Phil Castleberry
Vice President for University Advancement
Phil Castleberry
Vice President for University Advancement
Bio
Mr. Phillip D. Castleberry, a 20-year veteran of higher education advancement and fundraising, became vice president of University Advancement for Rochester Institute of Technology in February 2020.
In this role, Mr. Castleberry oversees the largest fundraising effort in the university’s history—“Transforming RIT: The Campaign for Greatness”—and provides strategic vision and operational leadership for all aspects of the university’s development and alumni initiatives, including fundraising and cultivating constituency relations. He oversees a team of approximately 100 professionals focused not only on achieving, and exceeding, the ambitious goals of the $1 billion “Transforming RIT” campaign, but on cultivating a culture of philanthropy and engagement with RIT alumni and friends across the region, the nation, and the globe.
Before coming to RIT, Mr. Castleberry was vice president for institutional advancement at St. John Fisher College. In this role, he oversaw development, alumni and constituent engagement, corporate and foundation relations, government affairs, advancement services, stewardship, and events. Mr. Castleberry generated significant philanthropic giving at St. John Fisher and was the architect of “Fisher Forward,” the most ambitious comprehensive campaign in the college’s history with a fundraising goal of $75 million.
Prior to St. John Fisher, Mr. Castleberry spent seven years at the University of Rochester, serving most recently as associate vice president of university advancement. Before that, he held a variety of development and advancement roles of increasing responsibility with such institutions as Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Missouri—St. Louis, William Jewell College, and the University of Central Missouri.
In the News
-
May 2, 2024
The Mark and Maureen Davitt Endowed Scholarship established at RIT
RIT has announced the establishment of the Mark and Maureen Davitt Endowed Scholarship, which will provide financial support to RIT students pursuing studies in STEM disciplines—particularly those who graduated from private elementary schools in the city of Rochester, N.Y.
-
November 29, 2023
Transformative Campaign propels university to new heights
More than $200 million has been given to Transforming RIT to support scholarships and the student experience to ensure the best and brightest minds can attend RIT regardless of their financial circumstances. The campaign, launched publicly in 2018, is bringing RIT’s strategic plan to life by investing in student success, creating world-class facilities, advancing research and discovery, and innovating careers of the future.
-
October 16, 2023
Gala marks successful conclusion of Transforming RIT: The Campaign for Greatness
Nearly 300 people gathered on Friday evening at the beginning of Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend as RIT officials marked the successful conclusion of Transforming RIT: The Campaign for Greatness. RIT’s largest-ever fundraising campaign raised $1,059,581,463 to propel the university forward in its pursuits at the intersection of technology, the arts, and design.
-
January 27, 2020
His job is funding RIT’s future