Nest (Nonprofit) – Nicol La Cumbre-Gibbs – 2025
Summary
From research to action: Nicol La Cumbre-Gibbs developed the maker-focused Climate Academy practical e-learning equipping makers and small businesses to assess risks, bolster preparedness, navigate recovery, and persist amid climate change.
Goals
Nest is a global nonprofit dedicated to supporting artisan businesses and craft-based social enterprises. In partnership with Etsy, a global handcraft marketplace, we sought to create an e-learning series, the Climate Academy, dedicated to bridging the information and resource gap for creative entrepreneurs and small business owners. Nicol, an experienced educator with expertise in climate studies, was tasked with transforming our research into digestible content to educate artisans on disaster preparedness/recovery and sustainability practices.
Solutions
Nicol built the Academy through a clear three-step process. First, she synthesized peer-reviewed research on climate impacts to small businesses with insights from Nest Guild members and Etsy sellers to pinpoint makers’ top concerns. Next, she organized the findings into three learning tracks: Climate Risk Assessment & Disaster Preparedness; Navigating Disaster Recovery; Sustainable Business & Climate Leadership. Finally, she developed nine beginner-level lesson scripts and aligned them to Nest’s learning framework, pairing each with curated, vetted resources and tools to support application. The result: three introductory courses that give artisans a strong foundation to assess risks, prepare, and recover from climate disruptions.
Potential Impact
The Maker Climate Academy will launch on Nest’s online learning platform in January 2026 with three courses, followed by six more that build in complexity to meet makers at different points in their resilience journey. Available to 2,000+ Nest Guild members and additional Etsy sellers, the Academy will enable thousands of artisans to assess risks, strengthen preparedness, and recover more effectively. It expands Nest’s climate portfolio and further positions the organization as a leader in maker-focused sustainability and disaster resilience.
