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Year-End Update and 2026 Investment Outlook
Calendar year 2025 delivered strong equity market returns globally, continuing the outsized performance of the past two years. In the U.S., the S&P 500 index returned 17.9 percent. Not to be outdone,... Learn More
Striking the Balance: A Fiduciary Approach to Risk and Investment Policy
Discover how to effectively balance risk and return as a fiduciary in your investment portfolios.
Essential Not Optional: A Strategic Approach to Fundraising
Fundraising for endowments has become an essential strategic capability that endowed institutions will have to build or acquire in order to thrive.
The Investment Policy Statement - A Commonfund Whitepaper
Successful investing for long-term funds requires a strategic investment policy statement. The plan must be specific, yet it also needs to be flexible.
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...
Tariff Worries Are Likely Here to Stay
Over the last five months, tariffs have fluctuated as deadlines have come and gone. Deals have gotten done, the frameworks of deals have been announced and for countries less willing to negotiate,...
Understanding Private Equity Investing in Environmental Sustainability
Investing in environmental sustainability can target sustainability-themed investments across a range of transaction types, from the early-stage opportunities in venture capital to growth equity &...
2025 Policy Landscape: Implications for Higher Education Endowments
Commonfund Institute hosted a timely and insightful conversation with leading policy experts in higher education. Panelists discussed the key impacts of the Big Beautiful Bill including revised...
Commonfund Benchmarks Study - Independent Schools
Access the Commonfund Benchmarks Study® for independent schools, featuring insights on investment strategies, governance, and responsible investing.
The Commonfund-FGA Benchmarking Study of Governance
This Commonfund-FGA Benchmarking Study of Governance in Higher Education assesses organizational governance structure and provides peer benchmarking analysis.
Commonfund Higher Education Price Index (HEPI)
Discover the latest HEPI report to assess funding needs and maintain purchasing power at your institution. Download your copy today for essential insights.
Principles of Investment Stewardship for Nonprofit Organizations
Explore essential investment stewardship principles for nonprofit organizations, focusing on the six principles for effective decision making.
Data Center and AI Power Demand – Will Nuclear Be the Answer?
For nearly two decades, power demand in the United States was largely flat. This period of flat demand saw, setting aside an early pandemic era reversal, significant growth from 2017 to 2023. This...
Private Markets Year in Review and 2026 Outlook
As we enter our 38th year, we write to share with you our year-end letter and observations of what may be ahead in 2026 in the private equity investment environment.