Working in a nonprofit is meaningful and rewarding work for most of us. But let’s be real – it’s also a fast-track to burnout and overwork as we try to create a world that is better for everyone. Enter the sabbatical: a solution backed by research that can help staff and directors recover, refuel, and revitalize their creativity and enthusiasm.
Sabbaticals are not the most common in the nonprofit sector, but they are a great way to mitigate burn out. The key is in the planning—starting a fund to pay for the time off as well as the extra work put in by staff to cover and preparing and training staff to be able to handle anything that might come up during that time.
In today’s episode, we’re chatting with Hayden Dansky, co-founder and co-director of Boulder Food Rescue, who recently took a three-month sabbatical. They’re sharing how their organization was able to plan and secure funding for the sabbatical, how they spent their time off, and the benefits they found during their time off and upon returning to work with more confidence and creativity. Slowing down in a society that rewards overworking can be tough, but it’s absolutely vital to the health and wellness of both nonprofit employees and organizations.
What’s in this episode:
- [03:12] How sabbaticals can help with employee burnout, and a small study on the benefits of sabbaticals in the nonprofit sector
- [06:56] Hayden’s experience with taking a sabbatical from the nonprofit where they work, and how the organization received funding
- [11:45] The importance of rest when you’re overworked, ideas for starting a sabbatical fund within your organization (for CEO and other staff), and paying staff for staff’s extra labor during a leadership sabbatical
- [17:59] How Hayden spent their three-month sabbatical on a mix of travel, “life administration,” and alone time
- [21:50] How a sabbatical gives you an opportunity to slow down in a capitalist, white supremacist society that values overworking and overscheduling
- [28:59] How long it took Hayden to fully disconnect, what it was like going back into work after their sabbatical, and the tangible benefits of the sabbatical
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Resources Mentioned
The Durfee Foundation: Do-It-Yourself Sabbatical Guide for Nonprofits, with Sample Policies
A big thanks to our sponsors for this episode on sabbaticals: Brittny Wilson Consulting and Mission Launch, and to Jake Walker Music for our theme song!