March 8-10
JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
Orlando, Florida

Commonfund Forum 2020 has been Cancelled.

In response to the outbreak in Florida and elsewhere of the COVID-19 virus, Commonfund senior management and our Board of Trustees have decided to cancel Forum 2020. We did not make this decision lightly, as we were eagerly anticipating a terrific conference. However, out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of everyone involved and given the Public Health Emergency declared in Florida relating to the outbreak, we believe this is the most prudent course of action.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your Commonfund relationship officer or contact us through the Forum helpline at 888-811-3803 (9am-5pm ET) or at forum@commonfund.org.

What is Commonfund Forum?

Commonfund Forum 2020 is the must-attend annual conference for institutional investors. The conference delivers timely information, thoughtful analysis and unique perspectives. Each year, Commonfund builds an agenda focused on important themes that drive strategic policy decisions for institutional investors. Discussions reveal secular trends and cyclical opportunities to help you support and sustain the obligations and mission of your organization.

Who can Attend?

Commonfund Forum is open to investment professionals at eligible educational institutions, foundations and charities, pension funds, insurance companies, family offices, and healthcare organizations.

There is no cost to attend Forum. You pay only for your hotel and travel. Commonfund has secured a group rate discount at the JW Marriott for Forum attendees.

Why should you attend Commonfund Forum?

Forum focuses on what really matters to long-term institutional investors. We offer wisdom and perspective from seasoned practitioners, headline-making thought leaders, and the opportunity for face-to-face networking with peers from institutions like yours.

Commonfund Forum enables you to:

Invest

Attending Forum is an investment in yourself and the mission of your organization.

Learn

Immerse yourself in an environment of professional peers and industry thought-leaders.

Transform

Gain insight and knowledge that leads to open discussions on stewardship and investment policy best practices.

Execute

Put it into action – return to your organization with transformational ideas to support your mission.

What is Commonfund Forum?

Commonfund Forum 2020 is the must-attend annual conference for institutional investors. The conference delivers timely information, thoughtful analysis and unique perspectives. Each year, Commonfund builds an agenda focused on important themes that drive strategic policy decisions for institutional investors. Discussions reveal secular trends and cyclical opportunities to help you support and sustain the obligations and mission of your organization.

Who can Attend?

Commonfund Forum is open to investment professionals at eligible educational institutions, foundations and charities, pension funds, insurance companies, family offices, and healthcare organizations.

There is no cost to attend Forum. You pay only for your hotel and travel. Commonfund has secured a group rate discount at the JW Marriott for Forum attendees.

Why should you attend Commonfund Forum?

Forum focuses on what really matters to long-term institutional investors. We offer wisdom and perspective from seasoned practitioners, headline-making thought leaders, and the opportunity for face-to-face networking with peers from institutions like yours.

Commonfund Forum enables you to:

Invest

Attending Forum is an investment in yourself and the mission of your organization.

Learn

Immerse yourself in an environment of professional peers and industry thought-leaders.

Transform

Gain insight and knowledge that leads to open discussions on stewardship and investment policy best practices.

Execute

Put it into action – return to your organization with transformational ideas to support your mission.

About

About Commonfund Forum

Now in its 22nd year, Commonfund Forum continues to provide institutional investors with timely information, thoughtful analysis and unique perspectives – all from recognized experts in the worlds of investment management, economics, business and finance, government, academia, and the media.

About Commonfund

For more than four decades Commonfund has been a leader in providing investment solutions to nonprofit institutions, and more recently a breadth of alternative investment strategies to other institutional investors, including family offices and public pension funds.

About Commonfund Institute

Commonfund Institute houses the education and research activities of Commonfund and provides the entire community of long-term investors with investment information and professional development programs.

About Commonfund Forum

Now in its 22nd year, Commonfund Forum continues to provide institutional investors with timely information, thoughtful analysis and unique perspectives – all from recognized experts in the worlds of investment management, economics, business and finance, government, academia, and the media.

About Commonfund

For more than four decades Commonfund has been a leader in providing investment solutions to nonprofit institutions, and more recently a breadth of alternative investment strategies to other institutional investors, including family offices and public pension funds.

