Chief of Institutional Advancement Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services | Boca Raton, Florida Ruth and Norman Rales Jewish Family Services (Rales JFS) has appointed Amanda Nickeson as chief of institutional advancement. This new position will lead the development and implementation of a strategic, comprehensive, best-practice fundraising program to support the future direction and impact of Rales JFS in the community.Building upon the success of the agency’s fundraising efforts to date, Nickeson will set the overarching vision and develop the supporting infrastructure, policies, and practices to expand, integrate, and elevate activity across major and annual gifts, events, planned giving, and corporate and foundation giving. Reporting directly to the CEO, she will play an integral role in advancing Rales JFS’ strategic plan as a member of the senior leadership team.Nickeson comes to Rales JFS with over 20+ years of development experience in management and major gifts for non-profit organizations. Prior to Rales JFS, Nickeson was the assistant vice president for institutional advancement for the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). In addition to her position supporting Harbor Branch, Nickeson also served as a member of the FAU Institutional Advancement leadership team, providing direction to shape the fundraising goals, marketing plans, policies, and protocols for the University. Nickeson spent 11 years at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) prior to FAU. Her efforts to build a new model for fundraising in an under-resourced region gained organization-wide attention and still serves as an example for programs facing similar challenges. During her time at TNC, Nickeson fostered the “One Conservancy” spirit by cultivating major gifts for programs across TNC—from the Caribbean to Africa and beyond. Nickeson’s experience in raising leadership gifts and commitments, coupled with her ability to use data to drive success, is a welcome addition to the Rales JFS team.Nickeson holds a bachelor’s degree in comprehensive special education and a master’s degree in geography and regional planning from California University of Pennsylvania.Rachel Ellenport led this search with Bryce Ervin and Lisa Clayton.