Research Center
Select a Topic:
.svg){kind=icon}
Endowment Management: Building a Portfolio for Generations
Portfolio | Principle IV | Commonfund Institute | Principles of Investment Stewardship Constructing and overseeing an investment portfolio is, as the Principles brochure puts it, the nucleus around...
Commonfund Convenes: Institutionally-Related Foundations in Practice
Commonfund recently hosted a webinar on how institutionally-related foundations (IRFs) balance donor intent, institutional priorities and operational structure, the latest in their Commonfund... Learn More
Midterms, Tax Exemption, and What’s Next
Commonfund Institute tracks significant policy developments that may affect nonprofit institutional investors. In our most recent article, we summarized the sweeping changes in the 2025 federal...
From Rate Cuts to Hikes: Supply-Driven Inflation’s Resurgence
Coming into 2026, investors had been positioned for an interest rate easing cycle. Markets are now pricing in multiple rate hikes into 2027, and Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller has said...
Impact Investing: Putting the Whole Endowment to Work for the Mission
Drawn from the 2025 Council on Foundations–Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations® (CCSF) | Calendar Year 2025
Making Sense of Mission-Aligned Investing for Endowments and Foundations
In this first episode of our new mission-aligned investing series, Amanda Novello, Associate Director at Commonfund Institute, sits down with guest Caroline Greer, Managing Director, Commonfund OCIO....
Commonfund Appoints Liz Clark as Executive Director of Commonfund Institute
Recognized higher education leader joins from NACUBO, bringing decades of experience in research, policy and institutional leadership Norwalk, CT, October 20, 2026 – Commonfund, a prominent...
Community College Foundation Data Matters: CASE Takeaways
Takeaways from the CASE Conference for Community College Advancement
Family Foundations Return 14.0%; Alternatives Allocations Shrink
The 2025 Council on Foundations–Commonfund Study shows double-digit returns across the board and a notable swing in how family foundations are positioned relative to their peers. The 2025 Council on...
Commonfund OCIO Appoints Paula Robinson to Lead Public Equity Investment Programs
Appointment strengthens Commonfund OCIO's public equity investment capabilities and leadership team Norwalk, CT, October 14, 2026 – Commonfund OCIO, Commonfund’s Outsourced CIO solution for...
Climate Resilience Investing: Takeaways from Nest Climate Campus 2026
Climate resilience investing has moved from the margins to the center of the conversation. Climate Week discussions used to focus almost entirely on decarbonization pledges and green finance targets,...
Governing Through Complexity: Takeaways from the FAOG Annual Conference
The Finance, Administration and Operations Group for Community Foundations (FAOG) 2026 Annual Conference, held in Salt Lake City from September 20-23, highlighted a fundamental shift in community...
Investment Committee Governance: How to Steer, Not Manage
Process | Principle III | Principles of Investment Stewardship The word "governance" comes from a Greek term meaning "to steer." It's a fitting origin for investment committees, whose core...
Data Centers: Compute, the Environment and AI