We live in a culture that allows us to be accessible 24/7, requires us to multitask consistently and encourages us to work constantly. Being “on” all the time isn’t sustainable. Humans need, and deserve, rest.
Each year, The Colorado Health Foundation offers sabbaticals to nonprofit leaders who need some time away from their work. In addition to much-needed rest and rejuvenation, the nonprofit sector also is also strengthened.
Why Rest is Crucial
At The Colorado Health Foundation, we’re so lucky to partner with dedicated nonprofit executives making our state a healthier place. We see how much they care, how hard they work, and how many people depend on them. But we also see how nonprofit executives spend most of their time serving others, instead of taking care of themselves. That’s the road to burnout. Time away from work helps nonprofit leaders focus on themselves and prevent the bone-deep exhaustion that too much work for too long can cause.
The Nonprofit Executive Sabbatical Program provides nonprofit leaders with the opportunity to take break from work. Sabbatical recipients receive grants for sabbatical activities and a salary subsidy to give them months of freedom from work emails, no meetings and opportunities to consciously engage in joy.
How the Sabbatical Program Fortifies Nonprofits
The idea of leaving work behind for months in a row can be daunting. But the sabbatical program is more than just a break for executive directors. It also includes support and funding to develop the staff that sustain the organization during the sabbatical period. Applying for the Nonprofit Executive Sabbatical Program requires applicants to plan for their own absence. This planning includes support from their board of directors, an interim leadership plan and an organizational capacity building plan created alongside staff.
These plans allow staff to temporarily take on leadership duties and grow into their own power and skillsets. This career growth supports organizations by having more people with more skills and fortifies the entire nonprofit sector. Sabbatical periods can give nonprofit staff the skills needed to level up in their work toward health equity, even as they eventually move on to other roles at other organizations. The Nonprofit Executive Sabbatical Program not only encourages nonprofits statewide to spread out organizational knowledge and train up their teams, the program also provides up to $10,000 to support interim leadership needs and up to $15,000 to help strengthen staff capacity.
Eligibility and Application
Each sabbatical recipient must be a Colorado-based executive director, CEO or tribal administrator of a nonprofit organization working to bring health equity in reach for Coloradans. Successful applicants also have served at least three years in their current executive role, have at least seven years’ experience in nonprofit executive leadership and a demonstrated record of community contribution. View the full individual and organizational eligibility criteria on our Nonprofit Executive Sabbatical webpage.
Potential applicants can receive technical assistance on the application process by contacting Carolyn Love, PhD. Applications are due on December 16, 2024 by 11:59 p.m. Submit your application via our grantee portal.