The Support Finder is the single entry point to the Climate Commons network. Organizations begin with a short application describing the context of their challenge, context.

Responses are reviewed on a rolling basis, and each organization receives a clear recommendation—whether that’s the Design Studio, targeted Expert Support, or a pause until timing is right.

If the Design Studio is recommended, we schedule a 30-minute Alignment Call to confirm shared expectations, decision authority, and readiness. If Expert Support is recommended, we match the organization with the right expert(s) and outline scope, timing, and next steps.

There are no fixed start dates or cohorts. Design Studio engagements are milestone-based and typically unfold over 6–8 months or longer, depending on complexity. Expert Support is more targeted and time-bound, designed to address specific needs efficiently.

We believe better solutions and stronger communities emerge when people with diverse roles, perspectives, and experiences work through challenges together.

The Design Studio is open to individuals and organizations whose work is climate-aligned and who are navigating a real, complex challenge.

Eligible Design Partners include:

• Individuals working independently or within climate-aligned organizations

• Nonprofits, public-sector teams, and mission-driven companies

• Anyone facing a live challenge that requires sustained attention, decision-making, and follow-through

• Participants who can commit to weekly participation and real-world testing

Organizational size or formal role matters less than readiness and agency. Through the Support Finder and Alignment Call, we confirm whether the Design Studio is the right environment for your challenge—or whether targeted Expert Support or a pause would be more effective.

The Design Studio is a structured process for complex challenges—designed to move at the pace required to get it right.

There is no fixed cohort schedule for the Design Studio.

Each Design Partner moves through the process at their own pace, based on:

• The complexity of their challenge

• Internal decision-making readiness

• Capacity to test and embed change

While the core design work is often concentrated in focused phases, most engagements unfold over 6–8 months—and sometimes longer. This is intentional.

We don’t rush decisions that need to hold under real-world conditions.

You decide when to move forward, step back, or complete your time with the studio.

3-month minimum commitment.

That’s expected—and often a sign of progress.

As work unfolds, many organizations realize the original challenge wasn’t the real one. New information, constraints, or opportunities can (and often do) shift the focus.

When that happens, we pause, reassess, and adjust the path forward—whether that means refining the challenge, shifting Phases, or changing the type of support.

The process is designed to adapt to reality, not lock you into an outdated problem statement.

That’s common—and expected.

Most organizations arrive with multiple, interconnected challenges. Part of the work is determining which challenge to address first and which to intentionally set aside.

Through the application and early conversations, we help prioritize what will unlock the most progress now. Additional challenges aren’t ignored—they’re sequenced. Once one path is clarified and embedded, others can be taken up through the Design Studio, targeted Expert Support, or both.

Trying to solve everything at once usually slows progress. Focus creates momentum.

Item descriptionThat’s very common—and it’s exactly where the work often begins.

Start with the Support Finder, which helps orient us to your situation, even if your challenge isn’t fully defined. Many organizations come in with symptoms, tensions, or a sense that something isn’t working—and that’s enough to begin.

If the Support Finder indicates a good fit, we’ll talk it through during a 30-minute Alignment Call, where we help surface the underlying challenge and determine the right type of support. If defining the challenge requires deeper alignment or systems-level work, we’ll recommend the Design Studio. If it can be addressed through targeted Expert Support, we’ll guide you there instead.

Uncertainty isn’t a barrier—it’s useful information.

That’s completely fine.

If you’re looking for targeted expertise rather than a full design process, the Support Finder will help us understand that. Many challenges are best addressed through focused expert support—such as technical guidance, strategy reviews, or short-term problem solving—without entering the Design Studio.

After reviewing your Support Finder responses, we’ll confirm whether our Expert Support is the right fit and match you with the appropriate expert(s).

If we believe your challenge requires deeper alignment or systems-level work to be effective, we’ll explain why and discuss next steps before moving forward.

It depends on your membership tier:

Commons ($750/month):

• Slack community for questions and wins between sessions

• Peer connections and pattern sharing

Commons+ ($1,500/month):

• Everything in Commons

• Bi-weekly 1:1 coaching sessions (45 minutes)

• Direct facilitator access between sessions

• Priority support for stuck points

Commons Pro ($2,500/month):

• Everything in Commons+

• Weekly 1:1 sessions

• Expert sprints included (up to 10 hours/quarter)

• Private leadership team channel

• Custom facilitation for specific blocks

Between sessions, all members work on their weekly focus with their teams. The Slack community stays active for real-time problem-solving, but this isn't 24/7 consulting. The structure creates momentum—the community maintains it.

Need something specific outside the studio? Our expert network is available for technical projects at $150-250/hour.

Traditional consulting typically delivers recommendations, frameworks, or solutions for an organization to implement. Climate Commons is designed to help organizations make better decisions together—and embed them into how they operate.

You know your work better than anyone else. Our role is not to override that expertise, but to create the conditions where your team feels empowered to make clear, aligned decisions—and follow through on them.

