The goals of a UCF Knights Council include:
The duties of the council include:
All council members are required to make a philanthropic gift to UCF each year they are on the board. Giving requirement must be fulfilled by the end of the Fiscal Year (June 30).
To remain an active Community, each council must meet certain requirements each year. These requirements and the affiliated allocation given by UCF Alumni are determined by the Community’s classification.
Requirements include:
See the full Council Requirements
The Chair shall be the main representative of the council and shall oversee all programming and events. He/she will preside over all meetings of the council and will display a thorough working knowledge of the policies and procedures outlined in the regional toolbox. The Chair will ensure all committee members are trained and fully understand their roles and complete their council giving requirement. In addition, the Chair will be responsible for incorporating philanthropy throughout all events and creating a leadership succession plan by overseeing the recruitment committee to establish a pipeline of future council leaders.
The Chair-Elect will assist the chair in the execution of his/her duties and act on the Chair’s behalf when necessary. He/she will actively participate and support the planning and execution of their respective events while also assuming the responsibilities of a traditional communications/social media chair. If the Chair-Elect does not directly execute social media, it is their responsibility to find someone who will execute social media and communication efforts for their respective events. The Chair-Elect will assume the chair position at the end of the current chair’s term or in the event that the current Chair is unable to fulfil his/her term.
The Watch Party Lead will head the Watch Party committee and will be in charge of coordinating a watch party location for UCF Football games during the regular season. He/she will be responsible for finding a venue that can televise all UCF Football games and will accommodate alumni in an area with at least one dedicated TV to watch the games. This lead will also work with the Chair to develop a budget for watch parties that may include but is not limited to allocating funds for giveaway items, food, etc.
The Knights Give Back (KGB) Lead will head the KGB committee and will be responsible for coordinating a community service event in the fall. This community service event will be held in conjunction with the Knights Give Back event that is hosted by OSI on UCF Main Campus. The date for this event will be announced well in advance. The KGB Lead will be responsible for finding a local organization to partner with in a singular event fashion.
The National Networking Knight (NNK) Lead will head the NNK committee and will be responsible for coordinating a networking event in the spring in conjunction with UCF Alumni’s National Networking Knight. He/she will work with the committee to find a venue, and develop a program that can include but is not limited to having a guest or panel of speakers, speed networking, headshots, etc. This lead will also work with the Chair to create a budget for the event.
The Fundraising Event Lead will head the Fundraising committee and will be responsible for coordinating a fundraising event supporting a UCF philanthropic cause, program, or UCF Community Scholarship. This lead will work to raise awareness and funds for the UCF cause, program, or scholarship to increase philanthropy and alumni participation for the University through a meaningful event that may take many forms. He/she will also work with the Chair to create a budget for this event.
The Feast on the 50 Lead will head the Feast on 50 committee and will be responsible for organizing UCF Alumni’s participation in the Florida Citrus Sport’s Feast on the 50 event. He/she will work with council members to engage alumni at the Camping World Stadium in a meaningful way to raise awareness for the Greater Orlando Community and UCF Alumni events/initiatives.
Required to serve on at least two different committees. Members-at-large commit to making themselves available, when need be, to aid with attendance, planning, and other tasks.
Elected Chair and Chair-Elect(s) will serve a term of two (2) years (or until the end of the respective term of his or her predecessor if elected to succeed a person who has not completed a two (2) year term). The two (2) year term commences on July 1 and ends on June 30 at the end of second year
All other elected leaders will serve a term of one (1) year (or until the end of the respective term of his or her predecessor if elected to succeed a person who has not completed a one (1) year term). The one (1) year term commences on July 1 and ends on June 30 at the end of upcoming year
UCF Alumni has the right to add and remove chairs at its sole discretion
Term limits. The maximum continuous period any person can serve on the council in any one position is:
Resignation
A council leader may resign at any time by submitting a written resignation to the chair and UCF Alumni staff representative.
Removal
Any elected leader may be removed from office after two-thirds vote of the leaders present and voting when: the individual has two (2) regular council meeting absences in one (1) fiscal year, unless excused by the Chair; or whenever the interests of UCF Alumni or the specific UCF Community would be best served. An elected leader who fails to meet the giving requirement set forth by the council in a fiscal year may not be eligible to join the council the following year. Any elected leader who does not meet the duties and goals of their elected role may not be eligible to join the council for another term. Any leader may be removed by UCF Alumni at its sole discretion.
Council applications and elections run on an annual cycle, with an annual call for applications in the spring and Council terms beginning on July 1.
Documented meetings of the council will be held during each fiscal year. The respective chair will select the meeting, date, time and location. Requirements are as follows:
A majority of the members entitled to vote will constitute a quorum at any duly noticed meeting. An affirmative vote of a majority of members present is required for approval of any action items.
