Empowering Utah's Brightest Nonprofit Leaders
Leaders in the Utah nonprofit sector work within a field that is historically underfunded and subject to conditions of unrelenting stress. The enormous demands of nonprofit leadership can often result in not taking much needed time away to recharge, as well as a lack of time or resources to foster the next bench of emerging leaders.
The Community Foundation of Utah’s (CFU) Sabbatical program was designed to deepen organizational resilience by pairing meaningful rest for senior executives with leadership opportunities for emerging leaders. This program was developed in response to CFU’s Utah Social Sector Leadership Assessment, and is grounded in research and practice showing that time away can replenish leaders’ energy, spark new vision, and create space for shared leadership within organizations.
The 2026 CFU Sabbatical Cohort will bring together Executive Directors/CEOs of Utah-based nonprofit organizations who have a clearly defined organizational capacity need they seek to address through the experience. This can include:
- Deepening strategic direction
- Strengthening staff leadership
- Advancing organizational innovation
Benefits of Sabbatical Participation:
- A two-week sabbatical for a nonprofit Executive Director or CEO to create space to explore strategic opportunities and recharge
- A $5,000 grant from CFU to compensate key staff, including the Executive Director/CEO, during the sabbatical period
- Immersion within a cohort of peers to share and explore the experience together
- An opportunity for another senior staff member to participate in CFU’s Invest in Success leadership development cohort
Qualifications for Sabbatical Participation:
- Executive Director/CEO of a nonprofit organization, predominantly focused on serving low-to-moderate-income individuals
- Executive Director/CEO must have served in their current role for at least four years
- Executive Director/CEO is passionate about organizational innovation, has a demonstrated track record of community contributions, and is highly collaborative
- Executive/CEO is eager to engage with initiative alumni and events over time
- The organization must have at least one additional senior staff member interested in developing their leadership potential
Leaders selected for the cohort will be convened for three to four in-person meetings over a six-month period leading up to the sabbatical, as well as for one in-person meeting afterward. Between July and December 2026, each leader will take a minimum two-week break, with a month-long break recommended, from daily responsibilities to rest, reflect, and consider new or different approaches to their organization’s most critical challenges.
CFU will provide a $5,000 stipend to support the cohort participant and key staff during the sabbatical period. The goal is for funding to defray costs for an initial two weeks of additional paid leave, with the respective nonprofit organization matching the balance of paid time off for a recommended month-long leave.
CFU will also offer a parallel track for participating organizations to nominate an emerging leader to join CFU’s Invest in Success program, equipping that staff member to assume expanded responsibilities while the executive is on leave. As part of this application process, the sabbatical candidate will also be asked to complete a series of questions regarding their nominee. By pairing meaningful rest with leadership development for both the executive and an emerging leader, the program aims to improve retention, deepen organizational resilience, and build a connected network of nonprofit leaders across Utah.
Past Participants
2023 Cohort
- Kasandra Verbrugghen, Executive Director, Spy Hop Productions
- Rich West, Chief Executive Officer, YMCA of Northern Utah
- Kendra Penry-Clutter, Executive Director, Stokes Nature Center
- Liz Owens, Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Utah
- Moe Hickey, Executive Director, Voices for Utah Children
- Jillian Olmsted, Chief Executive Officer, The INN Between
Nominate A Nonprofit Leader
Please complete the form below to nominate a nonprofit Executive Director or CEO to participate in the Sabbatical. Upon nomination, CFU will reach out to the leader with information on how to apply.
Applications
Applications for the 2026 CFU Sabbatical are closed.
For questions about the Sabbatical Initiative email
2023 Social Sector Sabbatical Report
Learn more about the pilot sabbatical program in the 2023 sabbatical report.
