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5 Takeaways from the 2026 NACUBO Annual Meeting
If you've already read Inside Higher Ed's recap of the NACUBO Annual Meeting (held in Anaheim from July 18-21), "A Call to Meet the Moment at NACUBO,” you know federal policy uncertainty dominated...
Endowment Purpose and UPMIFA: What Nonprofit Boards Must Ask
Purpose | Principle I | Principles of Investment Stewardship The Question Every Endowment Fiduciary Should Be Asking For many nonprofit organizations, the endowment is the difference between... Learn More
Winter Reading List 2025: Stories to Warm the Season
Commonfund Institute is excited to share the latest edition of our winter recommended reading list, featuring thought-provoking memoirs, compelling historical fiction, and inspiring leadership...
Why the Way You Count Matters and Why Comparing One-Year Returns Does Not
As we near the end of the performance reporting season for larger higher ed institutions this year, I am once again struck by the focus the media and others place on a single fiscal year return.
U.S. Government Shutdown Ends: Economic Impact and Next Steps
After 43 days of political deadlock, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history finally ended when Congress recently passed a last-minute funding bill signed by President Trump. The standoff,...
Community Foundations: Equity and Impact
Join hosts George Suttles, Executive Director, and Amanda Novello, Sr. Policy and Research Analyst, in this episode of "Espresso Chats," a series by the Commonfund Institute serving up strong, short...
A Closer Look at Higher Education Endowments Less Often in the Spotlight
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, or,...
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.
Understanding Private Equity Investing in Natural Resources
Private natural resources investing can cover a range of market segments including upstream oil & gas, mining & minerals, agriculture, and timber. This investment approach can also target...
Is the AI Bubble Real? Venture Capital Returns & Private Market Growth
Episode 8 In this episode of the Commonfund OCIO Point of View podcast, Julia Mord, Chief Investment Officer, Commonfund OCIO, discusses the current state of capital markets with Aaron Miller,...
AI is Redefining How Startups Scale
Advancements in generative Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) and large language models are enabling early-stage companies to scale faster than ever before. Venture investors who can identify and access...
More Than Multiples: Understanding the Broader Drivers of Equity Valuations
The S&P 500 has produced a ~25 percent annualized return for the three successive years ending September 2025, a banner period of performance.
Unconventional Thinking – A Reset of the Investment Opportunity in Upstream Energy
Step back in time a little over a decade ago to 2014 and recall the state of the global economy. Five years earlier, global GDP had experienced a significant contraction in the wake of the Global...
A Closer Look at Private Family Foundations
Commonfund, in partnership with the Council on Foundations (COF), recently released the 2024 Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations...
Mission-Aligned Investing for Endowments & Foundations