Northern California native Brandon Graves was tapped as USF’s Associate Athletic Director for Development in the summer of 2017. He now spearheads the San Francisco Dons Fund and leads overall development and fundraising strategy for the athletic department.
Since arriving in 2017, USF has completed the $300m
Change the World from Here campaign
, which was the largest fundraising campaign in the institution's history. The athletics share of that goal exceeded $35m. Notable projects completed as part of this comprehensive campaign include renovated state-of-the-art
locker rooms for the women’s and men’s basketball programs and the opening of a renovated War Memorial Gym at Sobrato Center featuring the
Sobrato Club. As of winter 2022, projects still under construction are The Silk Family USF Hall Of Fame, and
Malloy Pavilion. Both are scheduled for completion in 2023.
Graves arrived on the Hilltop after serving as a lead fundraiser for the University of Louisville athletics department over a six-year term which began in 2011.
In his role as Director of Development for the Cardinals, he supported all development efforts with a specific focus on athletics capital campaign projects including the $18.5 million Thorntons Academic Center for Excellence, $3 million baseball and softball stadium expansions, the new $19 million Lynn Soccer Stadium, and the ongoing $55 million expansion of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Through these projects, Graves secured major gifts totaling greater than $8 million. In addition, he worked to establish a full scholarship endowment for a student-athlete enrolled in the J.B. Speed School of Engineering.
Graves obtained his master’s degree in sport administration from Louisville in 2011 after earning a bachelor’s degree of sociology from Sonoma State in 2008. He was raised in Ukiah, Calif., and enjoys visiting with friends and family throughout Northern California. Brandon’s hobbies include spending time with his wife Annie, exercising, horse racing, and celebrating a Dons win!
