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Lea Jesse
Executive Director
Cubs Charities · Chicago, IL
Lea Jesse has been named Executive Director of Cubs Charities. In this role, she will lead the organization in advancing its mission to harness the power of sports to drive equity and opportunity throughout Chicago communities.
As Executive Director, she will continue driving Cubs Charities initiatives such as the Cubs Scholars program, Cubs Nike RBI baseball and softball programming and investing in safe places to play, ensuring Chicago’s communities thrive for generations to come.
Jesse, who brings a passion for sports-based youth development to this position, comes to Cubs Charities from First Tee – Greater Chicago, where as CEO she revitalized the organization, spearheaded a $2.2 million capital campaign to build its first-ever youth golf facility and helped expand programming to reach over 10,000 youth annually.
Throughout her career, she has demonstrated her commitment to fostering equity and opportunity. Prior to leading First Tee, she held key leadership positions at the Big Shoulders Fund and J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where she leveraged her expertise to enhance educational opportunities, build sustainable programs and drive impactful philanthropic initiatives.
Cubs Charities is a nonprofit that mobilizes the power of sport to champion youth, families and communities. Cubs Charities’ work is focused on sports-based youth development and academic programming, investments in safe places to play and strategic grantmaking. Since 2009, Cubs Charities has invested more than $51 million in people, places and programs across Chicago. Cubs Charities is a leader among professional sports teams in its creation, execution and delivery of quality, sports-based youth development programming. Today, Cubs Charities’ portfolio includes programs that provide children and youth with skilled coaches, quality programming and safe and accessible places to play the game.