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5 Takeaways from the 2026 NACUBO Annual Meeting
If you've already read Inside Higher Ed's recap of the NACUBO Annual Meeting (held in Anaheim from July 18-21), "A Call to Meet the Moment at NACUBO,” you know federal policy uncertainty dominated...
Endowment Purpose and UPMIFA: What Nonprofit Boards Must Ask
Purpose | Principle I | Principles of Investment Stewardship The Question Every Endowment Fiduciary Should Be Asking For many nonprofit organizations, the endowment is the difference between... Learn More
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...
The Pivot Heard Around the World
A U.S. Federal Reserve (“Fed”) pivot is felt throughout global markets, affecting economies worldwide.
Challenging Headlines Abound for “Cleantech 2.0” – As Opportunities Persist
Market cycles of euphoria followed by the inevitable hangover are not new for investors – but some headaches are sharper than others, the worst of which can blur one’s vision the morning after.
Viewpoint | Top Concerns for Community Foundations: Donor-Advised Fund Regulations
Potential regulations on donor-advised funds (DAFs) and their effect on the philanthropic sector was the most-cited concern among community foundations in this year’s Council on...
Key OCIO Evaluation Factors
When choosing an Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO), there are eight key factors an organization should consider for increasing the likelihood of a good fit and successful partnership. These...
Why European Private Equity? Why Now?
The Case for Private Equity Investments in Europe’s Lower Mid-Market
Four Key Takeaways From an ALTS Conference
ALTSDC – is an education-focused alternative investment event designed to bring the investor community together to discuss the most relevant topics to investors and managers today. The event is...
Considerations for Smaller Institutions Seeking OCIO
Recent data from the Commonfund Benchmarks Studies indicate that smaller nonprofit institutions are using an Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) for investment management more often than their...
Stay the Course: Long-Term Investing Beyond Election Volatility
Presidential elections often beget new theories about how candidates might influence financial markets. This year is especially pivotal, with nearly half of the global population participating in...
Viewpoint | Top Concerns for Private Foundations: Financial Volatility and Target Returns
In this year’s Council on Foundations–Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations® (CCSF; the “Study”) we asked a new question: What are the top two current...
Is the Generative AI Opportunity Bigger than the Software and IT Markets?
We are entering the next phase where start-ups harnessing generative AI opportunities possess the potential to fundamentally re-invent the $65T services market. This opportunity represents more than...
How Nonprofits Eliminate the Noise to Strategically Achieve Long-Term Success
Commonfund has been partnering with boards and investment committees to design and implement investment structures that support and maintain intergenerational equity, the purchasing power of their...
Mission-Aligned Investing for Endowments & Foundations