LEORA CONWAY

PR & BUSINESS CONSULTING | IMAGE MANAGEMENT

Leora Conway boasts a distinguished career spanning over two decades, marked by her profound expertise in marketing, finance, and public relations, strategically applied across both nonprofit and commercial sectors. Her current role as Senior Director of Development at Union League Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago exemplifies her dynamic leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing youth opportunity and community impact.

At Union League Boys & Girls Clubs, Leora leads the organization’s comprehensive resource development and communications strategy. She oversees all areas of fundraising, including individual and major giving, corporate and foundation relations, and planned giving, along with marketing, public relations, and media outreach. Her work fuels programs that serve more than 15,000 youth annually across Chicago’s South and West Sides. Beyond driving revenue growth, she focuses on deepening donor relationships, strengthening institutional partnerships, and positioning the organization for long-term sustainability in a rapidly changing funding environment. Her leadership combines analytical rigor with creative storytelling, ensuring that every initiative reflects both strategic insight and genuine human connection.

Before joining Union League Boys & Girls Clubs, Leora served as Director of Business for The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Centers and Family Stores throughout Chicagoland. In that capacity, she oversaw marketing, technology, finance, human resources, and real estate across more than 20 locations. She was instrumental in aligning operational strategy with mission, driving profitability while enhancing brand trust and visibility. Her role extended beyond business operations into public relations, crisis communication, and the stewardship of community relationships that supported the organization’s social enterprise model.

Earlier, as Development Director for The Salvation Army, Leora led major giving and corporate engagement efforts that strengthened donor pipelines and expanded the organization’s philanthropic reach. Her expertise in media and public affairs shaped The Salvation Army’s image across Northern Illinois and Northwestern Indiana, and she served as Public Information Officer, representing the organization during critical moments of public communication and emergency response.

In her earlier career, Leora served as Events Chair on the Executive Board of The Publicity Club of Chicago, where she oversaw year-round programs that educated, inspired, and connected communications professionals across the region. She also served on the Board of Directors and as PR and Communications Chair for Peña Madridista, the largest Real Madrid Club de Fútbol supporters organization outside of Spain. In that role, she collaborated with the club on its U.S. preseason tours and international communications initiatives, helping to elevate fan engagement and strengthen global community ties.

A native of New York City, Leora’s career began in the heart of Manhattan, where she led marketing, business development, and sales initiatives for a major real estate development conglomerate at Rockefeller Center. Through her firm, L Conway Projects & Consulting, she advised on branding, communications, and business strategy for both corporate and nonprofit clients, cultivating a reputation for precision, creativity, and results.

Leora holds a Bachelor of Science in Business, Management, and Finance from Brooklyn College and a Master of Science in International Marketing Management from Boston University.

Her illustrious career is a testament to her entrepreneurial spirit, visionary leadership, and steadfast belief in the power of purpose-driven work. Whether leading complex operations, cultivating philanthropic partnerships, or mentoring the next generation of leaders, Leora brings a unique blend of strategic insight and heartfelt passion that leaves a lasting impact across every sector she touches.