About Commonfund Institute

Commonfund Institute houses the education and research activities of Commonfund and provides the entire community of long-term investors with investment information and professional development programs.

Agenda

10:00 am – 12:00 pm	Registration
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm	Golf

9:00 am – 5:00 pm	Registration
1:15 pm – 3:30 pm	Commonfund Capital Information Sessions Environmental Sustainability Global Private Equity & Co-Investments Venture Capital Secondaries Natural Resources Concurrent 45-minute sessions presented by Commonfund Capital Senior Team.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm	Commonfund Capital Advisory Meeting
4:00 pm – 4:45 pm	Special Governance Workshop Part I: The Six Ps of Investment Stewardship Presented by: Cathleen M. Rittereiser, Executive Director, Commonfund Institute
4:45 pm – 5:30 pm	Special Governance Workshop Part II: Tools for Creating Effective Strategic Policy Presenters: Anthony Peretore, Managing Director, Commonfund; Steven Gasparini, Associate, Commonfund
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm	Welcome Cocktail Reception
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm	Welcome Dinner and Keynote \| The Future of Philanthropy: From Generosity to Justice Welcome: Mark Anson, PhD, CFA, CAIA, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Commonfund Keynote Speaker: Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation

6:30 am – 5:30 pm	Registration
8:00 am – 9:00 am	Monday Networking Breakfasts Join in conversation with industry peers. Breakfast tables will be arranged by institution types and timely topics of interest.
9:15 am – 10:15 am	Navigating the Global Economy Panelists: Kristofer Kwait, co-CIO, Commonfund Asset Management; Nancy Davis, Managing Partner and CIO, Quadratic Capital; Adam S. Posen, President, Peterson Institute for International Economics; Diane Swonk, Chief Economist, Grant Thornton Moderator: Steve Liesman, Senior Economist, CNBC
10:15 am – 10:45 am	Morning Break
10:45 am – 11:45 am	Investing in Transformative Change with Venture Capital Panelists: David Fialkow, co-Founder, General Catalyst; additional panelists to be announced Moderator: Peter M. Burns, President and CEO, Commonfund Capital
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm	Concurrent Topical Lunches
	Quantifying Good Governance Presentation by: Christopher K. Merker, PhD, CFA, Author of The Trustee Governance Guide, Financial Advisor and Director, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Executive Director, Fund Governance Analytics, LLC Moderated Discussion Lead by: George Suttles, Director of Research, Commonfund Institute
	Promoting Gender Equity in Leadership Roles Featured Speaker: Kellie A. McElhaney, PhD, Founding Director of the Center for Equity, Gender and Leadership \| Distinguished Teaching Fellow, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley Moderated Q&A by: Caroline Greer, Managing Director, Commonfund Asset Management, Chair, Commonfund Diversity and Inclusion Office
	Private Equity Investing Today – Dynamic & Capital Efficient Panelists: Mark C. Hoeing, Managing Director, Commonfund Capital; Cari B. Lodge, Managing Director, Commonfund Capital; Ray Whiteman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Stellex Capital Management Moderator: Jay Teevan, Managing Director, Commonfund Capital
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm	The United States and China – It’s Complicated Panelists: Aaron M. Miller, Managing Director, Commonfund Capital; Leland Miller, CEO, China Beige Book; Mary E. Lovely, Professor, Economics, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics Moderator: Geoff Colvin, Senior Editor-at-Large at Fortune
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm	Break
3:00 pm – 4:15 pm	The Sustainability Conundrum Presentation by: Mark Anson, PhD, CFA, CAIA, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Commonfund; with panel discussion Panelists: Jessica Ground, Global head of Sustainability, Schroders; Ethan J. Levine, Managing Director, Commonfund Capital; Deborah Spalding, co-CIO, Commonfund Asset Management
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm	Monday Cocktail Reception
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm	Monday Dinner and Presentation Featured Speakers: Claire McCaskill, U.S. Senator, 2007–2019 (Missouri); Kelly Ayotte, U.S. Senator, 2011–2017 (New Hampshire) and Attorney General of New Hampshire (2004–2009) Moderator: Nina Easton, SiriusXM Radio Host, Award-winning Author, Columnist, On-air Commentator, and Live-event Architect

