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Themes from the 2025 FAOG Conference for Community Foundations
Last week in Oklahoma City the 2025 FAOG (Finance, Administration & Operations Group) Conference convened experts and over 300 delegates from community foundations around the country to explore the...
![Study of Foundations - Key Highlights [Infographic] 2024 Featured Image](https://www.commonfund.org/hubfs/00-Commonfund.org/03%20Research%20Center/Blog/2025-0903-CCSF-Infographic/img-feature-ccsfinfographic.jpg)
Study of Foundations - Key Highlights [Infographic] 2024
In this infographic, we report the key highlights from the 2024 Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study of Foundations. For the year ended December 31, 2024, participating foundations produced... Learn More
Higher Education Price Index Forecast August 2025
According to Commonfund Institute's latest update, the HEPI forecasts a 3.7 percent inflation rate for U.S. colleges and universities in fiscal year 2025. The latest forecast, based on data through...
Foundations' Endowed Portfolios Produced Double-Digit Investment Returns in 2024
Long-Term Return Data Also Positive Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study finds Outsourcing on the rise; gifts to community foundations increased Wilton, Conn. (August 27, 2025) — In the volatile...
Aligning Mission 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...
Benchmarks for Boards
This paper attempts to serve as a guide for trustees and boards that aspire to excel, with particular emphasis on the board’s fiduciary role.
Striking the Balance: A Fiduciary Approach to Risk and Investment Policy
Discover how to effectively balance risk and return as a fiduciary in your investment portfolios.
Essential Not Optional: A Strategic Approach to Fundraising
Fundraising for endowments has become an essential strategic capability that endowed institutions will have to build or acquire in order to thrive.
The Investment Policy Statement - A Commonfund Whitepaper
Successful investing for long-term funds requires a strategic investment policy statement. The plan must be specific, yet it also needs to be flexible.
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...
Understanding Private Equity Investing in Environmental Sustainability
Investing in environmental sustainability can target sustainability-themed investments across a range of transaction types, from the early-stage opportunities in venture capital to growth equity &...
2025 Policy Landscape: Implications for Higher Education Endowments
Commonfund Institute hosted a timely and insightful conversation with leading policy experts in higher education. Panelists discussed the key impacts of the Big Beautiful Bill including revised...
Commonfund Benchmarks Study - Independent Schools
Access the Commonfund Benchmarks Study® for independent schools, featuring insights on investment strategies, governance, and responsible investing.
Tariff Worries Are Likely Here to Stay