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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

FY25 NACUBO-Commonfund Study Released

U.S. Higher Education Endowments Report Stable Returns, Increase Spending to $33.4 Billion in FY25 The NACUBO-Commonfund Study of 657 colleges and universities reports a 10-year average return of...

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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Governance And Policy | Insights Blog

2025 Policy Outlook: What Endowments and Foundations Should Know

On January 30th, Commonfund Institute, in partnership with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), the Council on Foundations (COF), and the Council for...
Perspectives | Reports And Surveys

NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments

Request the FY2024 Study of Endowments to gain insights on investment strategies, governance, and best practices in higher education endowments
Governance And Policy | Videos

2025 Policy Outlook: What Endowments and Foundations Should Know

Looking back at 2024, uncertainty was the name of the game: inflation, interest rates, market volatility, emerging technology, recession potential, and geopolitical risks all played a role. As we...
Private Equity | Private Equity Insights

CF Private Equity Closes on Three Venture Capital Funds

Firm Closes Its Fifteenth Venture Capital Fund, Second Dedicated Venture Direct Fund, and First Dedicated Venture Blockchain Fund
Investment Strategy | Insights Blog

Determinants of Portfolio Returns – It Depends…

Asset allocation decisions have traditionally been associated with being the major determinant of portfolio returns. The Brinson, Hood, Beebower study of 19861 estimated that nearly 90 percent of...
Market Commentary | Insights Blog

The Housing Market Paradox

The U.S. housing market stands at a critical juncture as sectors adjust to the anticipated Trump administration. While various industries are pricing in different expectations, housing faces unique...
Diversity | Insights Blog

Commonfund’s Investments with Diverse Managers Continue to Grow

Commonfund continues to build exposure to diverse managers1 as a source of return and diversification for our clients. In 2024, we closed the year with allocations to 50 different diverse managers,...
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...
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...
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...