The Colorado School Division Trust Fund is the largest division within the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA), providing retirement benefits to public school teachers, administrators, and support staff across Colorado. With approximately $28 billion in dedicated assets, the school division represents nearly half of PERA’s total $60 billion asset base.
Investment Strategy
School division assets are invested through PERA’s centralized investment program, which maintains a diversified portfolio across public equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate, and other alternatives. The PERA Board of Trustees sets allocation targets, and the internal investment team manages the portfolio.
The alternatives program includes private equity investments in buyout, growth, and venture strategies. Real estate allocations span core and value-add funds across commercial property sectors. PERA has been building its alternatives program to enhance long-term returns while managing overall portfolio risk.
How to Approach
Fund managers should contact the Colorado PERA investment team in Denver. Since all PERA divisions share the same investment program, engaging with the central team provides access to school division and other PERA assets. GPs should present a concise fund overview, track record, and competitive fee structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Colorado school pension assets invested?
Colorado school pension assets are managed as part of the broader Colorado PERA system, which has approximately $60 billion in total assets. The school division, with roughly $28 billion, participates in PERA's diversified investment program.
What is Colorado PERA's alternatives allocation?
Colorado PERA allocates approximately 18% of its combined portfolio to alternative investments including private equity and real estate. The alternatives program has been growing as PERA seeks to enhance risk-adjusted returns.
How can GPs approach Colorado PERA for school division assets?
GPs should engage with the Colorado PERA investment team in Denver. PERA manages investments centrally for all divisions, so a single relationship covers the school division and other PERA plans. The team evaluates managers based on track record, strategy, and fee competitiveness.
