Research Center
Select a Topic:
Featured
Investment Strategy | Insights Blog
Family Foundations Return 14.0%; Alternatives Allocations Shrink
The 2025 Council on Foundations–Commonfund Study shows double-digit returns across the board and a notable swing in how family foundations are positioned relative to their peers. The 2025 Council on...
Featured
Outsourced Cio | Press Releases
Commonfund OCIO Appoints Paula Robinson to Lead Public Equity Investment Programs
Featured
Mission-aligned Investing | Insights Blog
Climate Resilience Investing: Takeaways from Nest Climate Campus 2026
POPULAR ARTICLES
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.
Stay connected with the Insights Blog
Featured
Governance and Policy | Insights Blog
Governing Through Complexity: Takeaways from the FAOG Annual Conference
The Finance, Administration and Operations Group for Community Foundations (FAOG) 2026 Annual Conference, held in Salt Lake City from September 20-23, highlighted a fundamental shift in community... Learn Moreeducational-endowments
Investment Strategy | Insights Blog
Diversifying Your Fixed Income Portfolio With a Private Credit Allocation
Inflation, rising interest rates, inversion in the yield curve and the war in Ukraine combined to make 1Q22 a challenge for many asset classes and strategies. While there was the isolated shelter...
educational-endowments
Perspectives | Videos
The Great Reset: The Emerging Age of Re-imagination, Reconnection and Renewal – and Generation RE
A great reset is now upon us. Less obvious is the reality that the world was quietly being reset prior to the pandemic. The rules of business were being rewritten by an extraordinary cadre of...
educational-endowments
Market Commentary | Insights Blog
Are Stagflation Fears Justified?
Stagflation fears are growing among investors as inflation recently accelerated at the same time 2022 GDP growth projections declined due to weaker consumer sentiment and increased risk aversion. A...
educational-endowments
Governance And Policy | Insights Blog
Is your Spending Policy Getting the Attention it Needs?
Spending policy is the most overlooked aspect of endowment management and many are likely not employing the optimal calculation for their institution. Many investment committees review "strategic...
educational-endowments
Investment Strategy | Videos
CIO Roundtable
Fiduciaries are entrusted with fulfilling their organization’s mission largely through effective stewardship of financial assets. In the 50+ years since Commonfund was founded, perpetual investing...
educational-endowments
Investment Strategy | Articles
Viewpoint: The Move in Marketable Alternative Strategies
In the 2021 Commonfund Benchmarks Study® of Independent schools we continue to see the allocation to marketable alternative strategies decline, raising questions about why and whether it will...
educational-endowments
Perspectives | Insights Blog
Forum 2022 Key Statistics [Infographic]
Commonfund recently hosted its 24th annual Commonfund Forum, March 16-18th, in Orlando, Florida. The event brought together institutional investors to engage in a three-day conference to explore...
foundations
Diversity | Spotlight
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...
educational-endowments
Investment Strategy | Articles
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...
Market Commentary | Insights Blog
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...
educational-endowments
Diversity | Spotlight
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...
Real Estate Today … and the Trends Likely To Shape Tomorrow