Catholic Social Services Alaska (CSS Alaska) partnered with Cornershop Creative to improve the performance and long-term impact of their Google Ad Grant. As a nonprofit providing essential services to individuals and families across Alaska—including emergency shelter, housing support, and family services—CSS Alaska needed a paid search strategy that increased visibility, stayed compliant with Google Grant requirements, and drove meaningful actions.
Cornershop began by auditing the existing Google Ads Grant account to understand performance gaps, compliance risks, and growth opportunities. We restructured campaigns to better align with CSS Alaska’s programs and how people search for help, refining keyword targeting and organizing ad groups around clear service themes. From the start, our approach emphasized sustainability: building campaigns designed to scale, adapt, and improve over time.
Early optimizations focused on improving relevance and engagement. We refined ad copy, tightened keyword groupings, and aligned ads more closely with landing page content to improve quality scores and click-through rates. We also ensured conversion tracking was set up to capture meaningful actions—such as form submissions and service inquiries—so performance could be measured beyond impressions and clicks.
The results showed strong early momentum. During the reporting period, CSS Alaska’s ads generated more than 1,500 impressions and 165 clicks, with an average click-through rate exceeding 10%, outperforming typical Google Ad Grant benchmarks. Several priority service campaigns achieved even higher engagement, including CTRs above 20%, demonstrating strong alignment between search intent and messaging.
In addition to quantitative gains, the project delivered important qualitative outcomes. CSS Alaska gained clearer insight into which services resonated most through search and how community members were seeking support online. With consistent reporting and ongoing optimization, the team now has confidence that their Google Ad Grant is being actively managed and strategically focused on mission-critical goals.
What sets this project apart is Cornershop’s long-term approach to Google Ad Grant management. Rather than chasing short-term metrics, we built a strong paid search foundation that balances compliance, performance, and growth. As campaigns continue to mature, CSS Alaska is positioned to increase conversions, expand reach, and maximize the full value of their Google Ad Grant—driving ongoing ROI for their mission.
See more of our work with Catholic Social Services of Alaska!
