University of Central Florida Athletics Produces Record Fundraising Figures, Dwarfs Recent Numbers
By UCF Knights // July 12, 2020
UCF Championship Resources booked $35 million in commitments
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – UCF in 2019-2020 added to its current record streak of three straight athletic years with all of its teams posting winning records—the only NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision program to accomplish that.
The Knights stood 29th in the NACDA Learfield Directors’ Cup final fall all-sports standings. That competition was suspended after the onset of COVID-19.
Multiple UCF spring sports were off to torrid starts–notably baseball (15-3 record, No. 8 RPI) and softball (21-5-1, No. 7 RPI)–before the virus halted competition in March.
Those consistently winning UCF programs once again excited and motivated Knight Nation and helped deliver the best fundraising year in UCF Athletics history.
As a result, fiscal year 2020 (ending June 30) produced record numbers in terms of both committed gifts and gifts received—with overall gift commitments up more than twice the total from two years ago (fiscal year 2018).
For the 2020 fiscal year the UCF Championship Resources team booked $35,565,245 in commitments and $17,425,812 in cash gifts received.
Both numbers are all-time highs for UCF athletics fundraising, surpassing last year’s respective figures of $31.7 million and $13.6 million—both of which at the time also were far and away record highs.
Those 2019 numbers dwarfed the same totals from 2018 ($16.6 million in commitments, $13.4 million in cash gifts received).
“These numbers indicate emphatically that our alumni and fans are more excited than ever about the sustained success of our student-athletes and the great work by our coaches and staff—even in light of the unique circumstances of recent months,” said UCF vice president and director of athletics Danny White.
“Our donors have demonstrated a compelling interest in providing resources in helping us achieve our lofty goals and pursue our vision to provide exceptional academic, athletic and personal opportunities for our student-athletes and deliver a top-25 athletics program.”
The 2020 overall commitment total is more than four times what UCF booked only four years ago ($8 million in fiscal year 2016). The 2020 number also represents almost six times the total commitment figure from fiscal year 2012 ($6.5 million).
“Our donors understand they play a critical role in what we’re doing to create the future of college sports,” said White.
“We continue to build something special here in Orlando, and these figures impressively showcase that. We are grateful for the generosity of so many that are investing in UCF.”
White understands those connections are more important than ever in light of the uncertainties the coronavirus has created for college athletics at large.
“Knight Nation has really stepped up over the past several years and we’re going to need that support even more this upcoming year as we face the challenges from COVID-19,” he says.
“We have worked too hard to have our momentum stall and I want to ensure we’re in a position of strength a year from now. Our ability to navigate the upcoming year will require loyal and passionate fans and donors to help us stay focused on our mission. We ask them to undauntedly ‘keep charging on.'”