6:30 am – 12:00 pm	Registration
7:45 am – 8:45 am	Special Breakfast: Insights on Open Private Capital Programs Presenters: Peter M. Burns, President, Commonfund Capital and Managing Directors, Commonfund Capital
9:00 am – 10:00 am	Morning Breakout Sessions
	The Changing Face of Real Estate Panelists: Deborah L. Harmon, Co-Founder and CEO, Artemis Real Estate Partners; Cia Buckley Marakovits, CIO, Partner and Managing Director, Dune Real Estate Partners; Kim Hourihan, Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, CBRE Global Investors Moderator: Paul Von Steenburg, Managing Director, Commonfund Asset Management
	Focus on Emerging Markets Panelists: Mark A. Bennett, Managing Director, Commonfund Asset Management; Eswar Prasad, PhD, Nandlal P. Tolani Senior Professor of International Trade Policy, SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University; Miriam E. Schmitter, PhD, Managing Director, Commonfund Capital Moderator: Steve C. Snyder, Managing Director, Commonfund Asset Management
	Harnessing the Power of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Panelists: Marc Azer, Co-Portfolio Manager, Two Sigma; John Delano, Managing Director, Head of Research and Analytics, Commonfund Asset Management; Dario Villani, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder, Duality Group Moderator: Kristofer Kwait, co-CIO, Commonfund Asset Management
10:00 am – 10:15 am	Break
10:15 am – 11:15 am	CIO Roundtable Panelists: Christine Kelleher, Chief of Investments, National Gallery of Art; Kathleen M. Lutito, President and Chief Investment Officer, CenturyLink Investment Management; Deborah Spalding, co-CIO, Commonfund Asset Management; MaDoe Htun, CIO, William Penn Foundation Moderator: Cathleen M. Rittereiser, Executive Director, Commonfund Institute
11:15 am – 11:45 am	Break
11: 45 am – 12:45 pm	Afternoon Breakout Sessions
	Loonshots: How to Nurture Crazy Ideas that Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries Author: Safi Bahcall, PhD, Award-Winning Biotech Entrepreneur \| Author of Loonshots Moderator: Luke Rossiter, Director, Commonfund Capital
	An Economist Walks into a Brothel: Lessons from Unusual Risk Takers Author: Allison Schrager, PhD, Award-winning journalist at Quartz & Author of An Economist Walks into a Brothel Moderator: Dana J. Moreau, Chief Operating Officer, Commonfund
	Disrupting the Status Quo: A Challenge to Conventional Portfolio Allocations Presenters: Regan Arntz-Gray, Analyst, Commonfund Asset Management and Brian Cohen, Managing Director, Commonfund Asset Management
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm	Closing Luncheon and Featured Session \| Fareed Zakaria GPS: The Changing Global Order Fareed Zakaria, Host of Fareed Zakaria GPS for CNN Worldwide
2:30 pm – 2:40 pm	Closing Remarks Mark Anson, PhD, CFA, CAIA, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Commonfund

Preview Agenda

Featured Presenters

Kelly Ayotte

U.S. Senator
New Hampshire (2011-2017)

Safi Bahcall

Award-Winning Biotech Entrepreneur
Author of Loonshots

Nina Easton

Host and Author
SiriusXM Radio

Steve Liesman

Senior Economist
CNBC

Claire McCaskill

U.S. Senator
Missouri (2007-2019)

Allison Schrager

Economist and Journalist
Quartz

Dario Villani

CEO & Co-Founder
Duality Group

Darren Walker

President
Ford Foundation

Fareed Zakaria

Host, Fareed Zakaria GPS
CNN Worldwide

All Speakers

10:00 am – 12:00 pm	Registration
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm	Golf

9:00 am – 5:00 pm	Registration
1:15 pm – 3:30 pm	Commonfund Capital Information Sessions Environmental Sustainability Global Private Equity & Co-Investments Venture Capital Secondaries Natural Resources Concurrent 45-minute sessions presented by Commonfund Capital Senior Team.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm	Commonfund Capital Advisory Meeting
4:00 pm – 4:45 pm	Special Governance Workshop Part I: The Six Ps of Investment Stewardship Presented by: Cathleen M. Rittereiser, Executive Director, Commonfund Institute
4:45 pm – 5:30 pm	Special Governance Workshop Part II: Tools for Creating Effective Strategic Policy Presenters: Anthony Peretore, Managing Director, Commonfund; Steven Gasparini, Associate, Commonfund
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm	Welcome Cocktail Reception
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm	Welcome Dinner and Keynote \| The Future of Philanthropy: From Generosity to Justice Welcome: Mark Anson, PhD, CFA, CAIA, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Commonfund Keynote Speaker: Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation

