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Governance And Policy | Insights Blog
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...
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Investment Strategy | Articles
The Endowment Model - Building Resilient Portfolios for an Enduring Mission
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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 | Podcasts
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... Learn Moreeducational-endowments
Market Commentary | Articles
Tour de World: Global Equity Investing Now
Better valuations. Innovation hotspots. Opportunities to add value. Geopolitical tensions. Debt burdens. Trade imbalances. Equity investing outside the U.S. holds its attractions—and risks. A report...
Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Insights from CF Private Equity Roadshow: Real Assets & Sustainability
Over the last few months, the CF Private Equity RAS team members Ethan Levine, Head of Real Assets and Sustainability and Dan Connell, Managing Director hosted two roundtable lunch discussions with...
Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Not Your Grandparent’s Farm: Emerging Opportunities in an Often-Overlooked Sector
The Rationale for Investing in Agriculture: Growth, Diversification, Sustainability, Inflation Hedge Commonfund Forum 2024 convened a panel to examine emerging trends and opportunities for private...
educational-endowments
Market Commentary | Insights Blog
What's Driving Surprisingly Low Volatility in Energy Markets?
In the current geopolitical environment, we would have historically expected much more volatility in the energy complex. Oddly, that has not been the case over the last 6 months. In fact, crude oil...
educational-endowments
Private Equity | Videos
Will AI Save the World or Ruin It?
Commonfund hosted its annual Commonfund Forum, March 10-12th, in Orlando, Florida. The agenda included a range of sessions on relevant topics for institutional investors. This Forum Spotlight...
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Investment Strategy | Insights Blog
Viewpoint | Top Concerns for Independent Schools
For the first time since the inception of the Study, the FY2023 Commonfund Benchmarks Study® of Independent Schools (CSIS) report asked respondents to identify the top concerns for their...
Investment Strategy | Private Equity Insights
CF Private Equity Closes its 4th Secondaries Fund at $1.1 BN
Commonfund Capital Secondary Partners IV, L.P. significantly exceeded its $750 million target.
educational-endowments
Market Commentary | Insights Blog
The Economic Equation: Solving for the Unknowns
2 + 2 = ? In the world of economics—a lot of variables may mess with the answer. Two sessions early in the agenda at Commonfund Forum 2024 brought into focus the range of scenarios in play for...
independent_school
Investment Strategy | Insights Blog
Viewpoint | The Main Purpose of Independent School Endowments
The FY2023 Commonfund Benchmarks Study® of Independent Schools (CSIS) prompted survey respondents to select the main purpose of their school’s endowment for the first time.
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Perspectives | Insights Blog
Study of Independent Schools - Key Highlights [Infographic] 2023
For fiscal year 2023, independent schools reported an average return (net of fees) on their endowment assets of 9.2 percent. In this infographic, we report the key highlights from the 2023 Commonfund...
Market Commentary | Private Equity Insights
Opportunities in Sustainability Private Investing
Global macroeconomic trends signal an increased level of investment in the climate and energy transition sectors, despite broader market volatility over the past few years, as investors aim to seize...
Market Commentary | Private Equity Insights
Cash is Queen
2023 was the lowest year in 10 years for U.S. private equity distributions.1 Without the cash from exits, private equity investors are struggling to commit to new private equity funds. Lessons...
The State as a Shareholder: Government Equity Stakes