Rather than prescribing answers, we facilitate a structured design process that combines peer learning, targeted expert input, and real-world testing. The work unfolds alongside your team, not outside of it, and progress is measured by what changes in practice—not what’s delivered in a deck.

Experts are brought in when specific knowledge is needed, but ownership of decisions and outcomes stays with the organization.

An estimated 4-5 hours per week: 90-minute Thursday Design Studio, plus time to work on your challenge between sessions.

Weekly participation is important for this work to succeed.

The Design Studio relies on continuity, shared context, and real-time collaboration. Consistent weekly engagement is what allows Design Partners to build momentum, make decisions together, and follow through between sessions.

That said, we understand that schedules fluctuate. Teams often designate a primary representative to attend weekly sessions, with others joining as needed. Occasional conflicts are manageable—but if weekly participation isn’t feasible, the Design Studio may not be the right fit at this time.

We’ll talk this through during the Alignment Call to ensure expectations are clear before moving forward.

No. The Design Studio is not a cohort-based program.

There are no fixed start dates, shared timelines, or group progression requirements. Each Design Partner moves through the process at their own pace, based on readiness and the complexity of their challenge.

While Design Partners may engage with peers at different points in the process, progress is milestone-based—not calendar-based—and designed to support real-world decision-making, not program completion.

Everyone—Design Partners and organizations seeking Expert Support—is invited to stay engaged with the Climate Commons network through ongoing access to our Slack community, beyond their participation in the Studio. This community exists to support continued learning, collaboration, and shared problem-solving, not to move participants through a set program.

Yes—with intention.

Many organizations designate one primary representative to participate in the Design Studio, with additional team members joining selectively when their input or authority is needed.

The key requirement is that the person participating weekly has enough context and agency to make decisions, test ideas in the real world, and carry learning back into the organization. If that’s not the case, we’ll talk through the right level of participation during the Support Finder and Alignment Call.

The Studio works best when attendance is consistent and ownership is clear.

Each Design Partner typically designates 1–2 core participants who attend weekly sessions and carry continuity throughout the process.

Additional team members may join selectively for specific sessions or phases—especially when their input or decision authority is needed—but the work is most effective when a small, consistent group stays engaged week to week.

We’ll confirm roles and participation expectations during the Alignment Call to ensure the right people are involved at the right times.

We intentionally cap the Design Studio at no more than 8 Design Partner Organizations at any given time.

This allows for meaningful peer interaction, trust-building, and focused facilitation—without diluting attention or slowing progress.

Within the Studio, you’ll work closely with:

• Your internal team

• A dedicated facilitator

• A small group (8-12) of peer Design Partners working on related challenges

For Expert Support, you’ll work directly with the specific expert or experts matched to your needs, with coordination support from the Climate Commons team.

Across all membership types, you’ll also have access to the broader Climate Commons network through our Slack community, where engagement is optional and value-driven.

If space is available, most organizations begin within a few weeks of completing the Support Finder and Alignment Call.

The exact timing depends on readiness—such as decision authority, internal alignment, and capacity for weekly participation. There are no fixed start dates or cohorts; once fit is confirmed, we onboard and begin as soon as both sides are aligned.

If more preparation is needed before starting, we’ll name that upfront and agree on next steps.

Payment is due after the Alignment Call, once scope, expectations, and fit are confirmed.

We don’t ask for payment before there’s shared clarity. After the Alignment Call, we outline the recommended support, timeline, and cost, and payment is due prior to onboarding and the start of work.

Payment is due after the Alignment Call, once scope, expectations, and fit are confirmed.

We don’t ask for payment before there’s shared clarity. After the Alignment Call, we outline the recommended support, timeline, and cost. Payment is due prior to onboarding and the start of work.

Payments are automatically processed on a recurring monthly basis and continue until you cancel, with a three-month minimum commitment. Specific payment terms vary depending on whether you’re engaging in the Design Studio or targeted Expert Support, and will be confirmed in writing before moving forward.

There is a three month minimum commitment. If after that time you decide this isn’t for you, you can cancel your subscription at any time.

Weekly estimated commitment: 4-5 hours

• 90 minutes for Thursday Design Studio (required)

• 2-3 hours working on your challenge

• 30 minutes for Slack/peer engagement

If you can't commit 4-5 hours per week, please wait until you can. The process only works when we all show up for each other each week.

Consider our Expert Support instead if you need project help without weekly commitment.

Yes. You can move between membership tiers as your needs change.

Upgrades—from Commons to Commons+, or from Commons+ to Commons Pro—can be made at any time and take effect at the start of the next billing cycle.

Downgrades are also possible and take effect at the end of the current billing period, provided any minimum commitment has been met. We’ll confirm timing and billing details before changes are applied.

If you’re unsure which tier is the right fit, we’ll help you decide during an Alignment Call.