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Governance And Policy | Insights Blog
Investment Committee Governance: How to Steer, Not Manage
Process | Principle III | Principles of Investment Stewardship The word "governance" comes from a Greek term meaning "to steer." It's a fitting origin for investment committees, whose core...
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Governance And Policy | Insights Blog
Impact Investing vs. ESG: Defining Mission-Aligned Investing
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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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Investment Strategy | Articles
The Endowment Model - Building Resilient Portfolios for an Enduring Mission
Drawn from the 2025 Council on Foundations–Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations® (CCSF) | Calendar Year 2025 Learn Morecommunity_college
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...
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Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Emerging Markets Private Equity — A Focus on China
Commonfund recently hosted a talk on evolving private capital opportunities in emerging markets. Mark Hoeing, Head of Private Equity, moderated the discussion, while Aaron Miller, Head of Venture...
Diversity | Spotlight
Dimple Abichandani, Executive Director of the General Service Foundation
Dimple Abichandani is Executive Director of the General Service Foundation (“GSF”), a private grantmaking family foundation that dedicates all its resources to bringing about a more just and...
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Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Commonfund Forum Goes Global
During the week of October 14th, 2019 Commonfund Institute hosted our first Forum outside of the United States in Tokyo, Japan. We were honored to be joined by many leading Japanese institutional...
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Governance And Policy | Articles
Nonprofit Board Diversity = Effective Stewardship
Many institutions recognize the need for diversity and inclusion on their boards and investment committees. Diverse and inclusive boards can make more effective decisions, design and deliver...
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Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Three Considerations for Your Private Equity Structure
This is the third blog in a private equity series based on our guide, “Succeed in Private Equity Investing”. You can see the previous blog here. Having determined the size of your private capital...
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Perspectives | Articles
Viewpoint: Actions Speak Louder than Data
In this Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study of Foundations viewpoint, it's about analyzing and interpreting the data we've collected. What do they tell us? What trends are emerging? How are...
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Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
An Investor’s Private Equity Guide
Commonfund recently hosted a panel discussion focused on the current state of private equity and venture capital, with an emphasis on the investor’s perspective of the industry today. The three...
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Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Building a Private Capital Allocation
Building a private capital allocation that makes a difference to your portfolio takes time and dedication. The first step is deciding to make a meaningful allocation to private capital. Then, to...
community_college
Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Commonfund Capital Appoints Head of Beijing Investment Office
Commonfund Capital Appoints Xiaonan Tian as Associate Director and Head of Beijing Investment Office Wilton, CT June 25, 2019 – Commonfund Capital, the private capital subsidiary of Commonfund,...
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Investment Strategy | Videos
CIO Roundtable: The Past, Present and Future of Endowment Investing
Fiduciaries of nonprofit organizations are entrusted with fulfilling the missions of their organizations in large part through effective stewardship of financial assets. In the 50 years since the...
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Private Equity | Private Equity Insights
Commonfund Capital Closes 2nd Secondaries Fund at $450M
Commitments More than Double Capital Raised for Inaugural Secondaries Fund in 2016 Wilton, CT, May 7, 2019 – Commonfund Capital today announced the closing of its second secondaries fund, Commonfund...
Beyond the Primary Commitment: Considering Private Market Secondaries