The chair, or in their absence, the chair-elect, will preside at meetings of the Council. In the absence of both of the above, the meeting should be re-scheduled. Re-scheduling due to absence should be documented in the minutes.
Minutes of a board or committee meeting will be taken and maintained in accordance with the UCF Alumni template provided.
Minutes must be sent to UCF Alumni within 7 days of meeting via the Upload Documents form.
The members of the council or a committee may participate in, and be included in the quorum of, a meeting in person, by telephone, video or any other means that allow members and all others in attendance at the meeting to hear and speak to one another simultaneously.
For the long-term viability of your community, it is important to develop and implement a plan for leadership succession. A leader’s most important job is to find their replacement. A leader has not completely fulfilled that role until a successor is ready to take the helm. Grooming potential leaders takes time. Advanced preparation will help build a pipeline of future leaders and ease the transition of a planned or unexpected departure of a key leadership role.
Volunteers formally organized the FTU Alumni Association (now The UCF Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving)
The UCF alumni population had grown exponentially and the association needed a way to fund services, programs and communications to serve the alumni. The dues program was started in an effort to fill this financial void.
UCF experienced unparalleled growth, becoming the second largest university in the nation. The UCF Alumni Association also evolved and was recognized as a leader among its peers. Yet, the funding structure did not change along with it. Dues no longer covered the costs and diluted the association’s ability to serve ALL alumni resulting in an exclusive, rather than inclusive, organization.
Additionally, in recessionary times, traditional funding sources like state and federal money and investment income had all but dried up. The entire UCF community was vying for funds from the same small pool of sources. The number of new UCF graduates continued to flourish, and the association could not continue to operate the same way and meet the needs of the majority of alumni. To fill the gap, engaged alumni who care about their alma mater are needed. UCF Alumni must focus all its efforts on building relationships and creating a culture of philanthropy.
The elimination of the UCF alumni dues program was recommended to begin this process. It was the initial step toward re-engaging the volunteers and shifting staff and volunteer actions toward fostering relationships with ALL alumni. This would allow UCF Alumni to focus on its primary responsibility: promoting alumni engagement and philanthropy in support of the university’s mission.
UCF Alumni officially transitioned to a non-dues based model. From that point forward, a UCF graduate has an automatic affiliation with UCF Alumni without the requirement of membership dues.
During the implementation of the UCF “Collective Impact” Strategic Plan, the UCF Alumni Association became “UCF Alumni” and joined the Division of UCF Advancement. Further, the Office of Alumni Relations joined with the Office of Annual Giving and became what it is now: the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving. We have moved away from primarily providing entertainment through events to more intentional and strategic programming initiatives, meaningful engagement and measured staff performance to achieve a culture of service and philanthropy.
All hail to Alma Mater whose banner black and gold,
will wave in fame and splendor as the passing years unfold.
May loyalty and friendship, within our hearts unite,
and light the star to guide us ever upward in our flight.
With honor and affection our friendships will re-new,
we sing of thee our Alma Mater ever true.
UCF charge onto the field
with our spirit we’ll never yield
We’re singing Black and Gold
Charge right through the line
Victory is our only cry V-I-C-T-O-R-Y
Tonight our knights will shine.
Nothing brings UCF fans together like cheering on your favorite team at a Watch Party! Football Watch Parties have consistently engaged the highest number of alumni and friends amongst regional events. Every Council is required to host football watch parties during the fall season. Watch Parties for other UCF sporting events may also be permitted with prior approval.
We ask that each council hosts a watch party for every game they can during the regular football season. When hosting a Watch Party, it is important that our alumni and fans get a similar experience no matter where they are in the world.
Each Watch Party venue must provide the following items:
Additional items that are not required but are highly encouraged at our watch part locations:
When securing a Watch Party location be sure to search for venues that are inclusive of all types of people, such as kids and families, is easy to travel to and has ample parking.
Note: Due to the proximity to UCF Main campus and the football stadium, the following communities may only host away game Watch Parties: Greater Orlando, Lake County, Space Coast.
What to bring:
During the Event:
After the event:
2025 Football season graphics are here!
Right click on the image then choose “Save image as.”
Networking opportunity for UCF alumni professionals in-person, on the first Thursday in March, in multiple cities across the nation.
Each council should host a community service event that is activity-based and preferably in partnership with a local organization / entity. This event should take place on the same day/weekend as the OSI event on campus as its OWN event. It should NOT occur during a watch party. Some examples include but are not limited to:
Canned food and other donation drives are not encouraged.
UCF Alumni will send email invitations to the alumni in each of the areas of participating groups. Please submit work order before the deadline to be included in this email. A day or two before each event a “Know-before-you-go” email will be sent out to registrants with final details.
