| Lisa Keenan
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
A dynamic executive leader and grants strategist, Lisa Keenan has spent the past two decades developing and leading health care programming, philanthropic initiatives, and fundraising strategies for nonprofits and public institutions. To date, she has secured $16.5 million in grant dollars for healthcare and health policy organizations, while also chairing an additional $500k in grantmaking initiatives.
Today, through the Keenan Strategic Development Group, Lisa helps organizations establish and grow thriving grant programs to raise more money, fill critical funding gaps, and expand priority programming.
Her specialties include:
Building grant programs from scratch for nonprofits, higher education, health systems, and other healthcare organizations.
Developing compelling proposals for private foundations, corporate grantmakers, and state funding opportunities.
Identifying, vetting, and stewarding major grant awards, transforming one-time funding into reliable revenue.
Developing data-driven analyses for impact reporting, internal efficiency, and strategic decision-making.
A natural collaborator and consummate relationship builder, Lisa thrives on connecting people and organizations to drive shared impact. This includes seeding funding relationships, sharing fundraising connections and opportunities, and empowering organizations with the tools to tapinto new and much-needed grant revenue streams.
Focused on Colorado, while also working with clients nationwide, Lisa’s approach is rooted in trust, open dialogue, and the ability to build durable partnerships across sectors.
| Notable Achievements
Colorado Governors Fellowship (Class of 2025)
CiviCO brings together Colorado’s top leaders across all sectors and industries in a non-partisan environment, rich of empowerment.
Colorado Springs Leadership Institute (Class of 2025)
CSLI is a network of more than 400 members who are key influencers and decision makers in our community. Each spring, 16 leaders from a variety of industries and experiences across the community participate in an immersive, week-long program where they network, share ideas, problem-solve and form collaborative relationships.
5 Years at UCHealth Overseeing Regional and State-Wide Grants Offices (2020 - 2025)
Grant Professional Certification (2024)
The Grant Professionals Certification Institute® (GPCI) administers the nationally recognized Grant Professional Certified® (GPC) credential to grant professionals who meet eligibility requirements and successfully demonstrate proficiency in the required competencies. The GPC certification is based on rigorous standards and ongoing research to meet real-world demands of grant professionals.
Mayor’s Fellowship - City of Colorado Springs (2021)
The mission of the Mayor's Fellowship is to develop a cadre of civic leaders in every major industry across the City who are connected to local decision-makers and to each other.
Program Officer For An International Granting Organization (2016 - 2018)
Master of Social Work from Boston College
Strategic Grantmaking, Not Just Grant Writing
At the core of our approach is a deep understanding that funding should follow vision—not the other way around. Our founder brings years of experience not only securing millions in grant funding, but doing so through strategic alignment, program design, and long-term planning.
As grant strategists, we work hand-in-hand with mission-driven organizations to identify the right opportunities; those that align with your values, capacity, and goals. Rather than chasing every RFP, we help you design fundable programs, build partnerships, and develop narratives that resonate with funders while staying true to your community’s needs.
Our work isn’t about just checking boxes - it’s about building a future fueled by vision, equity, and strategic alignment.
