Akiva School and Kehilla Upper School are thrilled to welcome Jillian Neal as the new director of development for both schools.
With extensive experience in nonprofit development, and a commitment to relationship building, Neal brings a wealth of experience and passion to this role. As our Jewish educational institutions continue to grow and develop, Neal will help strengthen the resources, relationships, and community support that will shape the future of our schools.
Akiva Head of School, Rabba Daniella Pressner, shared her enthusiasm for Neal’s appointment and the impact she will have on the future of both schools. “It is truly a joy to welcome Jillian to the Akiva and Kehillah Upper School community. Her high-level of expertise, deep sense of team, and commitment to supporting the future of Jewish education in Nashville is truly inspiring and we are so fortunate to have someone of her caliber working for the future of our schools.”
Neal has called Nashville home for 16 years and has spent all of her professional career working in the nonprofit sector. Fourteen of these years have been dedicated to development, including over a decade of working specifically in educational development.
“Education has always been a passion of mine,” Neal shared. “I am excited for the opportunity to support these amazing schools and their development efforts.”
Neal was drawn to Akiva and Kehilla’s heart. “There is so much to celebrate, from academic excellence and individualized learning to Jewish identity, community, and the relationships students build with their teachers and one another.”
For Neal, development is more than just fundraising. It is about helping people connect with the schools’ missions and inviting them to become part of something meaningful.
"Philanthropy is an expression of what we value and what we want to see in the world,” Neal said “A successful development program isn’t just about asking people for money. It’s about inviting people to be part of something they believe in, sharing the impact of their generosity, and building a community of people who feel connected to the mission.”
As the director of development for both Akiva and Kehilla, Neal is looking forward to the opportunity to support a K-12 Jewish educational journey in Nashville. Her vision for the future begins with listening.
“My first goal is to get to know our families, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and the broader Nashville Jewish community and understand what they value most about these schools,” Neal said.
Neal also sees tremendous opportunity for the broader Nashville Jewish community to become more connected to the mission of both schools.
“The success of Jewish education benefits the entire Nashville Jewish community,” she said. “Even if someone doesn’t have a child enrolled at Akiva or Kehilla, they can have a stake in ensuring that Nashville has strong Jewish educational institutions for generations to come.”
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For anyone considering becoming more involved with Jewish education in Nashville, Neal has a simple invitation, “Come see what is happening at Akiva and Kehilla. Meet our students and teachers, walk through the halls, and experience the energy and sense of community for yourself. You’ll quickly see that supporting Jewish education isn’t simply an investment in a school. It’s an investment in students, families, and the future of Jewish life in Nashville.”
If you are interested in connecting with Jillian, you can reach out to her at jneal@kehillaupperschool.org or jneal@akivanashville.net.