What to bring:
During the Event:
After the event:
Networking opportunity for UCF alumni professionals in-person, on the first Thursday in March, in multiple cities across the nation.
The theme of this event can range from informal to formal. Some examples include but are not limited to:
If you plan on securing a rental space, a contract/agreement with most likely be required. Please refer to the “Contracts and Risk” section under “Events – Step 1” for more details on completing a contractual agreement.
UCF Alumni will send email invitations to the alumni in each of the areas of participating groups. Please submit work order before the deadline to be included in this email. A day or two before each event a “Know-before-you-go” email will be sent out to registrants with final details.
What to bring:
During the Event:
After the event:
A contract is a voluntary, deliberate, and legally binding agreement between two or more competent parties that is intended to be enforceable by law. For university purposes, a contract is any document that requires a signature. Contracts can range from venue rental agreements to catering orders to vendor payments.
UCF Alumni volunteers and staff DO NOT have signing authority to execute any contracts and/or documents. Only officially designated signers within the UCF Foundation, Inc. leadership team are authorized to perform this task.
UCF Alumni considers a contract to be ANY document that requires a signature.
This includes documents from restaurants requesting a signature in order to agree on a minimum spend, confirming dates, menu/ catering selections, spacing options etc. Most documents requiring a signature are not called or titled “Contracts”, but if the document requires a signature, we treat it as a contract and it must go through our legal process.
If you sign such a document, you will be held financially and legally liable for any expenses, injuries and damages.
This can be a lengthy process, so ensure you leave enough time before your event to get any contracts signed before the initial date of promotion of the event. We recommend at least three weeks from the date of initial submission.
All UCF Alumni communities are insured by the UCF Foundation, Inc.’s insurance policies. These policies protect alumni groups and individuals acting on behalf of UCF Alumni during approved events.
Certificate of Liability Insurance from a vendor may be required as evidence of insurance and the capability of providing the required financial protection in the event of a loss.
If a required vendor is unable to show proof of insurance via the Certificate of Liability Insurance and a worst-case scenario were to happen, the UCF Foundation, Inc. would be considered liable. It is imperative to only work with vendors who are adequately insured.
The vendor should include the following comment in the “Notes” or “Additional Comments” section of the Certificate of Liability and should have a minimum coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence:
The University of Central Florida Foundation, Inc.; University of Central Florida;
The UCF Board of Trustees, on behalf of the Florida Board of Governors and its entities are additional insured(s) as respects to the general liability coverage, per enclosed.
As part of the contract process, the certificate of liability insurance will need to be collected from the vendor and provided with the contract for legal review.
Some high-risk events may not be covered under the UCF Foundation’s insurance policies, for example events involving transportation, watercraft and/or children. In this scenario, the purchase of additional insurance may be required and would be the responsibility of the chapter/club to cover. The additional insurance should be budgeted as an expense of the event and rolled into the per person registration fee (if applicable). Check with the staff liaison for price quotes if applicable.
UCF Alumni communities are permitted to host events with alcohol as long as a licensed third-party vendor, such as a caterer, bar or restaurant, checks IDs and serves those who are 21 years of age or older. The third-party vendor must be the only one who pours and must refuse service to individuals showing signs of intoxication. BYOB events are prohibited.
Allocation money may be used to purchase alcohol for community events. It is recommended to plan for one drink per person per hour for liability purposes. Food should also be provided if alcohol is being served.
Due to liability concerns, communities are not permitted to host events where food is prepared at someone’s home and brought to an event, nor is grilling meat or preparing food for a picnic or barbecue event permitted. All picnic or barbecue events must be either catered by a licensed and insured caterer or the prepared food must be purchased at a grocery store or restaurant.
In order to protect contact information, UCF Community emails are sent by UCF Alumni on behalf of the council through a software that can provide designed templates, measures analytics, and manages bounce back and unsubscribe requests.
Requests for new emails should be made to your staff liaison at least two weeks prior to the preferred email date via the work order form.
Plan for up to four emails per event, including the initial invitation, follow-up reminder, Know-Before-You-Go (KBYG) and thank you message, sent within a three to six-week time frame.
Emails are geo-targeted to alumni living in the counties surrounding your area. Encourage alumni in your area to update their contact information so they don’t miss out on any events hosted by your community. Contact information can be updated at ucfalumni.com/contactupdates.
Football watch parties adhere to a special email work order timeline due to the frequency of games and the quantity of community watch parties scheduled per game.
Make sure you’re always adhering to UCF brand standards. Here is a quick guide to alumni and athletics graphics to get you started. If you have any questions about whether or not a graphic can be used, always reach out to your alumni liaison BEFORE using it.
