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Responsible Investing | Articles
Insights from Institutionally-Related Foundations
Last month at Commonfund Forum 2025, we convened senior leaders of institutionally-related foundations (IRFs) to discuss trends among their institutions and peers uncovered in the FY2024...
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Perspectives | Insights Blog
The Power of We: How Collective Learning and Data Sharing Make Us Stronger

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Perspectives | Insights Blog
Study of Independent Schools Marks its 20-Year Milestone
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Investment Strategy | Articles
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...
Perspectives | Press Releases
FY23 NACUBO-Commonfund Study Released
U.S. Higher Education Endowments Report 7.7% Return for FY23 While Spending More in Support of Their Missions 50th anniversary NACUBO-Commonfund Study shows participating colleges and universities...
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...
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Featured
Investment Strategy | Videos
Chief Investment Officers Share Their Thoughts at Forum 2025
Commonfund hosted its annual Commonfund Forum 2025, March 9-11th, in Orlando, Florida. The agenda included a range of sessions on relevant topics for institutional investors. This Forum Spotlight... Learn More
Governance And Policy | Insights Blog
Key Governance Factors for Higher Education Prove to Be Quantifiable
A board self-assessment is one of the most commonly used tools to evaluate how effectively a board performs. The purpose of a board self-assessment is to help board members analyze their present and...

Governance And Policy | Reports And Surveys
The 2021 Commonfund-FGA Benchmarking Study of Governance
This Commonfund-FGA Benchmarking Study of Governance in Higher Education assesses organizational governance structure and provides peer benchmarking analysis.

Diversity | Insights Blog
Evolving Our Definition of Diverse Managers
Investing in diverse managers has evolved considerably over the last five years, catapulted by client demand, broad social concern over events such as the murders of George Floyd, as well as a...

Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Founding Partner of MiddleGround Capital Answers Three Questions
Commonfund Capital Managing Director, Mark Hoeing, interviews Lauren Mulholland, Founding Partner of MiddleGround Capital in this Commonfund Manager Spotlight.

Investment Strategy | Private Equity Insights
Is There Method in the Madness of Today’s Crypto Market Chaos?
In recent months crypto markets have experienced extreme volatility and drawdowns, and it is self-evident that the next “crypto winter,” or prolonged bearish period, is upon us. However, these price...

Perspectives | Insights Blog
HEPI Forecast Hits 5 Percent: Three Components to Watch
The current inflationary environment is not something we’ve seen since the 1980s. For higher education institutions who rely on inflation data to accurately budget and plan for the next year,...

Diversity | Spotlight
Melissa Madzel, Managing Partner of Axis Talent Partners and Board Member of Stonewall Community Foundation
In celebration of Pride Month, Commonfund Institute Executive Director, George Suttles, interviews Melissa Madzel, Managing Partner of Axis Talent Partners and Board Member of Stonewall Community...

Governance And Policy | Insights Blog
Aligning Spending Policy with Your Institution’s Long-Term Goals
Commonfund has designed a set of questions to help guide a committee—and staff—toward selecting the most appropriate spending policy. We have used these questions as a guideline for conversations...

Investment Strategy | Insights Blog
Endowment Management: The Business of Independent Schools
Commonfund is proud to contribute a chapter to NBOA’s new book “The Business of Independent Schools – A Leader’s Guide” – a new edition of “By the Numbers and Beyond.” This publication provides...

Investment Strategy | Insights Blog
Don’t Let Inflation be a One-Two Punch for Your Endowment
Investment committees overseeing the endowments of higher ed institutions need to think about inflation for two fundamental reasons.

Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Private Equity: Responding Tactically, Changing Strategically
The current year has seen an enormous amount of change packed into a few months: breakout inflation, rising interest rates, war in Ukraine, COVID mutations and stubborn supply chain problems. We know...

Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Measuring Success with Private Equity
In early May, Commonfund had the opportunity to participate in the NACUBO Endowment Leadership Series by delivering a virtual learning session entitled, “Measuring Success with Private Equity”. The...