Sabbatical Program
Sustaining nonprofit leaders with paid time away from work for personal rejuvenation
Nonprofit leaders in North Carolina work tirelessly to improve their communities.
ZSR’s Sabbatical Program offers experienced nonprofit leaders up to six months of paid time away from work to rest, restore their energy and find renewed inspiration — allowing them to return to their organizations with fresh ideas and momentum.
Awardees are encouraged to share leadership across their organizations during their absence, which can enhance organizations’ capacity in the long term.
A total of $40,000 is awarded for each sabbatical: $30,000 goes to the awardee so they can reflect or renew in whatever manner they propose, and $10,000 goes to their organization to help prepare for the awardee to take time away.
The program began in 1990 and awards up to five sabbaticals every other year, with the most recent awarded in spring 2026.
We are not currently accepting applications for this program.
Sign up for our email list to be informed of the next cycle.
Who Should Apply?
This program is for experienced nonprofit leaders in North Carolina.
Individual candidates for this program must:
- Be in paid, full-time, executive-level positions at a North Carolina nonprofit
- Have served their North Carolina nonprofit organization for at least three years, two of which in an executive level position*
This program is not intended for public school, college, university or government employees; hospital administrators; or full-time clergy.
*Preference is given to individuals with at least five years of service with their organization.
When and How to Apply
Sabbatical Program awards are granted once every other year, typically in the spring.
Applying involves submitting an application and, for selected applicants, having an interview with a committee of ZSR staff, trustees and former sabbatical recipients.
So you can prepare, we’ve provided a sample application below:
Every other year, we open Sabbatical Program applications to any eligible nonprofit leader.
Here is the typical timeline:
- Fall: Application opens
- Early winter: Application closes
- Late winter: Select applicants interview with Sabbatical Committee, which includes ZSR staff, trustees and former sabbatical recipients.
- Early spring: ZSR Sabbatical Committee determines awardees; applicants notified
The last application closed in January 2026. We expect to open the next application in the fall of 2027.
Funding and Requirements
ZSR provides financial awards to Sabbatical Program awardees and their organizations.
Here are the details of the award.
- Recipient organizations decide whether to continue to keep sabbatical recipients on their payroll during their time away.
- Regardless of this decision, ZSR provides a total of $40,000 to each sabbatical awardee: $30,000 is paid to the awardee so they can reflect or renew in whatever manner they propose, and $10,000* is paid to their organization to help prepare for the sabbatical recipient to take time away.
*Of the $10,000, at least $5,000 must go toward activities that will enhance the recipient’s entire organization, e.g., staff retreats, team building exercises, mentoring opportunities, and/or other activities to support the staff. - Awards are subject to federal and state income taxes.
Sabbatical Program FAQs
All Grants + Programs FAQs
A ZSR sabbatical is a three- to six-month period during which nonprofit leaders take a leave of absence from the organizations at which they work. Sabbatical recipients use this time to engage in non-professional development activities of their own choosing to aid in personal renewal and growth.
While on sabbatical, award recipients travel, study, read, reflect, rest, and/or explore interests unrelated to their field of work. Sabbatical funds may be spent in any way that leads to the rejuvenation and self-revitalization of the nonprofit leaders who participate in the program.
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Community Progress Fund
Providing short-term grants for local groups to improve their communities
Sabbatical Program
Supporting nonprofit leaders with paid time off to rest and recharge
Statel-Level Systemic Change
Funding nonprofits working to create systems that benefit all North Carolinians
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