Each regional community is represented on the UCF Alumni website under Chapters and Clubs. Alumni searching for information on a specific community can find:
The following reports are available upon request:
As public resources decline and the cost of higher education increases, philanthropy becomes the last line of defense for universities like UCF to ensure continued growth. Annual giving, in particular, provides a critical and sustainable foundation as a collective effort to support initiatives such as First Generation Scholarships, Areas of Greatest Need, Knights Helping Knights Pantry, Student Emergency Fund.
How can you help?
Believe in what you do! Support your chapter or club directly with a private gift to fund the operations of your group. One-time or reoccurring gifts can be made online.
In the designation section, select your chapter or club from the drop-down. If you don’t see your chapter or club, reach out to your alumni liaison to find out how to give to your specific group.
Private gifts are integral to your college’s mission of providing quality academic programs and scholarship opportunities for students and promoting excellence in faculty endeavors.
If you don’t see the fund you would like to give to, try selecting your college from the left-side menu of “More Areas to Support.” If you still don’t see the fund you would like to give to, reach out to your staff liaison.
Donating to the Alumni Excellence Fund allows UCF Alumni to direct funds to areas within the department to provide the best programming and events possible to alumni and friends.
In the designation section, select UCF Alumni Excellence Fund.
The UCF Fund is dedicated to enriching the lives of UCF students. Gifts have an immediate and direct impact on the daily lives of UCF students and faculty. Donors may designate gifts for specific purposes (restricted funds) or allow UCF to direct the funds to where they are needed most (unrestricted funds).
UCF Fund Areas of Focus:
Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and double employee gifts. Some companies will also match gifts made by retirees and/or spouses. Rules vary by employer, and forms are available through your employer’s human resources office. Get more information on our matching gift program.
UCF Alumni awards more than $75,000 in scholarships each year to undergraduate and graduate students.
Select “Scholarships” as the designation and select the scholarship you wish to give to. If you don’t see the scholarship you are looking for, reach out to your alumni liaison to find out how to give to your specific group.
Scholarship applications are available each spring (in early January) with an application deadline at the end of March. A university committee reviews the scholarship applications and determines the recipients. The scholarship winners are announced over the summer and the monetary awards are distributed at the beginning of the fall semester.
An endowed scholarship is created by one lead gift from a single individual. Once the endowment is created ($25,000) any individual is able to donate to the endowment to continue its growth. Once the minimum of $25,000 is invested for a full 12 months, the scholarship will be eligible for awarding. Scholarships are awarded off of the interest earned. The UCF Foundation, Inc. Investment Committee manages the scholarship investments and determines the accounts spendable.
Money in scholarship accounts can be used only for said scholarship. It cannot be withdrawn or transferred to another account with the exception of the recipient’s UCF student account. If monies are not awarded, it remains in the account until a recipient is named. Monies can be used to pay for tuition, textbooks, fees and any other items included in the cost of education.
All gifts to the scholarship account will be considered charitable gifts to UCF. Each donor will receive a gift acknowledgement letter for their contribution.
Some communities have created scholarships for students based on their majors or hometown residence. Communities who have raised $20,000+ for their scholarships are eligible to create a separate UCF Foundation, Inc. account(s) in the scholarship’s name. Work with your staff liaison to develop a gift agreement and establish a new account.
Community scholarships can be included in UCF Alumni’s online scholarship application for extra exposure but must follow the same timeline for award selection and distribution as the overall UCF Alumni scholarships.
Scholarships need to be a main focus for a chapter/club in order to be created. The chapter/club needs to come up with a plan on how they expect to maintain the scholarship and grow it to eventually become an endowed scholarship. Please consider the following before reaching out to your staff liaison to begin conversation.
Annual giving is considered regular, philanthropic support in the form of an annual gift from alumni and friends. Annual Giving is an important part of the University’s success. As a vital component of university philanthropy, annual giving supports key priorities that advance UCF’s strategic mission. Top priorities include: recruitment of faculty, student scholarships and strategic partnerships. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference!
Funds raised by Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving serve as the foundation for all university fundraising efforts. These collective gifts provide a stable and ever-increasing source of support to meet the needs of the university. Gifts are counted as annual gifts if they meet all of the following criteria:
Leadership annual gifts are yearly gifts that total between $1,000 and $24,999 ($500 for young alumni – 32 years and younger) in a single UCF fiscal year (July 1-June 30). These gifts qualify the donor for membership in the UCF President’s Circle, a prestigious group of alumni and friends who make the commitment to support UCF. Learn more about the President’s Circle.
Learn more about all of the UCF Giving Societies.
Happy Hour – Football Watch Parties
Aug. 9, 2023
Social Tables (iPhone)
tutorial
Email and Social Media Tips and Tricks
Aired: Aug. 18, 2021
UCF Knights Network and Events
Aired: July 30, 2020
Philanthropy
Aired: Oct. 13 2021