6:30 am – 5:30 pm	Registration
8:00 am – 9:00 am	Monday Networking Breakfasts Join in conversation with industry peers. Breakfast tables will be arranged by institution types and timely topics of interest.
9:15 am – 10:15 am	Navigating the Global Economy Panelists: Kristofer Kwait, co-CIO, Commonfund Asset Management; Nancy Davis, Managing Partner and CIO, Quadratic Capital; Adam S. Posen, President, Peterson Institute for International Economics; Diane Swonk, Chief Economist, Grant Thornton Moderator: Steve Liesman, Senior Economist, CNBC
10:15 am – 10:45 am	Morning Break
10:45 am – 11:45 am	Investing in Transformative Change with Venture Capital Panelists: David Fialkow, co-Founder, General Catalyst; additional panelists to be announced Moderator: Peter M. Burns, President and CEO, Commonfund Capital
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm	Concurrent Topical Lunches
	Quantifying Good Governance Presentation by: Christopher K. Merker, PhD, CFA, Author of The Trustee Governance Guide, Financial Advisor and Director, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Executive Director, Fund Governance Analytics, LLC Moderated Discussion Lead by: George Suttles, Director of Research, Commonfund Institute
	Promoting Gender Equity in Leadership Roles Featured Speaker: Kellie A. McElhaney, PhD, Founding Director of the Center for Equity, Gender and Leadership \| Distinguished Teaching Fellow, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley Moderated Q&A by: Caroline Greer, Managing Director, Commonfund Asset Management, Chair, Commonfund Diversity and Inclusion Office
	Private Equity Investing Today – Dynamic & Capital Efficient Panelists: Mark C. Hoeing, Managing Director, Commonfund Capital; Cari B. Lodge, Managing Director, Commonfund Capital; Ray Whiteman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Stellex Capital Management Moderator: Jay Teevan, Managing Director, Commonfund Capital
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm	The United States and China – It’s Complicated Panelists: Aaron M. Miller, Managing Director, Commonfund Capital; Leland Miller, CEO, China Beige Book; Mary E. Lovely, Professor, Economics, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics Moderator: Geoff Colvin, Senior Editor-at-Large at Fortune
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm	Break
3:00 pm – 4:15 pm	The Sustainability Conundrum Presentation by: Mark Anson, PhD, CFA, CAIA, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Commonfund; with panel discussion Panelists: Jessica Ground, Global head of Sustainability, Schroders; Ethan J. Levine, Managing Director, Commonfund Capital; Deborah Spalding, co-CIO, Commonfund Asset Management
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm	Monday Cocktail Reception
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm	Monday Dinner and Presentation Featured Speakers: Claire McCaskill, U.S. Senator, 2007–2019 (Missouri); Kelly Ayotte, U.S. Senator, 2011–2017 (New Hampshire) and Attorney General of New Hampshire (2004–2009) Moderator: Nina Easton, SiriusXM Radio Host, Award-winning Author, Columnist, On-air Commentator, and Live-event Architect

