Amanda Nickeson is a nonprofit fundraising expert with a proven track record of securing major gifts and leading strategic development initiatives. She is the founder of The Nickeson Group, an independent fundraising consulting firm that partners with mission-driven organizations, including 5 Gyres, Spirit Series, Sea of Life Caribbean and others, to advance their philanthropic goals.
With over two decades of experience, Amanda has successfully cultivated multimillion-dollar gifts, developed high-impact fundraising strategies and built lasting donor relationships. Prior to launching her consulting practice, she served as Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, where she played a key role in expanding fundraising efforts and strengthening donor engagement. Before that, she spent 11 years at The Nature Conservancy, where her innovative approach to fundraising in resource-challenged regions gained national recognition and became a model for other programs.
Amanda began her career at WQED, Pittsburgh’s PBS station, where she earned a Mid-Atlantic Emmy nomination and cherished the opportunity to work alongside Mister Rogers. She holds a Master of Arts in Geography and Regional Planning and a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from California University of Pennsylvania. A Pittsburgh native with a deep love for the ocean, Amanda now calls Vero Beach home, where she enjoys life with her two dogs, Murphy and Sheldon.
LinkedIn: Amanda Nickeson