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Perspectives | Insights Blog
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...
Featured
Governance And Policy | Insights Blog
Investment Policy Statement: The Document Behind Every Decision
Featured
Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
The Other Side of the Liquidity Equation: What Semi-Liquid Funds Cost You on Day One
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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.
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Featured
Perspectives | Press Releases
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
Perspectives | Insights Blog
In Remembrance: Laurance (Laurie) R. Hoagland, Jr.
The Commonfund community was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Laurie Hoagland. Laurie served as a member of the Commonfund Board from 2000-2012 and was Board Chair from 2010-2012.
educational-endowments
Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Accessing Sustainable Opportunities Through Private Equity Strategies
Institutional investors around the world have appropriately turned their attention to the sustainability of their investment portfolios. Investors have pivoted from discussion to action as generally...
educational-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 | Press Releases
Commonfund Survey Finds Institutional Investors Increasingly Cautious Amid Heightened Economic Risks
Institutional investors representing $170 billion in total assets cite inflation and geopolitical tensions as top economic concerns for 2022 Majority of investors expect lower-than-average U.S. stock...
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...
Real Estate Today … and the Trends Likely To Shape Tomorrow