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Mission-aligned Investing | Articles
Impact Investing: Putting the Whole Endowment to Work for the Mission
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Mission-aligned Investing | Podcasts
Making Sense of Mission-Aligned Investing for Endowments and Foundations
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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
Commonfund Appoints Liz Clark as Executive Director of Commonfund Institute
Recognized higher education leader joins from NACUBO, bringing decades of experience in research, policy and institutional leadership Norwalk, CT, October 20, 2026 – Commonfund, a prominent... Learn Morecommunity_foundation
Governance And Policy | Videos
Stewarding Foundations Through the COVID-19 Crisis
The COVID-19 crisis has put tremendous strain on local communities across the country and foundations have been asked to rise to the challenge while endowments have declined in value due to market...
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Mission-aligned Investing | Articles
Intergenerational Equity and Sustainable Investing
Intergenerational equity was defined by economist James Tobin in 1974. He wrote, “The trustees of endowed institutions are the guardians of the future against the claims of the present. Their task in...
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Market Commentary | Videos
An Insider's Guide to the Chinese Economy
Commonfund CEO and CIO, Mark Anson, hosted Leland Miller, CEO of China Beige Book. Mr. Miller shared his proprietary research and insights in this exclusive session for Commonfund Forum registrants....
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Mission-aligned Investing | Videos
Examining the Sustainability Conundrum
Sustainable investing, sometimes called ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing, has been a hotly contested topic for years. And the debate continues with both supporters and naysayers...
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Governance And Policy | Videos
CARES Act | Implications and Opportunities for Nonprofits
On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), establishing the largest aid package in our nation’s history. The $2...
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Market Commentary | Articles
Higher Ed in the Age of COVID-19
Commonfund convenes an expert panel to take on the short- and intermediate-term threats that higher education confronts in the face of a national emergency the likes of which have not been seen for...
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Governance And Policy | Articles
How Can Trustees Achieve Intergenerational Equity in the Face of Rising Costs?
The Commonfund Higher Education Price Index® (HEPI) is an inflation index for colleges and universities. It has been calculated since 1983 and includes inflation data going back to 1961. Commonfund...
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Mission-aligned Investing | Articles
Viewpoint | Responsible Investing Practices: Evolution, Not Resolution
In recent years, responsible investing has received mounting levels of attention from all quarters of the investment management field, from institutional investors large and small to global asset...
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Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
How to Select a Private Equity Manager
Are you are considering investing directly with a private equity manager? If you opt to go direct, you will be tasked with selecting, managing and disposing the assets entirely on your own. It may be...
Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Ardent Venture Partners
Commonfund Board Member, Michael Warren, interviews Phil Bronner of Ardent Venture Partners.
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Investment Strategy | Videos
A Global Perspective for Long-Term Equity Investors
Watch this short video on our Global Perspective for Long-Term Equity Investors. Over the past decade U.S. equities have consistently outperformed international markets, leading many investors to...
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Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Integrating ESG into Private Equity Portfolios
Many investors today, particularly nonprofits, are seeking to align their investment portfolio with the mission of their organization. Commonfund is a signatory to the PRI and as part of our...
From Rate Cuts to Hikes: Supply-Driven Inflation’s Resurgence
Coming into 2026, investors had been positioned for an interest rate easing cycle. Markets are now pricing in multiple rate hikes into 2027, and Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller has said...