Dora Leong Gallo

Dora Leong Gallo has worked in the community development field for over 30 years. Since 2003, she has served as president and CEO of A Community of Friends (ACOF), a nonprofit affordable housing developer whose mission is end homelessness through the provision of quality permanent supportive housing for people with mental illness. In her role, Dora is responsible for execution of ACOF’s strategic priorities and is an advocate for increasing the supply of affordable homes for those most vulnerable.  Under her guidance, ACOF’s portfolio has grown 240 % and the organization currently operates 41 supportive housing communities throughout Los Angeles and Orange County, housing over 2,600 people. 

Prior to joining ACOF, Dora worked in local government for the City of Los Angeles and the Culver City Redevelopment Agency. She also served in various capacities on the staff of former Los Angeles City councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas (now a county supervisor), including chief of staff.  

Dora is currently on the board of trustees of Enterprise Community Partners and the National Low-Income Housing Coalition. In addition to serving on numerous policy working groups, she is a member of the Affordable Housing Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and the Supportive Housing Alliance, an advocacy group of supportive housing developers in Los Angeles County.  

Dora received a master’s degree in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.