Associate Vice President for Advancement Strategy
University of Central Florida

Our Mission: The UCF Foundation encourages, stewards and celebrates charitable contributions from alumni and friends to support the University of Central Florida.

Our Vision: Powering partnerships and transforming lives through philanthropy.

Our Values: How we make decisions

Integrity: We show integrity by being honest, having strong moral direction and following ethical standards. A fundamental aspect of character, integrity builds trust and respect in relationships. We work to ensure everyone we interact with views us as trustworthy and reliable, operating with integrity in all that we do and in every relationship.

Accountability: We show accountability by thoughtfully recognizing the impact of our actions on the team’s collective goals and shared purpose, as well as the success or failure of our work.  We believe that there are consequences to our actions and use missteps as opportunities for growth and learning.

Collaboration: We show collaboration by approaching our daily work with open communication, mutual respect and a spirit that values each person’s unique skillset. By conducting our work in this way and prioritizing both UCF’s and our partners’ interest, we will achieve stronger outcomes together.

Our Standards: How we treat one another

Respect: We show respect by fostering an environment in which everyone feels heard and appreciated. Respect serves as the cornerstone of every interaction we have, fueling more meaningful connections, sustainable partnerships and stronger collaborations. 

Transparency: We show transparency through direct communication of our goals, priorities, vision, finances and decisions, whether positive or challenging. When our daily work includes transparency from all levels, information is intentionally shared. As a team, transparency builds trust amongst each other and the division, which is essential for a positive, high-performing team.

Empowerment: We show empowerment by fostering a culture of possibility in service to the mission of UCF Advancement & Partnerships. We affirm confidence and trust in our colleagues by empowering them to make decisions that are aligned across the division, granting them authority to take ownership and providing them with resources that propel individuals and teams to achieve greater levels of success and fulfillment.

Celebration: We show celebration by recognizing and uplifting each other. We seek to weave support, acknowledgment and encouragement into the fabric of our daily interactions. A culture rooted in celebration, we inspire our team to reach for the stars and consistently rise to new heights.

Positivity: We show positivity by embracing challenges and seeking the best in every situation and interaction. We characterize positivity as joy, happiness, enthusiasm and a collective optimism that inspires us to approach each day with a belief in our shared success. Positivity remains at the heart of our daily interactions and efforts, fueling our drive for growth and success with a can-do belief and outlook for the future.

Because Knight Nation runs towards opportunity, and right now, UCF is facing the greatest opportunity in its storied history. It is investing in its greatest strengths and claiming its seat among the most prominent universities at the leading edge of what’s possible.

Because the future is waiting - and waiting is something UCF has never tolerated. The university acts on its ambition. It maximises every investment and rewards those who take smart risks. This is who UCF has always been, and it is the only way the future it envisions can be made accessible to the world.

This campaign is about UCF’s Next Mission: creating a future the world has only begun to imagine.

• All-Revenue Model: Expands beyond philanthropy to include other forms of revenue, such as sponsored research and strategic partnerships.
   
• Investor Mindset: Recognizes all contributors - donors, corporations, foundations, and agencies - as investors in UCF’s future.
   
• Unified Strategy: Aligns fundraising, research, and partnerships under one campaign vision.
   
• Broader Impact Metrics: Tracks total resource mobilization, not just philanthropic dollars.

To publicly launch a comprehensive campaign that seeks to double the total philanthropy of UCF’s last campaign effort. More specifically, the campaign seeks to:

• Raise transformational philanthropic support.
   
• Secure alignment around the campaign purpose and fundraising priorities.
   
• Engage alumni and donors of all types, with insiders prioritized during the quiet phase.
   
• Increase alumni participation.
   
• Invest in partnerships with companies and organizations in Central Florida.
   
• Communicate the campaign’s big ideas and convey the impact of giving to these areas.
   
• Cultivate a culture of philanthropy among internal and external audiences.
   
• Elevate UCF as a destination for holistic financial investment.
   
• Strengthen UCF’s standing as a Florida preeminent university and advance its progress toward national preeminence.

Rodney M. Grabowski
Senior Vice President for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation, Inc.

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Rodney M. Grabowski is the senior vice president for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation, Inc. A passionate advocate for higher education and its power to transform lives, he oversees the university’s fundraising, alumni relations, and partnerships. Under his leadership, the Advancement and Partnerships division builds meaningful, fruitful connections that enhance UCF’s impact and result in new sources of revenue to fuel our excellence and unleash the potential of our students, faculty and community.

Rod has more than three decades of experience in nonprofit and advancement leadership, including extensive experience in higher education and health care philanthropy. He is a national leader in the use of artificial intelligence, data-driven strategy and innovative management strategies.

Before joining UCF in September of 2022, Rod served as Vice President for University Advancement with the University at Buffalo. His team surpassed the university’s fundraising goal of $650 million a full year early and increased the goal to $1 billion for the same time period of the campaign — an effort boosted by back-to-back record-setting years for UB.

