A Closer Look at Minority-Serving Higher Education Institutions
Following the release of the 2024 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments (NCSE), Commonfund conducted a focused analysis of data reported by the 97 participating Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs)....
Insights from Institutionally-Related Foundations
Last month at Commonfund Forum 2025, we convened senior leaders of institutionally-related foundations (IRFs) to discuss trends among their institutions and peers uncovered in the FY2024...
The Power of We: How Collective Learning and Data Sharing Make Us Stronger
In the midst of today’s volatile economic and policy landscape, collective learning has become not just beneficial but essential for institutional investors. The nonprofit sector as a whole is facing...
Key Takeaways from the 2025 CASE Conference for College & University Foundations
Commonfund Institute provides analysis and thought leadership across the nonprofit institutional investing space. But investments don’t happen in a vacuum – they are part of the institutional...
A Closer Look at Religious Independent Schools
Earlier this year, Commonfund Institute released the 20th annual Commonfund Benchmarks Study of Independent Schools (“CSIS” or the “Study”), reporting on key investment governance trends and insights...
Benchmarks for Boards
This paper outlines the practices and policies of high-performing boards, offering valuable insights for trustees and nonprofits seeking to excel in their fiduciary role.
A Closer Look at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Earlier this year, in partnership with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), Commonfund released the 2024 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments (NCSE). The...
The Case for the Seventh P: Progression in Nonprofit Investment Stewardship
At Commonfund Institute, we’ve long adhered to the six guiding principles of nonprofit investment stewardship, often referred to as the "6 Ps": Purpose, Policy, Process, Portfolio, People, and...
A Closer Look at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Earlier this year, in partnership with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), Commonfund released the 2023 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments (NCSE),...
A Closer Look at Community Colleges
Earlier this year, Commonfund, in partnership with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), released the 2023 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments (NCSE),...
Governance Lessons from Commonfund Benchmark Studies
Commonfund has been partnering to produce industry insights and thought leadership across the nonprofit institutional investor space for decades. Central to these efforts have been benchmark studies...
Key Takeaways from the 2024 CASE Conference for College & University Foundations
Commonfund Institute provides analysis and thought leadership across the non-profit institutional investing space. But investments don’t happen in a vacuum – they are part of the institutional...
A Closer Look at Religious Independent K-12 Schools
Earlier this year, Commonfund Institute released the 2023 Commonfund Benchmarks Study® of Independent Schools (CSIS), reporting on key investment governance trends and insights over the July 1, 2022...
Key Factors in Asset Allocation Decisions for Endowments
There are several broad subjects that an effective investment policy statement (IPS) should include in its contents and address clearly and specifically as they relate to an endowed institution. This...
Observations from the 2023 NACUBO Annual Meeting
Last month, I had the pleasure of attending the NACUBO Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL, where nearly 2,000 representatives from higher education institutions across North America came together to share...
Three Fundamental Duties of Nonprofit Boards
It is essential that trustees of endowed portfolios hold themselves accountable to a set of standards in order to maintain sound governance practices. Fiduciary duty is an important part of the...
The Investment Stewardship Academy Returns to Yale This June
The Investment Stewardship Academy, Commonfund Institute’s three-day intensive academic program is set to resume in-person June 20-23 for the first time since 2019.
Including Risk Management in Your Investment Policy Statement – Where to Begin
Investment policy statements usually contain a section that purports to define the institution’s risk tolerance. But they frequently only gesture in the direction of risk, without actually examining...
Shaping Your Board - Key Considerations for Success
The structure of a board can help, or hamper, its effectiveness, and consideration of these matters is important to improving a board’s performance. Factors such as size, board chair, diversity and...
Drafting Your Investment Policy Statement: 10 Critical Issues
Endowed institutions differ in their missions, capabilities and resources, and investment policy statements naturally mirror these differences. In that sense, there is no single ‘right’ investment...
Excellent Boards Are Made, Not Born
Boards that are exemplary for their adherence to best governance practices have certain identifiable traits. But this is no accident—they have taken steps to elevate their practices and maintain them...
Why Governance Matters to ESG
According to the Financial Times “Investing within an ESG framework is now the fastest-growing segment of the asset management industry.” In line with this growth is the increasing number of...
Better Benchmarking: What Makes Your Institution Unique Matters
There is no doubt that benchmarking is a good practice for institutions to follow – we publish studies each year for various nonprofit sectors for that reason. While we think that benchmarking is...
HEPI Forecast Hits 5 Percent: Three Components to Watch
The current inflationary environment is not something we’ve seen since the 1980s. For higher education institutions who rely on inflation data to accurately budget and plan for the next year,...
Managing Financial Challenges During Crisis – A Checklist for Higher Education
Many educational institutions are facing unpredictable financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Costs associated with implementing technologies for virtual learning, decreased...
COVID-19 and Nonprofits | Five Observations from China
Although the full effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. nonprofits will not be known for some time there may be something to learn from what we’re seeing in China. China was the first country to...
How to Implement ESG at Your Institution
The following has been adapted from a presentation delivered at Commonfund Forum 2023. The presenters were Rachel Stavola Clivaz, Associate Director, and Anthony Peretore, Managing Director,...
Celebrate! 25 Years of NBOA: The Endowment Landscape
A deep dive into independent school endowment's trends FY2005-FY2022, including analysis of asset allocation, performance, spending and contributions, plus a perspective on future developments....