Your Mission Matters.
We Make Sure It’s Funded.
Secure the resources you need to build stronger, more vibrant communities.
You’re Building a Better Future — We’re Here to Help You Get There.
Navigating funding for essential housing and clean energy projects shouldn’t feel overwhelming.
At Pikes Peak Capital, we make it easier by helping you identify your community’s needs, create a plan, and successfully carry it out.
Empowering Visionaries to Deliver Real Impact
At Pikes Peak Capital, we help housing and energy-focused nonprofits, tribal communities, community lenders, and local governments turn bold ideas into funded, successful projects. Since 2017, we’ve raised tens of millions of dollars in grants and managed over $100M in assets — unlocking capital that creates real-world change.
Our Mission
To empower communities by opening doors to capital, strategy, and financial expertise.
Why We Exist
- We simplify the complex
- We deliver real results
- We champion your vision like it’s our own
Our Experience
Our work is rooted in direct experience with the communities at the heart of our clients’ missions.
Our innovative solutions have helped low- and moderate-income households become homeowners and secured major investments for community-led projects across the U.S.
We also bring deep expertise in tax credit (ITC, NMTC, LIHTC) and debt structuring, and our in-house accounting team provides full-service financial support — from bookkeeping to compliance — using industry-standard platforms like NetSuite.
What We Do
We take a capacity-building approach – supporting your team today while equipping you to lead projects tomorrow.
Funding Strategy & Planning
Align your vision with a clear funding roadmap
Grant Writing & Management
Secure grants and stay compliant
Capital Structuring
Accounting & Compliance
Bookkeeping, asset management, fund tracking, and controllership
Project Execution
Real Results. Real Impact.
Expanding Homeownership Access
To date, our financing strategies have helped over 700 low- and moderate-income families become homeowners — 72% earning under $50K, with a median income of $36,900. We’ve broken down barriers like credit, savings, and down payments — and built wealth one family at a time.
Tribal Partnership, National Impact
In 2024, we helped a tribally owned Economic Development Corporation secure a federal grant to:
• Rehabilitate over 90 homes on tribal land.
• Expand their national down payment and lease purchase programs to support 800+ families purchasing homes.
We guided the grant writing, refined the program design, and manage full grant administration and compliance.
$100 Million Managed
Our team created and managed pooled investment funds and developed capital structure, including debt and equity. Additionally, we helped mission-driven organizations raise tens of millions of dollars in federal grants from multiple sources.
Capital Strategy for a California CDFI
We developed a climate lending program for a community development financial institution serving five counties in California, integrating:
• A 4.0x capital mobilization model.
• Tax Equity, ITC bonus adders, CRA bank capital.
• A grassroots engagement strategy tailored to rural, BIPOC communities.
Meet Your Funding Ally
Our Team
Experienced, mission-driven leaders transforming housing through smart, strategic investment.
Christianna Sayler
Managing Partner
Christianna Sayler is co-founder and Managing Partner at Pikes Peak Capital. She has over 15 years of experience in real estate and 10 years of experience in finance and executive management. Prior to Pikes Peak Capital, she originated over $500M of financing for solar energy projects and introduced financial markets to solar as an asset-class as Head of Finance of Denver-based SunShare. Christianna holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Colorado.
Karen Gados
Managing Partner
Karen Gados is co-founder and Managing Partner at Pikes Peak Capital. To date, Pikes Peak Capital funds have transacted on over $125M of assets and purchased over 700 properties in 36 states. Prior to Pikes Peak Capital, Karen was Chief of Staff, Director of Policy and Director of Business Development at Denver-based SunShare. She served as a US Peace Corps volunteer from 2008-2010. Karen holds an MBA from the University of Colorado and is on the Advisory Board of the National Diversity Coalition.
Marc Bencivenni
Managing Director
Marc Bencivenni is a finance and operations executive with deep experience in clean energy and real estate. As MD of Pikes Peak Capital, he developed underwriting guidelines, SOPs, and ERP systems to track impact and performance. He also serves as CFO at Wattmore, a Denver-based energy software firm focused on distributed energy resources. Previously, Marc was CFO/COO at Pivot Energy, where he led fund operations and institutional reporting. He holds an MBA in Real Estate Finance from the University of Denver and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania.