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Perspectives | Index
Higher Education Price Index Forecast June 2026
According to Commonfund Institute's latest update, HEPI forecasts a 3.4 percent inflation rate for U.S. colleges and universities in fiscal year 2026. The latest forecast, based on data through June...
Featured
Governance And Policy | Insights Blog
Higher Education Endowment Return Assumptions in a Changing Environment
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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
2025 HEPI Report Released
Inflation for U.S. Higher Education Institutions Rises 3.6% in Fiscal 2025, Up from Fiscal 2024 Rate Norwalk, Conn., December 11, 2025 – Data from the annual Higher Education Price Index® (HEPI) show...
Investment Strategy | Videos
Understanding the Private Equity Secondaries Market
This Commonfund Institute Online video explores the evolving landscape of the private equity secondaries market, focusing on both Limited Partner (LP)- and General Partner (GP)-led transactions.
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Featured
Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Interval Funds and Semi-Liquid Structures: How Liquid Are They Really?
The case for interval funds and other semi-liquid vehicles is straightforward: access to private markets without a ten-year lockup, and the appeal of periodic liquidity. It's a compelling pitch. It... Learn More
Perspectives | Insights Blog
Winter Wonders: Warming Reads for the Season
Commonfund Institute is excited to share our annual winter reading list, curated by our colleagues. These selections explore themes of personal transformation, resilience, and identity with stories...
Mission-aligned Investing | Insights Blog
Responsible Investing: Terminology and Background
In recent years there has been a rise in available investment strategies and governance considerations to help investors adapt to evolving challenges in the responsible investing space. Norms and...
Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Edging Out the Competition – The Sector Specialist Advantage
Unlike the early days of private equity, when generalist private equity firms predominately relied on financial engineering to generate returns, today’s competitive markets require a much deeper...
Responsible Investing | White Papers
Navigating the Changing ESG Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities
Investment professionals debate whether a portfolio’s long-term performance can be enhanced by including environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations in the security selection process.
foundations
Investment Strategy | Videos
Investing in the Creative Economy - Commonfund Coffee Talk
Investing in the Creative Economy In this Commonfund Coffee Talk, the Institute’s executive director, George Suttles, is joined by Upstart Co-Lab founding partner, Laura Callanan, to discuss impact...
educational-endowments
Market Commentary | Insights Blog
U.S. Trade Deficit Reaches Record High Amid Global Trade Shifts
As of September 2024, the U.S. trade deficit stands at $84.4 billion, marking the highest level since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. During that period in the conflict, the deficit...
educational-endowments
Outsourced Cio | Insights Blog
Understanding OCIO Partnerships: Key Insights and Best Practices
A Chief Investment Office “down the hall.” That’s what we aim to be at Commonfund. Our Mission As an OCIO, our goals are aligned with the institutions we work with and focused on how we can best...
educational-endowments
Governance And Policy | Insights Blog
Three Things You Should Know About Inflation and the Higher Education Price Index
The Higher Education Price Index (HEPI), produced annually by Commonfund Institute, is an inflation measure designed specifically for educational institutions. It is comprised of eight key components...
Investment Strategy | Private Equity Insights
Approach to Sustainability Assessment and Reporting
In recent years, sustainability-focused investing has taken on many names and has been at the center of polarizing political conversations. CF Private Equity’s approach to mandates surrounding...
Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Charting the Course: Where Generative AI Could Be a Game-Changer
The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in creating text, images, music, and videos marks a new technological era. Incumbent business leaders are eager to incorporate this technology to...
educational-endowments
Market Commentary | Podcasts
Fed Rate Cuts Begin: What It Means for Stocks & Fixed Income
Episode 5 The Fed has begun cutting rates — but what does that mean for your portfolio? Commonfund OCIO's Chief Investment Strategist Kris Kwait joins host Anita Hariton to break down the latest...
public-pensions
Investment Strategy | Articles
Thinking Outside the Benchmark
Twenty years ago, Mark authored an article published in The Journal of Portfolio Management titled "Thinking Outside the Benchmark" to describe a new way of pension fund management. He concluded the...
AI's Productivity Payoff Is Here