Lisa Jacobson

From her childhood days of riding the commuter rail from the suburbs into Boston to see the city, Lisa Jacobson has always been fascinated and passionate about people, places, stories, and how things work.

Lisa started at Barr in 2016 as a Program Officer, where she focused on supporting the day-to-day grantmaking for the Mobility team. She now leads the Mobility strategy on the Climate team and collaborates on projects and grantmaking that support people accessing what they need in low-carbon ways. In her work, she is inspired to center racial equity, reduce greenhouse emissions, and work in partnership with grantees.

Prior to coming to Barr, Lisa was a senior associate at NelsonNygaard, a transportation planning firm dedicated to promoting vibrant, sustainable, and accessible communities. She worked closely with policymakers, municipal staff, and community members to provide resources to support more transportation options for people, both in Greater Boston and around the country. She has also spent time at Smart Growth America’s National Complete Streets Coalition and the Land Trust Alliance. Lisa currently serves on the boards of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway and The Funders Network (TFN). She is a TFN PLACES Fellow alum.

Lisa holds a master’s degree in city planning from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from The George Washington University. She is an East Boston resident, where she spends her time chasing her twins, refueling with good coffee, and scheming and dreaming with her husband.