Matthew Lisiewski was announced as FIU's new Senior Associate AD for Development in January of 2026. Lisiewski brings more than 20 years of high-level collegiate athletics experience and a proven track record of transformational fundraising success.
In his role with FIU, Lisiewski will oversee all athletics fundraising and donor development, including leading the Panther Club – the primary philanthropic arm of the department.
Lisiewski joins the Panthers after serving as Senior Associate AD at the University of North Florida (UNF) in Jacksonville since 2022, where he played a central role in delivering the most successful fundraising campaign in the history of UNF Athletics at more than $8 million in fiscal year 2025. His leadership helped drive unprecedented donor engagement, major facility enhancements and broad-based fundraising success.
During Lisiewski’s most recent year at UNF, the Ospreys achieved a historic surge in philanthropic support and external revenue generation. The department raised the aforementioned $8,071,921 from 2,893 donors, an 89% increase over the previous fundraising record set in fiscal year 2022. It also marked the third-consecutive year with more than 2,800 donors – a first in department history.
Under Lisiewski’s leadership, UNF delivered its most successful Giving Day ever in 2025, generating $856,276 from 1,810 donors, accounting for 40% of all donors and 36% of total dollars raised across the entire university. The department’s Giving Day total represented more than a quarter-million increase from 2024 and reflected extraordinary long-term growth as highlighted by a 1,911% increase in donors and an 18,279% improvement in dollars raised since 2019. Additionally, for the first time, the department achieved 100% staff participation.
Additional fundraising and engagement highlights from Lisiewski’s tenure at UNF include:
• The inaugural JEA Women’s Athletics & STEM Scholarship Luncheon, drawing 160 attendees and generating $69,258 in support of women’s athletics and STEM-focused student-athletes.
• A record-setting Blue & Gray Bash, grossing $147,356.
• The creation of “The Pit”, a new premium field-level seating experience at UNF Baseball’s Harmon Stadium.
• The completion of a major seven-figure renovation of UNF Arena, the facility’s first comprehensive upgrade in more than 30 years, including redesigned locker rooms for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball, an expanded athletic training room and a new video room.
Prior to his time at UNF, Lisiewski worked at Dayton from 2016-22, ultimately rising to Senior Associate Director of Development where he managed more than 200 major gift prospects with a primary focus on the Southeast, including Florida.
Before beginning his fundraising career, Lisiewski – a graduate of the University of Florida – was on the basketball staff at Maryland from 2006-11 as a Video Director and then at George Washington from 2011-16 as the Director of Operations.
