Lauris has worked as an independent grant writer for small nonprofits in the Metro Richmond area since 1995. Her areas of expertise include starting or increaseing annual funds, formulating strategies for capital campaigns, developing case statements, assisting with board training and development, performing foundation and corporate research, writing grant proposals, assisting with budget development and teaching good stewardship of the relationship with funders. She holds a Masters in Public Policy Studies from Duke University and BA in Political Science and Third World Studies from Sewanee. She continues to be an active volunteer in the community and serves on several local nonprofit boards.