We believe members of the nonprofit community should have easy access to authoritative investment research that allows for comparison and insight to benefit future policies and objectives. In order to reach this goal, we partner with various organizations to conduct comprehensive surveys of the financial, governance, and policy practices of nonprofit institutional investors across the U.S.
In 2005, we partnered with the National Business Officers Association (NBOA) to create the Commonfund Benchmarks Study of Independent Schools (CSIS). This annual report studies an average of 200 independent day and boarding schools that represent over $12 billion in assets. Our study covers the following topics:
Returns | Investment objectives | Asset allocation | Spending | Gifts | Management and governance
Read an overview of the findings in the most recent press release.
In 2012, Commonfund and the Council on Foundations combined studies to create the Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations® (CCSF). This study examines investment and governance policies and practices at more than 230 U.S. private and community foundations, representing over $80 billion in assets. The topics covered include:
Returns and investment objectives | Asset allocation | Investment policies | Responsible investment practices | Gifts | Fund flows | Resources, management, and governance
Read an overview of the findings in the most recent press release.
The most recent Study of Healthcare Organizations (CSHO) examines more than 70 U.S. nonprofit operating hospitals and health systems with over $125 billion in aggregate investable assets. Topics covered in the study include:
Returns | Asset allocation | Budgets, operating margins, and investment income | Debt | Gifts and donations | Resources, management, and governance
Read an overview of the findings in the most recent press release.