Taking a looking at the NCAA's Form 990 (IRS filing for tax exempt entities) for the 2014-15 operating year, I offer the following observations.
The NCAA brought in around $900 million in revenue from $777 million in TV rights fees and $120 million from championship events (I assume ticket sales and sponsorships).
The NCAA distributed $588 million as "grants and other assistance." I assume this is the amount distributed to schools and conferences.
The NCAA incurred $116 million in expenses related to running championship events. Among other things, I assume this includes amounts paid to schools for travel related expenses to participate in the championship events.
The remaining $200 million in expenses covers the rest of the NCAA's operating costs, including salaries and benefits ($65 million), outside service providers ($25 million in outside legal fees alone - lawyers got feed their families too), Insurance ($22 million), drug testing ($5 million), and other miscellaneous expenses.
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofi.../440567264
With respect to how the amount distributed to schools is determined, this article is helpful:
http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/medi...-academics
Of note, the Basketball Fund, which is tied to NCAA tournament results, is being deemphasized. Other funds, including the Sports Sponsorship Fund and Grants-In-Aid Fund are being increased, and a new Academic Achievement Fund has been added.