clients
1989
1st energy fund launched by Commonfund Capital
1st investment in distressed debt
1991
1st alternative investments
1992
1st focused equity and fixed income funds created
1993
1st Investment Stewardship Academy held
1994
1st hedge fund strategies introduced
1996
1st Commonfund Prize for investment research is awarded
Treasury Access launched to help nonprofits manage operating reserves and working capital balances
1998
Launch of initial client portal
1999
1st Commonfund Forum held
Who we serve broadened to nonprofit foundations, healthcare organizations and Canadian educational institutions
2000
Commonfund Institute and Treasury Institute are formed
2001
1st Commonfund Benchmarks Study published
Full-discretion advisory service introduced for institutions looking to outsource their investment office
2005
The Higher Education Price Index (HEPI) is published by Commonfund Institute
2007
1st international office opened in London
2008
1st separate account management introduced
2010
Who we serve expanded to include pension funds, family offices and other select long-term investors
2nd international office opens in Beijing
2013
Became signatory to the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
2017
New York City office opens at 280 Park Avenue
2018
Recognized as "Highly Commended OCIO Provider" at Institutional Asset Management Awards
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Office established
1st Corporate Responsibility Report published
Cogent Reports US Institutional Investor Brandscape ranks Commonfund among Top 10 Most Trusted Institutional Asset Managers
2019
1st carbon neutral Commonfund Forum
Cogent Reports US Institutional Investor Brandscape ranks Commonfund Forum as the 2nd most popular conference among nonprofits
Diverse Manager Portal launched
2020
Became a signatory to the 2020 Belonging Pledge—A Commitment to Advance Racial Equity sponsored by the Confluence Philanthropy
1st environmental sustainability strategy opens
2021
50 years of asset management for nonprofit investors
Became sponsor of the 2021 Climate Action Pursuit led by Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network
2022
Commonfund Capital ranked 3rd best secondary firm in North America and Europe by HEC Paris
Ranked in the top 10 as largest outsourcing manager for both endowments and foundations by Pensions & Investments
Commonfund Institute Online launches
2023
Ranked 4th largest outsourcing manager in the U.S. for endowment assets by Pensions & Investments
Renewed partnership with NACUBO on annual benchmark study of endowments
CF Private Equity dedicated website launched
1st OCIO Point of View Podcast released
Two core businesses renamed: CF Private Equity and Commonfund OCIO
