Since 2016, The Healing Trust has funded sabbaticals for nonprofit CEO/EDs based on the belief that the healing and wholeness of the people who provide services matters just as much as the clients they serve. We want to exist in a world where all people live with their needs compassionately met. From this place of rest, the capacity of nonprofit partners grows, and the infrastructure strengthens. Simply put, compassion, creativity, and focus come naturally when you are well rested.

Funding sabbaticals is a radical act of care to grantee partners. Research has proven that sabbaticals are effective and transformational to the organization and individual. The Durfee Foundation, a long-time leader in funding sabbaticals, has evaluated their sabbatical program and found that three-month sabbaticals can be a “lever for whole systems change” as they impact the personal, structural, and systems level of an organization. Key findings from their research include:

  • Rejuvenated leadership that reports greater confidence, improved personal and professional relationships, and new vision and passion for the work.
  • An increase in organizational capacity as the leadership team shares and understands the work in new ways.
  • Succession planning in practice, providing a dry run to test if leaders are interested in and capable of the CEO/ED position.
  • Strengthened board governance through participation in planning and supporting staff throughout the process.

In our own sabbatical program, we’ve seen time and time again that rejuvenated leaders return to the work renewed and ready to instill new wellness policies and procedures into their organization, shifting the culture of the organization from a top-down approach. Our partners often return to the office ready to implement their own sabbatical policy to benefit their staff.

We envision a world where all grantmakers commit to funding transformative staff wellness. With philanthropic support, nonprofit partners are ready to make it possible. If you’re on the journey to making this shift, here are five steps to get your sabbatical grant program started.

  1. Consider how you will prioritize individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
  2. Develop your grant program to be supportive of the applicant.
  3. Recruit and apply.
  4. Approve and disperse funds.
  5. Celebrate!

Read the full article about funding sabbaticals by Abby Siegel Hyman at The Center for Effective Philanthropy.