Wisconsin Athletic Endowment

The Wisconsin State Journal reports that the University of Wisconsin's athletic department might generate $100 million less in revenues due to COVID-19.  Additionally, the article notes that the athletic department is also reducing costs as well.  Finally, the article states that between the athletic endowment and reserves for athletic capital expenditures, Wisconsin has $190 million in reserves.  That got me curious about the state of Wisconsin's athletic department's athletic endowment.

FBS athletic department are required to submit athletic department financial information to the NCAA using the Membership Financial Reporting System. Since FY2010, FBS athletic departments are required (NCAA bylaw 3.2.4.16(d)) to submit the fiscal year end value of athletic endowments (although this information is missing in the FY2013 and FY2014 MFRS reports for Wisconsin).

So, let's take a look at the athletic endowment for Wisconsin's athletic department.  As you can see below, Wisconsin's athletic endowment has been increasing over the last five fiscal years, with a growth rate of 108.6% and a compound annual growth rate of 15.8%.

With the expected drop in athletic department generated revenues (as well as the ability of Wisconsin's athletic department to reduces costs), the use of athletic department endowments to cushion the expected deficits seems like a reasonable use for these funds.