---
title: "Institutional investors | Altss Taxonomy"
description: "An institutional investor is an organisation that invests a large pool of capital under a formal mandate for others, such as pension members,…"
canonical: "https://altss.com/taxonomy/institutional-investors"
---

Topic hub

# Institutional investors

An [institutional investor](https://altss.com/glossary/institutional-investors) is an organisation that invests a large pool of capital under a formal mandate for others, such as pension members, policyholders, a charitable mission or a state. In private markets, institutional investors commit capital to funds as [limited partners](https://altss.com/glossary/limited-partner). This hub covers the main types of institutional allocator, the advisers and intermediaries that work for them, and the governance and rules that shape how they invest.

Allocator types come first: [pension funds](https://altss.com/glossary/pension-fund), [endowments](https://altss.com/glossary/endowment), [foundations](https://altss.com/glossary/foundation) and [sovereign wealth funds](https://altss.com/glossary/sovereign-wealth-fund). Advisers include the investment consultant, the outsourced CIO and the [registered investment adviser](https://altss.com/glossary/registered-investment-advisor). Governance covers the [investment committee](https://altss.com/glossary/investment-committee). Regulation covers ERISA and the plan asset rules, whose scope is set out in their own entries.

Not in this hub: [Family offices](https://altss.com/taxonomy/family-offices) have their own hub. Placement agents, which work for fund managers rather than investors, are in [Fundraising](https://altss.com/taxonomy/fundraising).

Publisher: Altss LLCContent modified 2026-10-02

8 concepts

## Reference index

Definition:

[Institutional Investor](https://altss.com/glossary/institutional-investors)

### Allocator types

4 concepts

- [Pension Fund](https://altss.com/glossary/pension-fund)

- [Endowment](https://altss.com/glossary/endowment)

- [Foundation](https://altss.com/glossary/foundation)

- [Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF)](https://altss.com/glossary/sovereign-wealth-fund)

A sovereign wealth fund (SWF) is a special-purpose investment fund or arrangement owned by a government and created for macroeconomic purposes, which manages public assets to meet financial objectives and invests at least partly in foreign financial assets.

### Advisers and intermediaries

1 concept

- [Registered Investment Adviser](https://altss.com/glossary/registered-investment-advisor)

### Investing and governance

2 concepts

- [Limited Partner](https://altss.com/glossary/limited-partner)

- [Investment Committee](https://altss.com/glossary/investment-committee)

## Canonical URL

https://altss.com/taxonomy/institutional-investors