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Purpose-Driven Governance in the Nonprofit Sector
Join host George Suttles, Executive Director of Commonfund Institute in this episode of "Espresso Chats," a series by the Commonfund Institute serving up strong, short shots of governance and... Learn More
How Long Can the Yen Carry Trade Carry On?
Since Japan's economic crash in the 1990s, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) has maintained extremely low interest rates to combat deflation. For nearly a decade, Japan's benchmark rate has been negative,...
Commonfund Convenes: Foundations that Support Higher Education
Last month, Commonfund OCIO hosted an inaugural convening of institutionally-related foundations (IRFs) - foundations that are a separate entity and serve as administrative and often fundraising...
Commonfund OCIO Point of View
Episode 4 In this episode we cover the macro perspective and how we analyze the Fed and interest rate risks. We also talk through the upcoming U.S. election and policy approaches.
Montana Tech’s Rigorous STEM Curriculum Produces In-Demand Graduates
Borrowing from the popular TV quiz show “Jeopardy!” the answer is: “Montana Technological University.” The question: “What is the only university in the U.S. with an underground mine located on...
Why do Nonprofit Investors Seek an OCIO?
According to data from Commonfund's Benchmarks Studies, Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) usage is on the rise among private and community foundations and higher education over the past 10...
Investment Stewardship Academy 2024: Lifetime Learning for Nonprofit Leaders
Commonfund Institute’s Investment Stewardship Academy (“ISA”), an intensive workshop for institutional investors and leaders that has been convening since 1993, came together on Yale’s campus in New...
Fiscal Year-End and Mid-Year 2024 Market and Investment Review
Over the last 12 months, the global stock markets demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth despite several challenges, including persistently high interest rates, geopolitical instability, and...
Policy Areas Impacting Endowments and Foundations Today
Commonfund Institute aims to lift up and provide insight into how significant policy developments may impact nonprofit institutional investors. In the prior article, we covered implications of the...
Discover Your Next Summer Read!
Summer 2024 is finally here, and Commonfund has curated a list of illuminating books to make your sunny days even brighter! Perfect for beach days or cozy retreats, these selections celebrate the...
Key Takeaways from Commonfund’s 5th Annual Diverse Manager Day
On May 15th, 2024, Commonfund held its 5th annual Diverse Manager Day. While Commonfund investment teams meet with hundreds of diverse managers each year, this one day is dedicated to due diligence...
The Fed and Markets Expectations Start to Align
It took six months, but the FOMC and the short-term rates markets are finally in alignment with respect to the level of the Fed Funds rate as we approach the second half of 2024. Since the beginning...
Navigating Co-Investments in Today’s Environment
The macroeconomic landscape in recent years has presented certain challenges for both private equity General Partners (“GPs”) and Limited Partners (“LPs”). Deal activity and distributions were...
More Than Multiples: Understanding the Broader Drivers of Equity Valuations
The S&P 500 has produced a ~25 percent annualized return for the three successive years ending September 2025, a banner period of performance.