6:30 am – 12:00 pm	Registration
7:45 am – 8:45 am	Special Breakfast: Insights on Open Private Capital Programs Presenters: Peter M. Burns, President, Commonfund Capital and Managing Directors, Commonfund Capital
9:00 am – 10:00 am	Morning Breakout Sessions
	The Changing Face of Real Estate Panelists: Deborah L. Harmon, Co-Founder and CEO, Artemis Real Estate Partners; Cia Buckley Marakovits, CIO, Partner and Managing Director, Dune Real Estate Partners; Kim Hourihan, Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, CBRE Global Investors Moderator: Paul Von Steenburg, Managing Director, Commonfund Asset Management
	Focus on Emerging Markets Panelists: Mark A. Bennett, Managing Director, Commonfund Asset Management; Eswar Prasad, PhD, Nandlal P. Tolani Senior Professor of International Trade Policy, SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University; Miriam E. Schmitter, PhD, Managing Director, Commonfund Capital Moderator: Steve C. Snyder, Managing Director, Commonfund Asset Management
	Harnessing the Power of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Panelists: Marc Azer, Co-Portfolio Manager, Two Sigma; John Delano, Managing Director, Head of Research and Analytics, Commonfund Asset Management; Dario Villani, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder, Duality Group Moderator: Kristofer Kwait, co-CIO, Commonfund Asset Management
10:00 am – 10:15 am	Break
10:15 am – 11:15 am	CIO Roundtable Panelists: Christine Kelleher, Chief of Investments, National Gallery of Art; Kathleen M. Lutito, President and Chief Investment Officer, CenturyLink Investment Management; Deborah Spalding, co-CIO, Commonfund Asset Management; MaDoe Htun, CIO, William Penn Foundation Moderator: Cathleen M. Rittereiser, Executive Director, Commonfund Institute
11:15 am – 11:45 am	Break
11: 45 am – 12:45 pm	Afternoon Breakout Sessions
	Loonshots: How to Nurture Crazy Ideas that Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries Author: Safi Bahcall, PhD, Award-Winning Biotech Entrepreneur \| Author of Loonshots Moderator: Luke Rossiter, Director, Commonfund Capital
	An Economist Walks into a Brothel: Lessons from Unusual Risk Takers Author: Allison Schrager, PhD, Award-winning journalist at Quartz & Author of An Economist Walks into a Brothel Moderator: Dana J. Moreau, Chief Operating Officer, Commonfund
	Disrupting the Status Quo: A Challenge to Conventional Portfolio Allocations Presenters: Regan Arntz-Gray, Analyst, Commonfund Asset Management and Brian Cohen, Managing Director, Commonfund Asset Management
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm	Closing Luncheon and Featured Session \| Fareed Zakaria GPS: The Changing Global Order Fareed Zakaria, Host of Fareed Zakaria GPS for CNN Worldwide
2:30 pm – 2:40 pm	Closing Remarks Mark Anson, PhD, CFA, CAIA, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Commonfund

Preview Agenda

Featured Presenters

Kelly Ayotte

U.S. Senator
New Hampshire (2011-2017)

Safi Bahcall

Award-Winning Biotech Entrepreneur
Author of Loonshots

Nina Easton

Host and Author
SiriusXM Radio

Steve Liesman

Senior Economist
CNBC

Claire McCaskill

U.S. Senator
Missouri (2007-2019)

Allison Schrager

Economist and Journalist
Quartz

Dario Villani

CEO & Co-Founder
Duality Group

Darren Walker

President
Ford Foundation

Fareed Zakaria

Host, Fareed Zakaria GPS
CNN Worldwide

All Speakers

Venue

JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

This luxury resort at Grande Lakes is located on a lush, 500-acre property. The outdoor pool complex includes a lazy river and AquaCourse 360. Try out the Ritz-Carlton spa or the challenging 18-hole golf course designed by PGA great Greg Norman. Select from enticing in-house dining options, from luxury Italian fare at Primo to a farm-to-table menu and craft beer at Whisper Creek Farm. Make use of our hotel shuttle to visit premier Orlando attractions such as Walt Disney World and Universal Studios or take advantage of the hotel’s excellent location to explore gorgeous Central Florida.

JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

This luxury resort at Grande Lakes is located on a lush, 500-acre property. The outdoor pool complex includes a lazy river and AquaCourse 360. Try out the Ritz-Carlton spa or the challenging 18-hole golf course designed by PGA great Greg Norman. Select from enticing in-house dining options, from luxury Italian fare at Primo to a farm-to-table menu and craft beer at Whisper Creek Farm. Make use of our hotel shuttle to visit premier Orlando attractions such as Walt Disney World and Universal Studios or take advantage of the hotel’s excellent location to explore gorgeous Central Florida.

What you need to know

What is the room rate?

Commonfund Forum rate is $359 per night plus taxes ($47.38) and resort fees ($20), for a total of $426.38 per night.

