Research Center
Select a Topic:

Featured
Investment Strategy | Insights Blog
Aligning Capital with Mission: Insights for Nonprofit Institutional Investors

Featured
Governance And Policy | Reports And Surveys
Request your copy of the latest Study on Foundations
POPULAR ARTICLES
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...
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...
Stay connected with the Insights Blog

Featured
Perspectives | Insights Blog
In Memoriam: Mamak Shahbazi
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Commonfund Board Member, Mamak Shahbazi. Mamak was a dedicated and talented board member and a great friend to the firm, its clients, and... Learn More
Responsible Investing | Insights Blog
Fiduciaries Guide to Mission-Aligned Investing
At Commonfund Forum 2025, Caroline Greer, Managing Director, Commonfund OCIO and George Suttles, Executive Director, Commonfund Institute sat down with panelists, Margot Brandenburg, Senior Program...

Outsourced Cio | Insights Blog
Increased Use of OCIO for Independent Schools
Data from the 2024 Commonfund Benchmarks Study of Independent Schools (CSIS) show that schools across the size spectrum reported an increase in use of an outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO)...
educational-endowments

Investment Strategy | Insights Blog
In Pursuit of Intergenerational Equity: Inflation is the Big Headwind
For all the differing goals and objectives laid out by colleges and universities for their endowments, one that is universally shared is intergenerational equity, or the concept that endowed...

Investment Strategy | Articles
Portfolio Construction in the Era of the Mag 7
How do you build your U.S. equities allocation when a handful of stocks account for more than half of the S&P 500’s return? The aptly named Magnificent 7 stocks (Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta...

Governance And Policy | Insights Blog
A Closer Look at Religious Independent Schools
Earlier this year, Commonfund Institute released the 20th annual Commonfund Benchmarks Study of Independent Schools (“CSIS” or the “Study”), reporting on key investment governance trends and insights...

Perspectives | Insights Blog
Four Challenges Impacting Nonprofits Today
Commonfund OCIO President and CEO, Tim Yates, sat down with panelists, Janine Anthony Bowen, Trustee of Georgia State University Foundation and Partner at BakerHostetler, Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar,...
educational-endowments

Market Commentary | Podcasts
Commonfund OCIO Point of View
Episode 6 In this episode we cover our macro-economic outlook, discuss the U.S. stock market, on going news of new tariffs and inflation, as well as the likelihood of a recession. Lastly, we give our...

Governance And Policy | Insights Blog
A Closer Look at Community Colleges
Earlier this year, Commonfund, in partnership with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), released the 2024 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments (NCSE). The...

Investment Strategy | Insights Blog
Investment Committees: Preparing for the Unforeseen
In the world of investing, crises are inevitable. Yet, many investment committees find themselves unprepared when these crises strike because they haven’t taken the necessary time to scenario plan....

Investment Strategy | Insights Blog
Reflections on the NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments 2024
Mid-February can be a challenging time of year. For sports fans, the lull between the end of the football season and the beginning of baseball season can feel like an eternity. For many, February...

Perspectives | Videos
The Seismic Shifts Impacting Nonprofits Today
Commonfund recently hosted its 27th annual Commonfund Forum, March 9th-11th, in Orlando, Florida. This Forum Spotlight explores the financial and operational implications of these major shifts,...
educational-endowments

Perspectives | Press Releases
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...
Regulatory Fog Is Lifting: Blockchain's Institutional Moment
The 2024 U.S. elections appear to have signaled a watershed moment for the blockchain industry. With a new wave of pro-innovation policymakers entering office, the regulatory and political landscape...