Grants to Colorado nonprofit health organizations to provide sabbaticals for their executive leaders. Directors, tribal administrators, and CEOs of selected nonprofits will take a hiatus from work and receive subsidies for salary and benefits. At the same time, the nonprofit grantees will receive funding for interim leadership needs and staff capacity building. The purpose of the program is to provide an opportunity for nonprofit leaders to rejuvenate, thereby strengthening the organizations for which they work and improving health and health equity throughout the state.

Successfully leading a nonprofit in today’s world takes endless dedication and time. Yet, nonprofit leaders are often so committed to their missions that spending time away to re-energize can be an afterthought. The Nonprofit Sabbatical Program aims to recognize and reward long-term and respected nonprofit leaders in Colorado and strengthen the organizations they lead by offering funds for interim leadership and staff capacity building. The program offers nonprofit executives the opportunity to step away from professional responsibilities and take time for themselves for rejuvenation. Ideally, the executive returns to their professional life with new ideas and a fresh sense of commitment to their work, the nonprofit sector as well as the health and health equity of all Coloradans.

The sabbatical award is made in the form of a grant for charitable support and includes:

1. Grantee executive to take three-to-four month hiatus for activities of their choice to reflect, rest and rejuvenate:
• Up to $20,000 for sabbatical activities (e.g., personal activities such as travel or wellness activities)
• Between $25,000-$55,000 subsidy for salary and benefits (dependent on current salary)
2. Grantee interim leadership needs (individual or a team):
• Up to $10,000 to support interim leadership needs while grantee is away on sabbatical
3. Grantee staff capacity building needs:
• Up to $15,000 to help strengthen staff capacity (e.g. professional development, staff well-being, etc.) within the grantee organization to be used during the sabbatical period or up to two years after receipt of the award

Organizations will need to demonstrate how staff have been involved in determining the use of these funds to ensure that they are used for employee-directed needs

In addition to providing funding for the above sabbatical activities, the program also includes a one-month executive-in-residence at the Foundation. The executive-in-residence is designed by program grantees and Foundation leadership and staff as a mutually beneficial co-learning experience. Learn more at https://youtu.be/X7ogs3_slhc.

For Program Expectations, see the URL for Full Text below. 

The program includes a TA provider to support both interested applicants and awarded grantees.