IGNITE Campaign Goals

 

In order to fulfill UCF’s vast potential in an era of flat or declining state funding for public higher education, we turn to philanthropy as our margin of excellence. Through IGNITE: The Campaign for UCF, we seek to channel our collective energies and resources into a strategic effort to infuse UCF with $500 million in mission-critical support by the middle of 2019.

That goal will be divided amount three broad priority areas:

Student Success: $200 million

By expanding access through alternative pathways; by making a UCF education affordable to all deserving students through financial aid; by enriching the student experience; and by expanding programs that prepare students for success after graduation, we will continually strive to offer the best education to the largest and most diverse student body we can.

Academic Excellence: $200 million

By attracting and retaining top faculty members, by supporting the work of interdisciplinary faculty clusters; by helping fund critical research; and by providing the most advanced learning facilities and technologies, we will bolster UCF’s already burgeoning reputation for rigorous academics and innovative research.

A Better Future: $100 million

By leveraging existing strengths, seeking strategic partnerships, and pursuing new opportunities — including by expanding UCF’s presence in downtown Orlando, promoting  interdisciplinary endeavors to develop innovative healthcare solutions, contributing to a healthier environment, and expanding global initiatives —we will strive to lift lives and livelihoods across Central Florida and beyond.


Through IGNITE, we seek to infuse UCF with $500 million in mission-critical philanthropic support by June 2019.

IGNITE Campaign Milestones

 

The IGNITE Campaign officially began July 1, 2011, with a leadership phase, during which fundraising staff and volunteers sought to raise approximately half of the $500 million goal before publicly announcing the campaign.

On September 16, 2016, during a gala ceremony on UCF's main campus, the campaign was officially made public at the conclusion of a five-year leadership phase. At the time, the campaign total stood at approximately $270 million — well in excess of the $250 million leadership phase goal.

The last publicly reported total was $479,519,042 (as of December 31, 2018). The final total will be announced during homecoming 2019. 

Success will require dramatically intensified fundraising efforts by both professional staff and volunteer leaders, but both are confident of reaching the goal.

START DATE

July 1, 2011

PUBLIC LAUNCH

Sept. 16, 2016

PROJECTED COMPLETION

June 30, 2019

IGNITE Campaign Leadership

 

Comprehensive campaigns like IGNITE are led by a professional fundraising staff, university executives, dedicated volunteer leadership.

IGNITE: The Campaign for UCF is chaired by volunteer Rick Walsh '77 '83MS. Ever since serving as student body president in 1976-77, the now-retired vice president of corporate affairs for Darden Restaurants, Inc. has remained dedicated to the university. He was a founding member and later chair of the Board of Trustees, and currently serves as a member of the UCF Foundation Board of Directors and of the Dean's Advisory Board of the College of Business Administration.

Other key leadership figures for IGNITE include interim UCF President Thad Seymour, UCF Vice President for Advancement and UCF Foundation CEO Mike Morsberger, and the foundation's distinguished, 30-member board of directors.


Rick Walsh '77 '83MS

IGNITE Campaign College and Unit Goals

 

Within the broader $500 million goal of the IGNITE Campaign are many individual fundraising goals for UCF's colleges and units. Increasing philanthropic investment from alumni, friends, corporations and foundations is critical for each colleges and units to fund their campaign priorities.

Athletics Department $55,000,000

College of Engineering & Computer Science $55,000,000

Student Development & Enrollment Srvcs $55,000,000

College of Medicine $30,000,000

Rosen College of Hospitality Management $30,000,000

College of Arts and Humanities $20,000,000

College of Business Administration $20,000,000

College of Sciences $20,000,000

College of Nursing $15,000,000

WUCF TV $12,000,000

College of Education & Human Performance $10,000,000

College of Health & Public Administration $8,000,000

Burnett Honors College $5,000,000

College of Optics & Photonics $5,000,000

College of Graduate Studies $1,000,000

College of Undergraduate Studies $1,000,000

© University of Central Florida Foundation, Inc. 2021