For over 40 years, NACUBO has conducted a study on institutional endowments designed to answer key questions in how these financial tools are used. Over the years, this has become the largest study of its kind, offering a comprehensive set of data for policy makers, parents, students, and the broader community in how their institutions are using endowed funds.

This week, NACUBO's Director of Research and Policy Analysis, Ken Redd, joins us to report findings in the most recent report. While the overall financial picture for endowment managers is about as rosy as the financial picture for our global economy — not that great — there is some good news in the numbers for parents and students in the way institutions are spending from their endowed funds in spite of the glum reports from the global markets.