This study aims to develop a list of technological enhancements to a financial aid analytics application (F3A) designed to assist higher education leaders in gaining actionable insights for decision-making with grants optimization. This research utilizes the Design Science Research framework which highlights the design and evaluation of an IT artifact. A focus group of eight participants, mostly leadership at the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, gathered to view a demonstration of the software application and provide feedback. The study yielded a framework for designing, developing, and enhancing a financial aid optimization application. The analysis of the focus group feedback revealed areas for developers to consider when creating tools, like the F3A, which could progressively be used by higher education administrators in the financial aid sector. The key findings include; a simple and more intuitive user interface, customization of the tool's functionality based on the student population, the ability for the user to select student profiles, and a system with the underlying capability for obtaining new, or refreshing, data.