Reading https://www.si.edu/sites/default/files/oa/smithsonian-2024-w..., they’re spending $1.7b a year.

Interesting financial report, by the way. Lots of info about what they do with photos, lists of who donated money, and then, the real financials start at page 79 of 87 and end on page 82.

has "Endowment Payout 7%" which is a fine figure, both of their total revenue and of the %return on investment you get as a sustaining proposition from a long life fund.

Half the opex is federally funded. half the costs are salaries. The SI employs a lot of people and costs far, far more than the endowment to operate.

the page 80 endowment disbursement distribution is fascinating too. they do amazingly good work across the board, from this money.

I have a tiny, weenie functional duty of care on a board over a sum 1/100 of this size and if I felt we were doing as well as them in governance, I'd be proud.

I will say, I think they should lawyer up and defend the retention of the shuttle and tell the politicians to F off but I can understand reluctance to be this bald about it.