WHO WE HELP
Where Are You Trying to Make Progress?
Whether you're leading a nonprofit or building a business, the right guidance can make a big difference in what happens next.
For Nonprofit Leaders
Whether you're just getting started or looking to grow your impact, we're here to help. From finding grant funding to strengthening your board and organizational strategy, we'll help you figure out the next steps.
For Small Business Owners
Are you pursuing new opportunities or looking to strengthen your business? We've got you covered! From grants and business certifications to building a stronger workplace culture, we'll help you move forward with confidence.
Nonprofit Services
From grant funding and strategic planning to board development and community engagement, CCS helps nonprofits build stronger organizations and make a lasting impact.
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Finding a grant is only the beginning. Successful grant funding requires a strong organization, a compelling case for support, and the systems to manage funding responsibly once it arrives.
Conscious Community Strategies provides comprehensive grant support designed to help nonprofits become more competitive and sustainable. Whether you're preparing to pursue your first grant or strengthening an established funding strategy, we help you move beyond simply submitting applications toward building long-term grant readiness.
Services may include: grant readiness assessments, funding research, grant strategy, letters of inquiry, proposal development and writing, budgets and supporting materials, application review, and post-award planning.
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A strategic plan shouldn't be a document that gets approved by the board and forgotten in a folder. It should help your organization make better decisions.
CCS facilitates practical, collaborative strategic planning that helps nonprofits clarify where they're going, determine what matters most, and identify what they're willing to say no to. We work with leadership, boards, and stakeholders to turn big-picture goals into realistic priorities and measurable action.
The result is a strategic plan your organization can actually use to guide decisions, allocate resources, measure progress, and communicate its direction.
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Healthy nonprofits require more than a strong mission. They need effective leadership, engaged boards, clear roles, sustainable systems, and an organizational culture capable of supporting the work.
CCS helps organizations identify what's working, uncover gaps, and determine where greater clarity or capacity is needed. Organizational assessments can examine areas such as governance, leadership, fundraising, programs, communications, operations, and organizational sustainability.
Our customized board trainings and retreats help board members better understand their responsibilities while strengthening governance, engagement, fundraising participation, strategic thinking, and the relationship between the board and staff.
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Your social media should do more than announce events and ask for donations.
CCS helps nonprofits use social media strategically to educate their communities, demonstrate impact, build relationships, recruit supporters, strengthen donor engagement, and tell the story behind their mission.
Services can include social media assessments, content strategy, messaging development, content calendars, campaign planning, audience engagement strategies, and training for nonprofit staff.
The goal isn't simply more posts. It's more intentional communication.
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Meaningful conversations can challenge assumptions, inspire action, and change the way organizations think about leadership and community.
Lauren Riepl brings nearly two decades of nonprofit experience, entrepreneurship, community engagement, and a background as a women's historian to keynotes, conference sessions, panels, workshops, and facilitated conversations.
Speaking topics can be customized for nonprofits, businesses, conferences, and community organizations, with areas of focus including nonprofit sustainability, fundraising, community-centered leadership, women's leadership and history, organizational culture, community engagement, and the changing landscape of philanthropy.
Small Business Services
From grant funding and strategic planning to board development and community engagement, CCS helps nonprofits build stronger organizations and make a lasting impact.
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Certification can open doors to contracting opportunities, supplier diversity programs, corporate partnerships, and other resources—but determining which certifications you qualify for and navigating the application process can be overwhelming.
CCS helps small business owners understand and prepare for women-owned, minority-owned, and disability-owned business certification opportunities.
Support may include eligibility and readiness assessments, certification research, documentation checklists, application preparation, narrative development, application review, and guidance throughout the submission process.
Our goal is to make certification more understandable, organized, and accessible so business owners can focus on the opportunities certification is intended to create.
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Grants aren't only for nonprofits—but finding legitimate, relevant opportunities for small businesses requires strategy.
CCS helps entrepreneurs identify potential grant opportunities, determine whether they are competitive candidates, and develop strong applications that clearly communicate their business, community impact, and plans for growth.
Services may include grant research, readiness assessments, application strategy, narrative development, proposal writing, supporting documentation, and application review.
We focus on pursuing opportunities that genuinely align with your business rather than chasing every grant that appears in your inbox.
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Culture isn't something an organization writes on its website. It's something employees, customers, and communities experience.
Strategic Culture Coaching helps small businesses intentionally examine how their values show up in leadership, communication, policies, workplace practices, accessibility, and relationships with employees and customers.
Through assessments, facilitated conversations, coaching, and practical strategy development, CCS helps businesses identify cultural gaps and translate their values into meaningful organizational practices.
WHY WORK WITH CCS?
Experience That Understands Both Sides of the Work.
Big ideas come with real challenges, and having someone in your corner who understands those challenges makes a difference.
With nearly two decades of nonprofit experience, including time working on the funder's side, Lauren Riepl brings a unique perspective to grant strategy, organizational development, and business consulting.
She understands what funders look for, what organizations need to succeed, and how to turn big-picture goals into practical next steps.
At Conscious Community Strategies, you'll find a collaborative partner who believes access to the right knowledge, resources, and guidance can open doors to greater opportunities.