Optimizing Endowment Fund Valuation and Tracking

Recorded On: 11/15/2023

Institutions combine the assets of many endowment funds, restricted funds, and funds functioning as endowments into an investment pool. Once consolidated within an investment pool, it is not possible to associate investment assets with endowment funds. Consequently, a systematic allocation methodology is needed to value and track each endowment fund for legal, accounting, and reporting reasons. Learn from a panel of experts about unitization and dollarization methodologies, the pros and cons of each, and various applications using college and university examples.

Learning Objectives

After this webinar, you will be able to—

Explain regulatory and reporting requirements that must be supported by fund valuation methods
Understand the basics of valuing pools and funds using “units” or dollars
Compare fund valuation methods (unitization or dollarization) and the advantages and disadvantages of each Evaluate best practices and considerations when implementing a fund valuation system

Sponsor

This NACUBO webinar is supported by:

Jason Edwards

Chief Operating Officer

Adavico

Jason Edwards joined Adavico in 2018 as the chief operating officer and is instrumental in advancing Adavico’s software and client services divisions. A seasoned veteran of endowments, sub-accounting systems, and pooled fund administration, he focuses on creating company-wide best practices and enhancing product and service offerings. Before Adavico, Edwards served as vice president of finance and administration at North Carolina Wesleyan University. He has also served in executive roles within an investment services administration firm and owned and managed a transfer agent providing services to over 100 consolidated investment pools. Edwards holds a bachelor’s in accounting from North Carolina Wesleyan University. Furthermore, his experiential learning of UPMIFA and FASB compliance standards offers valuable expertise for endowment administration.

Mary Wheeler

FARM Author and Consultant

NACUBO

Mary Spina Wheeler is a project consultant for NACUBO and updates NACUBO’s Financial Accounting and Reporting Manual (FARM). She is also the owner of MS Wheeler Financial Services, LLC, providing financial and operational services to higher education and other nonprofit organizations. Wheeler writes and presents on all matters related to nonprofit and higher education accounting and financial reporting. She is the author of NACUBO’s Endowment Fund Valuation Guide and the 2012 recipient of NACUBO’s Daniel D. Robinson Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to the field of college and university accounting and reporting. Wheeler’s career includes management positions at Cornell University, St. Lawrence University, Skidmore College, Stevens Institute of Technology, and the Arizona State University Foundation.