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Key Findings From the 2025 Study of Foundations [Infographic]
Investment results, asset allocation, spending and governance practices reported by 285 private and community foundations for the year ended December 31, 2025. Study at a glance 285 participating...
Foundation Endowments Post Double-Digit Returns | 2025 CCSF Study
Foundations’ Endowed Portfolios Produced Double Digit Investment Returns in 2025; Alts Returns Rebound Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study finds Community Foundations Report Rising Gifts and OCIO... Learn More
What is an OCIO?
An OCIO — short for Outsourced Chief Investment Officer — is a model in which an institution delegates its investment management function to a specialized third-party provider. Rather than managing...
The Shiny Tinfoil: Investing in AI with Eyes Wide Open
Join hosts George Suttles, Executive Director, and Amanda Novello, Associate Director, in this episode of Espresso Chats, a series by the Commonfund Institute serving up strong, short shots of...
The Case for the Seventh P: Progression in Nonprofit Investment Stewardship
At Commonfund Institute, we’ve long adhered to the six guiding principles of nonprofit investment stewardship, often referred to as the "6 Ps": Purpose, Policy, Process, Portfolio, People, and...
Key Takeaways: 2026 Investment Stewardship Academy
The 2026 Investment Stewardship Academy, hosted by Commonfund Institute from June 7–10 on Yale University’s campus in New Haven, Connecticut, brought together institutional investors, foundation...
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...
Higher Education Endowment Return Assumptions in a Changing Environment
Many colleges, universities, and nonprofit institutions built long-term endowment portfolios on assumptions about investment returns, donor giving, and federal support that once enabled confident...
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...
Religious K-12 Schools: Endowment Trends and Performance
Earlier this year, Commonfund Institute released the 21st annual Commonfund Benchmarks Study of Independent Schools (“CSIS” or the “Study”), reporting on key investment governance trends and insights...
Endowment Performance & Practices of Carnegie-Classified Institutions
Earlier this year, Commonfund, in partnership with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), released the 2025 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments (NCSE). The...
Principles of Investment Stewardship for Nonprofit Organizations
Explore essential investment stewardship principles for nonprofit organizations, focusing on the six principles for effective decision making.
Religious-Affiliated Higher Ed: Endowment Performance & Investment Practices
Earlier this year, Commonfund, in partnership with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), released the 2025 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments (NCSE). The...
AI's Productivity Payoff Is Here