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Study of Independent Schools Marks its 20-Year Milestone
In 2005, what was then called the National Business Officers Association (now NBOA: Business Leadership for Independent Schools) had reached the seventh anniversary of its founding. Having its...
Data Centers, AI and the Evolving Energy Landscape
You can't just flip the switch. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries and redefine technological capability, it is also poised to become one of the most significant drivers... Learn More
Institutional Investors Split on U.S. Economic Outlook, Commonfund’s Annual Market Sentiment Survey Finds
Sixty eight percent of institutional investors surveyed (representing over $800 billion in total assets) expect the S&P 500 Index to have lower or negative returns in 2025, compared to the 10-year...
Independent Schools Increasingly Depend on Endowments for Operations
Amidst concerns about student enrollment, fundraising, inflation, market volatility, and more, independent schools are relying more on their endowments to cover any gaps. Data from the 2024...
Key Takeaways from Forum 2025
Commonfund Forum 2025, held in Orlando, brought together registrants from some 370 institutions with more than $800 billion in endowed assets representing 42 states and five foreign countries in a...
Forum 2025 Key Statistics [Infographic]
Commonfund recently hosted its 27th annual Commonfund Forum, March 9th-11th, in Orlando, Florida. The event brought together institutional investors to engage in a three-day conference to explore...
Top Concerns in Higher Education
In the 2024 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments, a new area of inquiry was asked to participating institutions to identify their top two concerns from an inclusive list of 20 alternatives from...
The Investment Policy Statement - A Commonfund Whitepaper
Successful investing for long-term funds requires a strategic investment policy statement. The plan must be specific, yet it also needs to be flexible.
Request your copy of the latest Study on Foundations
The Council on Foundation - Commonfund (CCSF) Study provides an authoritative and comprehensive survey of private and community foundation investment and governance practices.
Outsourced Investment Management: An Overview for Decision Makers
An institution’s decision to work with an OCIO provider will likely depend on several factors. Learn more on on Outsourced Investment Management by...
Endowment Spending - A Look Back
Gain a better understanding of how educational institutions evaluate spending policies today.
Benchmarks for Boards
This paper outlines the practices and policies of high-performing boards, offering valuable insights for trustees and nonprofits seeking to excel in their fiduciary role.
Blossoming New Era of Secondaries
The Secondary market vaulted to a record year in 2024 and is poised for another record-breaking year in 2025. Secondary market growth is constrained by both a lack of investable and human capital....
Study of Independent Schools - Key Highlights [Infographic] 2024
For fiscal year 2024, independent schools reported an average return (net of fees) on their endowment assets of 12.3 percent. In this infographic, we report the key highlights from the 2024...
Policy Uncertainty Impacts All Assets (Not Just Equities!)