Leadership Sabbatical Program

Leadership Sabbatical Program is sponsored by Rasmuson Foundation. This program provides $50,000 grants to cover salary and expenses during a leadership sabbatical, supporting the personal growth and renewal of nonprofit CEOs or tribal executives.

About the Sabbatical Program | Rasmuson Foundation The Sabbatical Program provides leaders (tribal administrators and nonprofit CEOs/executive directors) with time away from the office for rest and personal renewal. Applications for 2027 sabbaticals close on June 16, 2026.

Tribal/nonprofit leaders can serve their organizations better and remain in the sector longer when they have an opportunity to take extended time away to refresh and reflect on their work, gain insight into what they want to accomplish, and renew their personal energy.

According to a 2016 study supported in part by Rasmuson Foundation, sabbaticals help leaders return to their jobs with renewed enthusiasm while also encouraging organizations to nurture up-and-coming talent within their ranks. Learn more about the Sabbatical Awards in this recorded presentation. Program Officer Lindsay Hammer goes over what the program is, who is eligible, what the sabbatical grant be spent on, and more.

Download the Funding Basics – Sabbatical Awards Slides Awarding personal renewal This grant is centered on the leader’s personal renewal, which is unique to each person. Activities dedicated to renewal may include travel, personal enrichment, time for reflection, or rest. Awards are not intended for medical leave, professional development, or academic study but rather to prevent burnout and promote long-term leadership sustainability.

Leaders are not allowed to enroll in degree-seeking courses during their sabbatical or take other classes to advance their professional careers. Grants of $50,000 support sabbaticals of 90 to 120 continuous days. Leaders are expected to step away from their organizations fully for the duration of the sabbatical.

The grants are awarded to the organization for the payment of the leader’s travel/activities, and to compensate/support the interim team covering the work of the leader while they are on sabbatical. The organization is responsible for disbursing the funds to the leader to be used for sabbatical activities and handling all related payroll/tax issues. All About Sabbatical Awards What are the eligibility requirements?

The organization must be an Alaska 501(c)(3) nonprofit or tribal entity for at least one year at the time of application. The leader must be a full-time (at least 35 hours per week) nonprofit executive leader or tribal administrator.

The leader must be an Alaska resident with at least seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector or with a tribal organization and at least five years of experience in their current leadership position. An individual who already received a Rasmuson Foundation Sabbatical Award is not eligible for an additional award. If my organization creates a qualifying nonprofit or tribal entity, do my previous years of service still count?

Your tenure at the non-qualifying organization would be considered as part of the seven-year requirement and would not re-set with the new designation of tax status. Award and Sabbatical Details What is included in the Sabbatical Award and when does it occur? The Sabbatical Awards include grants of up to $50,000 to support 90-120 continuous days .

The majority of funds are intended for the sabbatical recipient’s personal expenses and travel. Up to 10% of the total award may be allocated to the organization to support interim leadership or staffing during the executive’s absence.

Examples of personal expenses and travel: Rentals and reservations including cars, hotels, and Airbnb’s Meals and incidentals (including parking and other fees incurred during the sabbatical) Applications submitted in 2026 would be for sabbaticals taking place in 2027 . Can funds be used for family members’ travel and expenses? No. The grant cannot be used to cover the cost of family members’ flights.

However, it may be used for meals, rental car, vacation home, etc. or other reservations that cover family members, if they are made primarily for the Sabbatical Program recipient and are under the recipient’s name. What can’t the Sabbatical Award be used for?

There are several things that the Sabbatical Award cannot be used for: Tangible items and capital purchases Professional development and education Flight tickets for anyone other than the sabbatical recipient Reservations and rentals that are not primarily for the sabbatical recipient and not made under the recipient’s name Is the organization required to pay the leader’s salary during the sabbatical? Yes.

The applying organization is expected to continue the executive’s salary and benefits during the sabbatical period. The grant is designed to supplement personal sabbatical expenses, not replace salary. Can more grant funds cover salary if my position is government funded?

Ten percent of the Sabbatical grant award can go to the organization; if more than 10% is needed, further justification needs to be provided in the application. What commitments are required from the organization and leader? The organization must continue paying the leader’s salary and benefits during the sabbatical.

The organization’s board of directors and interim team must support the leader taking a sabbatical. The leader must be relieved of all organizational obligations for the duration of the sabbatical and be allowed to fully step away from the organization. The organization must identify an interim leader who will manage the organization in the leader’s absence.

The leader must return to their role at the organization for at least one year after the sabbatical. Within 90 days of completing the sabbatical, the leader must provide the Foundation with a written report on the benefits of the time away from work and any challenges faced. Photos and videos are encouraged.

Is technical assistance available during the sabbatical? Yes. Awarded organizations receive technical assistance from partner providers, The Foraker Group and the Alaska Tribal Administrators Association (ATAA).

These partners provide coaching, training, monthly check-ins, re-entry planning support, and general insight through the whole process of the sabbatical, from award to closing. Technical assistance from these organizations is available as a resource to the awarded Tribe or nonprofit at no cost. Who is on the Sabbatical Awards panel?

A Rasmuson Foundation Sabbatical Awards panel includes board members and past sabbatical awardees. What documents are required with the application?

The required documents for the Sabbatical Award application include: A signed board or tribal council letter of support A detailed personal sabbatical budget, including how you plan to use your time, where you intend to travel, etc. Identification of interim leadership What makes a strong application?

Panelists look for applications that clearly demonstrate: The executive leader and tribal administrator’s readiness and need for a sabbatical Thoughtful organizational preparation and delegation Strong board alignment and leadership planning Applicants are discouraged from emphasizing salary details in their narrative.

Note: A sabbatical will not be awarded if the panel concludes that the organization would be unable to sustain itself in the leader’s absence. How do I apply for a Sabbatical Award? Applications can be done online through the Grants Login page using your organization’s account.

If your organization does not have an existing account in our grants system, then you will need to create one. Applications for 2027 sabbaticals close on June 16, 2026 Any questions about the Sabbatical Award can be directed to sabbatical@rasmuson. org .

Can I talk to someone about my application? Yes! Applicants are encouraged to schedule time with a program officer for questions about the program including eligibility, budgeting, interim leadership planning, application process, and more.

This can be done through the Foundation’s booking webpage . Emails about the Sabbatical Awards can be sent to sabbatical@rasmuson. org Applications for 2027 sabbaticals close on June 16, 2026 80 degrees, 80s music, 80 mph For Bobbi Leichty, her 2018 sabbatical changed the course of her life.

Mariya Lovishchuk, executive director of the Glory Hall shelter program in Juneau, Alaska, says she had been going at full speed for years before receiving time off through a sabbatical award in 2022. Time to breathe, rest and learn Darlene Supplee said the time away gave her “time to breathe, learn, rest,” so she could return to Alaska stronger and better.