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Community College Foundation Data Matters: CASE Takeaways

October 19, 2026 |
2 minute read
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Community College Foundation Data Matters: CASE Takeaways
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Takeaways from the CASE Conference for Community College Advancement

Community college foundations play an essential role in advancing institutional priorities, supporting student success, and connecting colleges with the communities they serve. Yet the professionals leading this work often have limited access to data and benchmarks that reflect the unique circumstances of their institutions.

That need was a recurring theme at the 2026 CASE Conference for Community College Advancement in Palm Springs, October 7–9. Conference sessions covered a wide range of issues, including investment policy statements, gift fees, fundraising strategies, board engagement, staffing, community partnerships, and more. Across these topics, community college foundation professionals consistently expressed the need for more relevant information to evaluate their practices, learn from peers, and make informed decisions about how best to support their institutions.

The Need for More Data

Community college foundations operate in a distinct environment, with different resources, staffing structures, institutional relationships, and community responsibilities than other college and university foundations. While broader data can provide valuable context, more participation from community college foundations is needed to ensure the available information reflects their specific experiences and needs.

The NACUBO–Commonfund Study of Endowments (NCSE) is an important resource for understanding endowment investment practices and performance across higher education, and it is the data behind a custom peer analysis of community college results. Broader participation by community college foundations would strengthen the representation of this sector and make the study’s data more meaningful for peer comparisons and analysis. Greater participation among institutions in this group would improve relevant peer benchmarks and offer a clearer understanding of the sector’s investment practices.

More comprehensive data can help community college foundation leaders and investment committees more accurately assess their investment and spending policies and inform decisions about governance and long-term financial sustainability. It can also provide a stronger basis for conversations with boards, institutional leadership, and other stakeholders about how endowment resources support institutional missions.

The industry is responding to this need. The NCSE is now complemented by a new annual CASE Insights survey for community college foundations, launched this month, that focuses on foundation structure, fundraising, staffing, and operations. The survey adds organizational and operational context to the investment data reported in the NCSE.

Together, these research efforts can provide a more complete picture of community college foundations and help leadership make more informed decisions, learn from peers, and strengthen their organizations in support of colleges, students, and communities. The response from the field is encouraging, and we are hopeful that more community college foundations will participate in both efforts. To help build that momentum, we are holding a webinar for community colleges on October 28, Empowering Community Colleges Through NCSE Participation (2026).

Community college foundations have an important perspective to contribute, and your voice matters. We want to include you in this effort to build a stronger, more representative understanding of the sector.

The 2026 NCSE is open through December 4, 2026. Sign up below to participate. 

 

JOIN YOUR PEERS Participate in the next study Gain insight on what your peers are doing on topics that matter to institutions like yours.  

Allison Kaspriske

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Allison Kaspriske

Managing Director

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Disclaimer

Certain information contained herein has been obtained from or is based on third-party sources and, although believed to be reliable, has not been independently verified. Such information is as of the date indicated, if indicated, may not be complete, is subject to change and has not necessarily been updated. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be given by The Common Fund for Nonprofit Organizations, any of its affiliates or any of its or their affiliates, trustees, directors, officers, employees or advisers (collectively referred to herein as “Commonfund”) or any other person as to the accuracy or completeness of the information in any third-party materials. Accordingly, Commonfund shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of relying on any statement in, or omission from, such third-party materials, and any such liability is expressly disclaimed.

All rights to the trademarks, copyrights, logos and other intellectual property listed herein belong to their respective owners and the use of such logos hereof does not imply an affiliation with, or endorsement by, the owners of such trademarks, copyrights, logos and other intellectual property.

To the extent views presented forecast market activity, they may be based on many factors in addition to those explicitly stated herein. Forecasts of experts inevitably differ. Views attributed to third-parties are presented to demonstrate the existence of points of view, not as a basis for recommendations or as investment advice. Market and investment views of third-parties presented herein do not necessarily reflect the views of Commonfund, any manager retained by Commonfund to manage any investments for Commonfund (each, a “Manager”) or any fund managed by any Commonfund entity (each, a “Fund”). Accordingly, the views presented herein may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of Commonfund, any Manager or any Fund.

Statements concerning Commonfund’s views of possible future outcomes in any investment asset class or market, or of possible future economic developments, are not intended, and should not be construed, as forecasts or predictions of the future investment performance of any Fund. Such statements are also not intended as recommendations by any Commonfund entity or any Commonfund employee to the recipient of the presentation. It is Commonfund’s policy that investment recommendations to its clients must be based on the investment objectives and risk tolerances of each individual client. All market outlook and similar statements are based upon information reasonably available as of the date of this presentation (unless an earlier date is stated with regard to particular information), and reasonably believed to be accurate by Commonfund. Commonfund disclaims any responsibility to provide the recipient of this presentation with updated or corrected information or statements. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For more information please refer to Important Disclosures.

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Disclaimer

Certain information contained herein has been obtained from or is based on third-party sources and, although believed to be reliable, has not been independently verified. Such information is as of the date indicated, if indicated, may not be complete, is subject to change and has not necessarily been updated. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be given by The Common Fund for Nonprofit Organizations, any of its affiliates or any of its or their affiliates, trustees, directors, officers, employees or advisers (collectively referred to herein as “Commonfund”) or any other person as to the accuracy or completeness of the information in any third-party materials. Accordingly, Commonfund shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of relying on any statement in, or omission from, such third-party materials, and any such liability is expressly disclaimed.

All rights to the trademarks, copyrights, logos and other intellectual property listed herein belong to their respective owners and the use of such logos hereof does not imply an affiliation with, or endorsement by, the owners of such trademarks, copyrights, logos and other intellectual property.

To the extent views presented forecast market activity, they may be based on many factors in addition to those explicitly stated herein. Forecasts of experts inevitably differ. Views attributed to third-parties are presented to demonstrate the existence of points of view, not as a basis for recommendations or as investment advice. Market and investment views of third-parties presented herein do not necessarily reflect the views of Commonfund, any manager retained by Commonfund to manage any investments for Commonfund (each, a “Manager”) or any fund managed by any Commonfund entity (each, a “Fund”). Accordingly, the views presented herein may not be relied upon as an indication of trading intent on behalf of Commonfund, any Manager or any Fund.

Statements concerning Commonfund’s views of possible future outcomes in any investment asset class or market, or of possible future economic developments, are not intended, and should not be construed, as forecasts or predictions of the future investment performance of any Fund. Such statements are also not intended as recommendations by any Commonfund entity or any Commonfund employee to the recipient of the presentation. It is Commonfund’s policy that investment recommendations to its clients must be based on the investment objectives and risk tolerances of each individual client. All market outlook and similar statements are based upon information reasonably available as of the date of this presentation (unless an earlier date is stated with regard to particular information), and reasonably believed to be accurate by Commonfund. Commonfund disclaims any responsibility to provide the recipient of this presentation with updated or corrected information or statements. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For more information please refer to Important Disclosures.