Lisa Graves is an American investigative journalist, researcher, and nonprofit executive renowned for her exposés on dark money, corporate influence, and conservative funding networks in U.S. politics. She currently serves as the executive director of True North Research, a nonprofit focused on investigating networks of influence, and is the co-founder and editor of Documented, an online news platform dedicated to tracking political spending and donor networks. Graves has a history of adversarial investigations, including scrutiny of organizations like Donors Trust for facilitating anonymous donations to right-wing causes. Her work emphasizes transparency in political financing and has been featured in major outlets, contributing to public understanding of influence peddling in democracy.

Prior to her roles in the nonprofit sector, Graves had a distinguished career in public service. She worked as a career attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, where she served as Special Assistant to the Deputy Attorney General during the Clinton administration, focusing on civil rights and justice issues. From 2011 to 2017, she was the executive director of the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), a progressive watchdog group based in Madison, Wisconsin, leading high-profile investigations into ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) and other entities promoting corporate agendas. Graves is also an adjunct professor and has contributed to academic and policy discussions on media and democracy.

Graves holds a law degree and is recognized for her expertise in legal and investigative research. Her career bridges government, media, and advocacy, often highlighting ethical concerns in political funding. She has faced criticism from conservative groups for her targeted reporting but remains a key figure in progressive journalism.