Research Center
Select a Topic:
.svg){kind=icon}
Summer Reading List 2026: 11 Books to Read This Season
Commonfund Institute is excited to share our Summer 2026 recommended reading list, thoughtfully curated with recommendations from our Commonfund colleagues. This edition spans financial history,...
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... Learn More
Teresa C. Younger, CEO, Ms. Foundation for Women
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Allison Kaspriske, Director, Commonfund Institute and Nicole Melwood, Director, Commonfund, interview Teresa Younger, President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation...
Viewpoint: The Short and Long of It
There’s a lot to consider in each annual Commonfund Benchmarks Study® of Independent Schools, e.g., asset allocation, spending, gifts and donations, responsible investing and more. This year is no...
Is this Time Different? Risk Assets and Real Rate Moves
February ended in the same fashion as January, with elevated volatility across a wide spectrum of asset classes. Equities, fixed income, currencies, commodities, and cryptocurrencies all swung...
Metis Global Partners
In celebration of Black History Month, Commonfund Institute Executive Director, George Suttles, and Commonfund Director, Nicole Melwood, interview Machel Allen, President and CIO of Metis Global...
Commonfund Perspective on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Key Takeaways As widely anticipated, Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, February 24th, causing volatility to spike across the capital markets globally. By the closing bell in the U.S., however,...
Strategic Planning May Be Saving the Day for Cultural Institutions
Given the disruption to “normalcy” brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the racial justice issues that erupted in the U.S. in 2020 and continue today, some may say it has been a time of reckoning...
Aligning Endowments & Investments with Foundation Values
Reflections from the Council on Foundations' webinar The 2020 Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF) is the field’s most...
Consumer Savings and Disposable Income Under Pressure
As 2021 comes to an end, we enter 2022 with a good dose of uncertainty in the markets as the Fed begins to reduce and ultimately removes its accommodative policy which has been in place since the...
Commonfund Asset Management Announces Organization Changes
As a leading Outsourced CIO firm serving nonprofit organizations, we consistently re-evaluate our organization and processes looking for opportunities to improve how we work and serve our clients. To...
In Remembrance: Verne O. Sedlacek
A Gentle Giant The Commonfund community was shocked and saddened this week by the news of the sudden passing of our former President and CEO, Verne Sedlacek at the age of 67.
Sky High Valuations Could Spell Weaker Forward Returns
When we look for potential roadblocks that could spoil the breakneck pace of capital markets, the first risk that comes to mind is record-high valuations. While inflation risks have become more...
Diversifying Foundation Boards
The call for private and community foundation boards to embrace and demonstrate diversity at the senior leadership and board level has never been more urgent. Yet, with a growing base of research...
Fiscal Year-End and Mid-Year 2026 Market and Investment Review