Prior to his years at UB, Rod was at the University of Cincinnati as President of the University of Cincinnati Foundation, Vice President of Advancement, and President and CEO of the UC Health Foundation. At Cincinnati, he successfully concluded a $1 billion campaign, surpassing the goal by 10 percent. In Florida, he served as the University of South Florida’s Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement and campaign director, where he managed the university’s $600 million fundraising campaign. He also served in fundraising leadership positions at the University of North Florida and at Jacksonville University.

A native of Phoenix, New York, Rod holds the prestigious CFRE credential — Certified Fund-Raising Executive. He earned an MBA from the University of North Florida and a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Syracuse University. He is an active member and leader in the Association of Fundraising Professionals and CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. An Eagle Scout, he is active in the Boy Scouts of America.

Strategic Leadership (20%) and Campaign Management (25%)

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Senior Vice President and Executive Team, translating strategy into action by connecting day-to-day decisions to long-term goals, aligning stakeholders with different priorities, supporting disciplined decision-making, and tracking division-wide goals and performance metrics.
   
• Working alongside the Senior Vice President and the Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement (Development), serving as Campaign Co-Director – Development, lead the marketing and communications administrative side of the university’s fundraising campaigns with constant evolution in mind.
   
• Oversee campaign planning studies, timelines, committee coordination, goal setting, strategy, and progress tracking while creating the systems, communications, and accountability routines needed to keep complex campaign work moving across multiple teams.

Chief of Staff Duties (15%)

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Senior Vice President and Executive Team, offering confidential counsel on fundraising, alumni engagement, volunteer management, organizational priorities, and sensitive leadership matters.
   
• Identify issues before they become crises, help teams distinguish between matters requiring executive attention and those that can be delegated, and ensure the division remains aligned, focused, and prepared to act on its highest priorities.

Team Supervision (15%)

• Provide leadership across foundation board relations and advancement communications and marketing, a team of 10 to 15 staff members overseen through 2 direct reports.
   
• Delegate work, set expectations, develop talent, monitor performance and accountability, and model the emotional intelligence, discretion, influence, and collaborative problem-solving expected of a senior Chief of Staff role.

Executive Support and Communications (10%)

• Research and prepare reports, briefings, presentations, speeches, talking points, and decision materials for the Senior Vice President, for both internal and external audiences.
   
• Communicate with clarity, brevity, and executive presence, tailoring messages for senior leaders, staff, donors, volunteers, board members, and university partners.
   
• Partner with the executive assistant to help manage the Senior Vice President's calendar and communications flow, ensuring meetings, follow-up, and information-sharing are purposeful, well-documented, and aligned with the Senior Vice President's highest-value work.

Division Coordination (10%)

• Gather regular reports from teams across the division and work to keep operations running smoothly and efficiently.
   
• Serve as a communication link between departments, build trust across the organization, surface difficult issues early, resolve conflicts diplomatically, keep the Senior Vice President informed of important matters, and respond on the Senior Vice President's behalf when needed with sound judgment and discretion.

Budget Oversight (5%)

• Develop and monitor the Senior Vice President's budget and sponsorship opportunities and provide budget approval oversight for the foundation board relations and communications/marketing teams, along with related annual plans, hiring, training, and evaluations.

As UCF continues to grow its support across philanthropic, corporate, and partnerships lines, this role ensures those efforts stay connected rather than operating in silos. The Associate Vice President for Advancement Strategy brings the perspective and judgment to see how these efforts connect, so the division's work reflects one coherent strategy rather than a collection of separate initiatives.

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 12+ years of relevant professional experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).

• Experience working in higher education advancement, fundraising, or a related nonprofit environment
   
• Direct experience supporting or advising a senior executive in a chief of staff or similar capacity
   
• Experience with capital campaign planning or management
   
• Demonstrated success leading and developing teams of 10 or more staff
   
• Experience with budget development and oversight
   
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing executive-level materials such as briefings or presentations
   
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, sound judgment, and ability to make decisions with incomplete information while maintaining confidentiality and discretion
   
• Proven ability to influence without formal authority, align stakeholders across departments, create clarity from ambiguity, and move priorities forward in a fast-paced executive environment
   
• High emotional intelligence, executive presence, adaptability, and relationship-building skills across senior leadership, staff, volunteers, donors, and campus partners
   
• Master's degree in a related field

The salary range for this position is $185,000 to $215,000 dependent on relevant experience.

Working at UCF has its perks!  In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting its students, staff, and faculty, UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program
   
• Paid time off, including annual and sick leave and paid holidays
   
• Retirement savings options
   
• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions
   
• Education assistance
   
• Flexible work environment
   
• And more…For more benefits information, go to the UCF Employee Benefits page here.

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