POPULAR ARTICLES


Investment Strategy | Articles

Mind the Gap: The Strategic Risk of Skipping a Vintage in Private Equity

Private equity (inclusive of buyouts, growth equity, and venture capital) remains a compelling long-term asset class, but recent periods of muted distributions and below-average returns have created...

Perspectives | Press Releases

FY24 NACUBO-Commonfund Study Released

U.S. Higher Education Endowments Report 6.8% 10-Year Average Annual Return, Increase Spending to a Collective $30.0 Billion Annual NACUBO-Commonfund Study shows participating institutions spent...

Investment Strategy | Videos

Chief Investment Officers Share Their Thoughts at Forum 2025

Commonfund hosted its annual Commonfund Forum 2025, March 9-11th, in Orlando, Florida. The agenda included a range of sessions on relevant topics for institutional investors. This Forum Spotlight...

Stay connected with the Insights Blog



Investment Strategy | Insights Blog

Why the Way You Count Matters and Why Comparing One-Year Returns Does Not

As we near the end of the performance reporting season for larger higher ed institutions this year, I am once again struck by the focus the media and others place on a single fiscal year return.
Market Commentary | Insights Blog

U.S. Government Shutdown Ends: Economic Impact and Next Steps

After 43 days of political deadlock, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history finally ended when Congress recently passed a last-minute funding bill signed by President Trump. The standoff,...
Governance And Policy | Podcasts

Community Foundations: Equity and Impact

Join hosts George Suttles, Executive Director, and Amanda Novello, Sr. Policy and Research Analyst, in this episode of "Espresso Chats," a series by the Commonfund Institute serving up strong, short...
Governance And Policy | Insights Blog

A Closer Look at Higher Education Endowments Less Often in the Spotlight

Earlier this year, Commonfund, in partnership with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), released the 2024 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments (NCSE, or,...
Investment Strategy | Videos

Understanding the Secondaries Market

This Commonfund Institute Online video explores the evolving landscape of the secondaries market, focusing on both Limited Partner (LP)- and General Partner (GP)-led transactions.
Private Equity | Private Equity Insights

Understanding Private Equity Investing in Natural Resources

Private natural resources investing can cover a range of market segments including upstream oil & gas, mining & minerals, agriculture, and timber. This investment approach can also target...
Market Commentary | Podcasts

Commonfund OCIO Point of View

Episode 8 In this episode of the Commonfund OCIO Point of View podcast, Julia Mord, Chief Investment Officer, Commonfund OCIO, discusses the current state of capital markets with Aaron Miller,...
Investment Strategy | Private Equity Insights

AI is Redefining How Startups Scale

Advancements in generative Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) and large language models are enabling early-stage companies to scale faster than ever before. Venture investors who can identify and access...
Market Commentary | Insights Blog

More Than Multiples: Understanding the Broader Drivers of Equity Valuations

The S&P 500 has produced a ~25 percent annualized return for the three successive years ending September 2025, a banner period of performance.
Private Equity | Private Equity Insights

Unconventional Thinking – A Reset of the Investment Opportunity in Upstream Energy

Step back in time a little over a decade ago to 2014 and recall the state of the global economy. Five years earlier, global GDP had experienced a significant contraction in the wake of the Global...
Governance And Policy | Insights Blog

A Closer Look at Private Family Foundations

Commonfund, in partnership with the Council on Foundations (COF), recently released the 2024 Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations...
Governance And Policy | Podcasts

Purpose-Driven Governance in the Nonprofit Sector

Join host George Suttles, Executive Director of Commonfund Institute in this episode of "Espresso Chats," a series by the Commonfund Institute serving up strong, short shots of governance and...