Our School

The Colombe School of Systems Change is a design school dedicated to strengthening early-stage organizations that are working to transform their communities and systems. Many emerging nonprofits, social enterprises, and grassroots initiatives begin with deep passion and community trust, yet lack the leadership structures, governance systems, and ethical frameworks required for long-term sustainability. The Colombe School was created to fill this critical gap by equipping early-stage organizations with the architecture they need to grow with integrity and impact.

Who We Serve

The Colombe School supports early-stage organizations that are mission-rich but structure-poor, including:

• Youth-led and youth-serving organizations

• Early-stage nonprofits

• Social enterprises

• For profit tech companies

• Community collectives

• Grassroots movements

• Hybrid or experimental organizational forms

Our priority is organizations rooted in community, equity, and systems change.

School Identity

Named after a six-year-old whose imagination symbolizes the future, “Colombe” means dove—a symbol of peace, clarity, and new beginnings. The school embodies this spirit: a place where young organizations learn to fly with intention.

The Symbolism of “Colombe”

Colombe means dove — a symbol of peace, clarity, and new beginnings. It also carries the spirit of the founder’s daughter: curiosity, imagination, and the future.

This gives the school a narrative identity: A place where young organizations learn to fly with intention

Our Impact

The Colombe School of Systems Change is a design school that equips emerging organizations with the architecture required to drive systems-level transformation. We provide early-stage teams with governance models, ethical infrastructure, and systems-thinking tools that strengthen their capacity to create durable, community-rooted change.