Are room upgrades and suites available?

A limited number of one-bedroom suites are available. Please contact the Forum hotline at 888.811.3803 or email us at forum@commonfund.org to check on availability and rates.

How do I make my reservation?

All new reservations and changes to existing reservations should be made through Commonfund, via your online registration or via the Forum hotline at forum@commonfund.org; 888.811.3803. Please do not call the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes, as they will not have a record of your reservation until closer to the event. These rooms are part of an event room block and are managed by Commonfund.

What is your cancellation policy?

There are no penalties for canceling your hotel room reservation prior to February 1, 2020. Should you cancel after that date, Commonfund will bill you the cost of one room night in the amount of $359 plus taxes and resort fees for a total of $426.38. Should you cancel after February 23rd you may be subject to the hotel’s cancellation policy.

What you need to know

What is the room rate?

Commonfund Forum rate is $359 per night plus taxes ($47.38) and resort fees ($20), for a total of $426.38 per night.

Are room upgrades and suites available?

A limited number of one-bedroom suites are available. Please contact the Forum hotline at 888.811.3803 or email us at forum@commonfund.org to check on availability and rates.

How do I make my reservation?

All new reservations and changes to existing reservations should be made through Commonfund, via your online registration or via the Forum hotline at forum@commonfund.org; 888.811.3803. Please do not call the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes, as they will not have a record of your reservation until closer to the event. These rooms are part of an event room block and are managed by Commonfund.

What is your cancellation policy?

There are no penalties for canceling your hotel room reservation prior to February 1, 2020. Should you cancel after that date, Commonfund will bill you the cost of one room night in the amount of $359 plus taxes and resort fees for a total of $426.38. Should you cancel after February 23rd you may be subject to the hotel’s cancellation policy.

FAQs

Is there a registration fee for Commonfund Forum?

There is no registration fee and meals are included for all registrants.

Who can attend Commonfund Forum?

Participation at Commonfund Forum is by invitation only and is limited to senior representatives of institutions such as endowments, foundations, pension funds, operating charities, healthcare organizations and other select nonprofit, tax exempt institutions. Commonfund Forum is not open to investment managers in keeping with the educational nature of the conference.

Are spouses and children welcome?

Yes. We welcome family members to Forum 2020. In general, sessions are limited to registrants, although some General Sessions may be open to spouses/guests. We provide child care services and teen programs on Sunday and Monday evenings. For representatives of public institutions, we are required to charge a fee of $50 per child for these programs to comply with regulations governing gifts.

Who sponsors Commonfund Forum?

Commonfund is the sole sponsor of Commonfund Forum, consistent with our mission to enhance the financial resources of our client community through the sharing of best practices.

What is the audience profile at Commonfund Forum?

We cap attendance at 400 attendees. Participants are generally senior investment staff or Board overseers of long-term asset pools. Institutions include endowments, foundations, plan sponsors, sovereign wealth funds, healthcare organizations and a broad range of other nonprofit, tax-exempt institutions. Forum content is oriented toward sophisticated investors.

How does Commonfund decide upon the choice of speakers at Commonfund Forum?

Our goal is to provide attendees with a broad range of perspectives on a host of topics. We accordingly invite speakers who represent divergent points of view and we encourage lively debate. Past Forum speakers include world leaders, top academics, government officials, widely-known investment strategists and more.

How long will you accept registrations?

We will accept registrations until we reach capacity and will then begin a wait list. In each of the last several years, we have reached capacity by early January.

How long is the program?

The program begins with golf on Saturday, March 7th at 12:00 p.m. and concludes at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10th.

How do I select the sessions that I would like to attend?

In early January you will receive an email with instructions and a web link to build your personal agenda.

Does Commonfund Forum qualify for Continuing Education Credits?

Commonfund is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State Boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. Forum 2020 is a group live program.

For more details on Commonfund Forum CPE credits click here.

Does Commonfund provide e-mail and business center services during the conference?

We provide free Wi-fi connectivity throughout the conference center for all registrants to check email and access the Forum App from their smart phones and tablets. Commonfund has also negotiated a discounted resort fee for your room reservation that includes the cost of Wi-fi in your hotel room. For additional needs, please see the hotel business center.

