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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...

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Perspectives | Insights Blog

What a Government Shutdown Means for the Nonprofit Sector: Why It Matters to Boards

At midnight on October 1st, the U.S. government shut down after Congress failed to pass a short-term funding bill. The shutdown is a culmination of contentious policy differences between Republicans...
Investment Strategy | Insights Blog

Commonfund Holds Third Convening for Foundations that Support Higher Education

Last month, Commonfund hosted its third Commonfund Convenes event dedicated to advancement of investment knowledge for institutionally-related foundations (IRFs). The latest workshop focused...
Governance And Policy | Insights Blog

Higher Ed in 2025: Top 5 Business Concerns and How Institutions Can Respond

For the past four years, NACUBO has surveyed chief business officers and other financial and administrative professionals about the challenges that confront them—and how they are working to support...
Investment Strategy | Videos

Venture Capital Essentials: Principles and Market Trends

Are you curious about how investors navigate the dynamic world of venture capital? This Commonfund Institute Online workshop offers a practical roadmap for understanding the principles of endowment...
Governance And Policy | Insights Blog

A Closer Look at Health Conversion 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 | Insights Blog

Health Conversion Foundations: Preserving Community Health in a Changing Landscape

In the evolving terrain of American healthcare, health conversion foundations, also known as health legacy foundations, have emerged as powerful stewards of community well-being. These philanthropic...
Governance And Policy | Podcasts

Insights on Private Equity and Market Trends

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...
Private Equity | Private Equity Insights

Understanding the Venture Capital Investment Opportunity

Venture capital (VC) has long been a powerful engine for innovation, fueling the growth of transformative companies and shaping entire industries. From prior technology platform shifts – such as the...
Market Commentary | Insights Blog

AI and the Productivity Paradox: Are We Finally Seeing the Payoff?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) remains the most compelling theme in global markets today. With OpenAI and Anthropic recently valued at $300 billion and $183 billion, respectively, and tech giants, like...
Outsourced Cio | Insights Blog

Growing Use of OCIO by Private and Community Foundations

In the annual Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations® (CCSF; the "Study") data show concerns are rising regarding the ability to...
Governance And Policy | Insights Blog

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...
Perspectives | Insights Blog

A Closer Look at Long-term Returns

In the annual Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations® (CCSF; the "Study") data was collected on longer-term returns for the first...