| Press Releases

Diverse Manager Portal Re-opens

August 24, 2020 |
2 minute read
|

WILTON, CT (August 24, 2020)— Commonfund, a prominent asset manager for endowments, foundations and public pension investors, announced today the re-opening of its online Diverse Manager Portal (“The Portal”). Originally launched last year, The Portal was designed to broaden clients’ access to diverse investment talent through the receipt and review of due diligence materials from diverse managers investing in equities, fixed income and credit, real estate and hedge funds.  

After a successful initial phase that attracted submissions from 124 diverse managers – who are defined as firms with 33 percent or more ownership by women, people of Black, African American, Latino, Asian, Native American or Pacific Islander descent, veterans and/or people with disabilities – Commonfund has expanded submission criteria and eligibility to include new asset classes, namely private equity, venture capital, natural resources and real assets and sustainability. 

Access our Diverse Manager Portal Now.

“Today, Commonfund is opening its Diverse Manager Portal on a permanent basis” said Mark Anson, Commonfund’s CEO and CIO. “Our initial implementation of the Portal was so successful that Commonfund needed to build additional infrastructure to support the Portal on a permanent basis. The re-opening of the Portal comes at a critical time for our country and the Asset Management Industry as we push for greater representation across race, color, ethnicity, gender, and national origin.  We view the Portal as an outlet to ensure that more diverse managers are included in our client portfolios.”  

Following the re-opening of the Portal, in early 2021 Commonfund plans to replicate its inaugural Diverse Manager Day from January 2020, when select diverse managers were invited to make presentations to the Commonfund investment team in New York. 

Diverse managers interested in submitting their data to The Portal will be asked to submit a strategy overview, monthly or quarterly performance since inception and a standard AIMA due diligence questionnaire. Commonfund pledges to conduct a quantitative and qualitative review of all submissions received through The Portal, and managers who submit their materials by November 30, 2020 will have their submissions reviewed by the appropriate investment team at Commonfund by December 31st.   

Launched in 2018, Commonfund’s Diversity and Inclusion Office was created with the mission to intentionally promote and foster inclusion and equity across Commonfund and its investment process, thought leadership and professional and organizational development. The initial launch of the Diverse Manager Portal in 2019 followed the development of a dedicated Diverse Manager Database and was a crucial step in the expansion of that database. The Office serves as a resource and clearinghouse of information for diversity in the broader asset management industry and reaffirms Commonfund’s belief that diversity is a crucial component in both developing a dynamic workforce and constructing robust investment portfolios.  

Complete guidelines and submission details for diverse managers are available on the Portal.

Visit our Commonfund website today to learn more about responsible investing. 

Commonfund

Author

Commonfund

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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