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.

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.

What’s in this episode:

[03:12 ] How sabbaticals can help with employee burnout

[06:56 ] Hayden’s experience with taking a sabbatical from the nonprofit where they work, and how the organization received funding

[11:45 ] 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 afterward, and the tangible benefits of the sabbatical

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://thenonprofitreframe.com/

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