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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,...
Beyond the Primary Commitment: Considering Private Market Secondaries
As private markets mature and liquidity needs evolve, secondaries have moved from an opportunistic trade to a standing allocation and an important portfolio construction tool for many institutional... Learn More
Impact Investing vs. ESG: Defining Mission-Aligned Investing
Ask ten investment professionals what "mission-aligned investing" means and you are likely to get ten different answers. Some will say environmental, social and governance (ESG). Others will say...
The Endowment Model - Building Resilient Portfolios for an Enduring Mission
Drawn from the 2025 Council on Foundations–Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations® (CCSF) | Calendar Year 2025
AI Considerations in Portfolio Management: A CIO’s View
In this episode of Espresso Chats, Commonfund Institute's Amanda Novello, Associate Director, sits down with Julia Mord, Chief Investment Officer at Commonfund OCIO, to close out our AI investment...
Applying the Six Ps to Mission-Aligned Investing
The case for mission-aligned investing continues to grow stronger — not simply as an ethical stance, but as a matter of institutional coherence, stakeholder trust, and long-term risk management. For...
Higher Education Price Index Forecast August 2026
According to Commonfund Institute's latest update, HEPI forecasts a 3.5 percent inflation rate for U.S. colleges and universities in fiscal year 2026. The latest forecast, based on data through...
Key Findings From the 2025 Study of Foundations [Infographic]
Investment results, asset allocation, spending and governance practices reported by 285 private and community foundations for the year ended December 31, 2025. Study at a glance 285 participating...
Investment Policy Statement: The Document Behind Every Decision
Policy | Principle II | Principles of Investment Stewardship An investment committee can have talented members, a well-diversified portfolio, and a thoughtful manager roster — and still make poor...
The Other Side of the Liquidity Equation: What Semi-Liquid Funds Cost You on Day One
The focus on how capital can come back from a semi-liquid fund often overshadows an equally important question: the impact on liquidity the moment capital goes in. That asymmetry leads to an...
Foundation Endowments Post Double-Digit Returns | 2025 CCSF Study
Foundations’ Endowed Portfolios Produced Double Digit Investment Returns in 2025; Alts Returns Rebound Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study finds Community Foundations Report Rising Gifts and OCIO...
Why 30-Year Treasury Yields Are at 2007 Highs — And What It Means for Your Portfolio
Amidst all the headlines of a new $500 billion financing partnership Nvidia struck with six of Wall Street’s largest investors to fund the buildout of AI infrastructure, the same borrowing wave is...
How do Endowments Work? Common Misconceptions
In recent months, institutional endowments, particularly those within higher education, have been subject to heightened scrutiny. This attention has, at times, created tension and contributed to the...
The State as a Shareholder: Government Equity Stakes