Does attendance at Commonfund Forum represent a gift in accordance with state and municipal laws?

Commonfund strictly complies with all rules governing what constitutes a gift for representatives of public institutions. For that reason, we will require all public institution representatives at Forum to attest that the provision of meals is incidental to the educational benefit of the program and thus a permissible gift to the public institution/agency and not the attendee. Those attendees who would rather reimburse Commonfund for the cost of meals may do so.

The policy of my institution is to reimburse Commonfund for the cost of meals. How can I arrange to make such payment?

Please contact the Forum hotline at 888.811.3803 or e-mail us at forum@commonfund.org to make arrangements.

What other activities are available?

The JW Marriott is a full-service resort with pools, golf, spa facilities, Kids Club and a range of other activities. See the hotel concierge for more information.

Can you handle special dietary needs?

Yes. Please indicate any special dietary needs that you may have on your registration or contact us at forum@commonfund.org.

What is the per night charge for a hotel room at the JW Marriott?

The Commonfund Forum conference rate is $359.00 per night plus taxes ($47.38) and resort fees ($20), for a total of $426.38.

Are room upgrades and suites available?

A limited number of one-bedroom suites are available. Please contact the Forum hotline at 888.811.3803 or e-mail us at forum@commonfund.org to check on availability and rates.

Can I extend my stay?

Based on availability, you can extend your stay and the hotel will honor the Forum rates. Please contact the Forum hotline at 888.811.3803 or email us at forum@commonfund.org for additional details and availability.

Can my spouse or guest attend sessions?

The registration website will indicate which sessions are open to spouses/guests. We ask that guests refrain from attending other sessions as room capacities are limited and some sessions are only appropriate for eligible investors.

What meals can my spouse or guest attend?

Your spouse or guest is welcome to attend any of the dinners. Children of registrants are asked not to attend the Sunday and Monday banquets; instead special programs are available for them at these times. Spouses are also invited to attend the closing luncheon.

What is the appropriate attire for Commonfund Forum?

Business casual is appropriate for all meetings, sessions and meals.

Coronavirus Preparations

Based on guidance and data that we continue to review from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health, we have no plans at this time to cancel Forum. The incidence of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the U.S. remains small, and there are no domestic travel advisories or limitations on gatherings in place from any public health agency. However, because there was an announcement yesterday that two cases were identified in Florida, and the Governor subsequently initiated a Public Health Emergency relating to COVID-19 (the purpose of which is to grant authority to health officials in the State of Florida to quarantine anyone diagnosed with COVID 19), we are continuing to closely monitor the situation over the coming days and will adjust as the facts guide us.

Given concerns regarding COVID-19, we are taking the following precautions:

Forum 2020 will be a “No Handshake” event – please refrain from physical contact with other guests.
There will be hand sanitizer stations placed throughout the hotel, including in all meeting spaces and on all tables during Forum sessions. We will also distribute individual bottles of sanitizer at the registration desk.
The hotel has purchased and will use all the necessary cleaning products that comply with norovirus protocols and will perform extra cleaning.
We have hired a registered nurse to be on site throughout Forum (located on the lower level in Marbella 2) for any attendee that develops flu-like symptoms or wants to report a concern regarding COVID-19.

In addition to these precautions, we ask all registrants to take normal flu season precautions, including getting a flu immunization shot if you have not already done so, and suggest that anyone with health concerns or any conditions that might compromise their immune system to refrain from attending the Forum. Further, registrants who meet the following criteria should also refrain from attending the event:

If you have traveled to mainland China, South Korea or Italy, or if you have been in close contact with individuals who have been to these areas, within 30 days of the event. This includes those who have travelled through the above regions, even if only transferring within the airport, rail station, or the like within 30 days of the event.
If you have traveled to other countries and/or are experiencing a cough, fever, shortness of breath or respiratory symptoms.

Of course, if you have any concerns about joining us at Forum 2020, you may cancel your registration and hotel reservation without penalty.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your Commonfund relationship officer or contact us through the Forum helpline at 888-811-3803 (9am-5pm ET) or at forum@commonfund.org.

Thank you for joining us and we look forward to seeing you in Orlando.