Joe Hornstein joined Goodwill Industries of South Florida, Inc., in 2023 as its Vice President for Philanthropy tasked to launch the iconic nonprofits first-ever office for development in its 65-year local history.

He had previously represented Florida International University and the FIU Foundation since 2013, ascending to the role of Senior Executive Director for Principal Giving, Capital Projects and Corporate Relations. Additionally, his more than 10 years with the FIU Foundation also saw him overseeing fundraising for the university’s College for Public Health & Social Work, FIU Global, StartUP FIU, FIU in DC, the Jorge Perez Metropolitan Center and FIU’s Small Business Development Center.

A familiar face on campus and in the community, Hornstein was honored by the University on numerous occasions, including the Foundation’s Fundraiser of the Year in 2015-16 and 2017-18, its Leadership Award in 2016-17 and Top New Fundraiser (in his first full fiscal year) in 2014-15.

Born and raised in Miami, the lifelong Floridian began his professional career devoting more than 20 years within intercollegiate athletics directing media relations, communications, and marketing at many of the state’s top programs, including the historic Orange Bowl Committee, University of Miami, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of South Florida and Florida International University. He initially came to FIU 2012 to oversee the Panthers’ athletics media relations office.

Hornstein graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from USF, where he also worked as a sports information assistant beginning in 1991. He went on to serve three seasons as a graduate assistant at FSU, working with the sports information office, football program and legendary head coach Bobby Bowden.

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Extended Biographical Information

Prior to his move to fundraising in 2013, Hornstein was President for the College Sports Information Directors of America association during the 2012-13 academic year. [The organization, founded in 1957, rebranded to College Sports Communicators (CSC) in 2022.]

Hornstein had been a long-time and active member of CSC, culminating in his presidency of then-3,000-member organization consisting of intercollegiate athletics communications professionals across the U.S. and Canada. He had served on the CSC Board of Directors since 2009, after years volunteering at the committee level. During his year of presidency, CSC would make one of its boldest moves in its entire history, joining the ranks of many other collegiate support organizations holding its conference at the annual NACDA Convention. Along with his leadership role in CSC, Hornstein was an Ex-Officio member of the acclaimed Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Board of Directors from 2007 to 2013 before leaving the sports information profession.

A native of North Miami Beach and Pembroke Pines, Hornstein returned to the Greater Miami community where he previous had successive media relations positions at the University of Miami (1998-2002) and Orange Bowl Committee (2002-2006).

First as an Assistant Director of Athletics, then Associate Director, Hornstein spent 2006-12 in Orlando with UCF Athletics. He oversaw the redevelopment of athletics communications and marketing and promotions, as well as directing the efforts in other external offices such as social media, community and public affairs, special events and projects and licensing. He also served as supervising administrator for video services, spirit program and the Marching Knights.

In 2009, he was tapped to lead the program with its philanthropic presence in the Central Florida community, building new relationships, contacts and outreach opportunities for the program’s student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and staff. Growth in athletic event attendance, group ticket sales and speaking engagements were soon realized through active participation in community organizations. Aside from working with several regional chambers of commerce, Hornstein focused much of his active volunteerism with Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Oviedo and the Central Florida Krewe of Leaders.

Prior to joining UCF, Hornstein worked four years with the Orange Bowl Committee (OBC), lastly as the organization’s Vice President for Communications. His primary role was the management of the media operations for the former FedEx Orange Bowl (now Capitol One Orange Bowl) and week-long Festival, fostering the OBC’s media relationships on a national level and within the Atlantic Coast Conference and former Big East Conference.

Before the OBC, Hornstein worked five years as an Assistant Sports Information Director for the University of Miami, working with the Hurricanes’ championship football and baseball programs. As part of the UM football media relations arm, he gained valuable experience working on five bowl-winning teams, including the program’s highly publicized 2001 National Championship season. Most notably during his tenure was coordinating publicity and award campaigns for nearly 20 eventual NFL first-round draft picks.

Hornstein first returned to Miami in 1998 after spending three seasons as a graduate assistant for the Florida State University Sports Information Office. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from the University of South Florida, where he also worked as a sports information assistant beginning in 1991.