Associate Vice President for Development
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.

---

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.

Lee Williams-Lopapa
Senior Associate Vice President of Advancement and Campaign Co-Director

---

Lee Williams-Lopapa, Senior Associate Vice President for Development and Campaign Co-Director for Advancement and Partnerships, is a veteran in higher education fundraising leadership with three decades of advancement leadership, specifically in higher education. She joined the Advancement and Partnerships team in March of 2025.

Having served in interim leadership roles at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Emory University, and at UCF in 2022, she draws on broad experience in both public and private higher education to swiftly diagnose challenges, propose tailored strategies, and execute effective solutions.

Career highlights include roles at the University of South Florida, the Georgia Institute of Technology, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Mississippi State University, and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where she also served as CEO of the foundation.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Mississippi State University, a master’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Southern Mississippi and held the certified fundraising executive (CFRE) designation for more than a decade.

Leadership and Oversight of Development Teams

• Provides strategic leadership and direct supervision for a group of Executive Development Director and Assistant Vice President level positions and other senior fundraising leaders responsible for major gift fundraising within assigned colleges and units.
   
• Guides fundraising strategy, portfolio development, and prospect engagement to ensure teams are positioned to meet or exceed fundraising goals. Establishes expectations for performance, accountability, and collaboration across development teams while supporting consistent fundraising practices and processes across the division.
   
• Works closely with development leaders to assess pipeline health, identify opportunities for growth, and remove barriers to fundraising success. Provides mentorship, coaching, and leadership development for senior fundraising staff to strengthen the division’s overall fundraising capacity.
   
• Supports the recruitment, onboarding, and development of development professionals in partnership with Advancement leadership and Human Resources Operations.

Fundraising Strategy and Principal Gift Engagement

• Maintains an active portfolio of select principal and major gift prospects to cultivate, solicit, and steward in partnership with college leadership and development officers.
   
• Provides strategic counsel to development leaders on complex fundraising strategies, donor engagement plans, and principal gift opportunities. Works collaboratively with deans, faculty, and university leadership to identify philanthropic priorities and align donor interests with institutional needs.
   
• Supports cross-unit fundraising strategies and collaborative gift opportunities that advance university-wide initiatives and campaign priorities.

Campaign and Strategic Initiative Leadership

• Partners with the Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement to support the execution of the university’s comprehensive campaign and other strategic fundraising initiatives.
   
• Ensures assigned development teams are aligned with campaign priorities, prospect strategies, and fundraising goals. Monitors campaign progress across assigned units and provides strategic guidance to strengthen campaign participation and performance.
   
• Works collaboratively with Advancement Operations, Prospect Development, and Communications teams to ensure fundraising strategies are informed by data, pipeline insights, and coordinated donor engagement.

Leadership Collaboration and Division Strategy

• Contributes to division-wide fundraising planning, goal setting, and strategic initiatives.
   
• Collaborates with Advancement leaders to strengthen fundraising policies, performance expectations, prospect management practices, and campaign strategies.
   
• Provides insight and recommendations to the Sr. Associate VP of Advancement on emerging fundraising opportunities, staffing needs, and organizational priorities.

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 12+ years of relevant work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).

We’re looking for a dynamic fundraising leader who is passionate about the transformative power of business education. The strongest candidates may also bring:

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Business Administration, Communications, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, or related field.
   
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in higher education advancement, philanthropy, or complex nonprofit fundraising environments.
   
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale major gift or principal gift fundraising efforts, including securing seven-figure philanthropic commitments.
   
• Experience leading and developing senior fundraising professionals in a complex, matrixed organization.
   
• Proven ability to build collaborative partnerships with executive leadership, deans, faculty, volunteers, and high-capacity donors.
   
• Experience supporting or leading a comprehensive fundraising campaign within a higher education or similarly complex organization.
   
• Strong understanding of prospect strategy, portfolio management, donor pipeline development, and fundraising performance metrics.
   
• Experience using fundraising and donor management systems such as Blackbaud CRM, Salesforce, or similar platforms to inform strategy and performance.
   
• Demonstrated success managing cross-functional fundraising initiatives and collaborative donor strategies across multiple units or colleges.
   
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational change management skills with the ability to influence and drive results across teams.
   
• Experience developing fundraising strategy informed by data analytics, campaign reporting, and pipeline insights.
   
• Record of fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team culture.

The salary range for this position is $215,000 to $240,000 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.

Living in Orlando means watching your dollar go far beyond where it goes elsewhere. From housing and healthcare to groceries and beyond, nothing compares to Orlando’s incredible cost of living.

Compared to New York, New York (Manhattan):

• Housing in Orlando is 77.48% less expensive.
• Groceries in Orlando are 17.63% less expensive.
• Transportation in Orlando is 15.66% less expensive.
• Healthcare in Orlando is 18.87% less expensive.

Orlando has been named Top 10 American City of the Future for three years running. While most people know Orlando for tourism and hospitality, the city and region has much more to offer:

• 2/3 of the workforce spans across life sciences and healthcare, innovative technologies, advanced manufacturing, and more.
• No. 2 in the country for job growth, per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
• An internationally-recognized semiconductor industry cluster.
• Home to companies like AAA (headquarters), Blue Origin, Darden Restaurants (headquarters), Deloitte, Electronic Arts, FARO, Kroger, Lockheed Martin, Massey Services Inc. (headquarters), Mattrix Technologies, Mitsubishi Power, Northrop Grumman, Ocean Insight, Oracle, Photon-X, Rotech Healthcare Inc, Siemens, Silicon Assurance, skywater, Veritas, and much more.