Non-Profit Leaves: a Sampling of Programs

Year started: Offered every other year since 1993

Location: 18 weeks in residence at the foundation’s Baltimore headquarters;

remainder of time spent at seminars and working at non-profit groups

Eligibility: Participants must be nominated. Open to mid-career professionals with at least 10 years experience working to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and families.

Number of applicants: About 100 individuals are nominated each year for 10 slots.

Length of fellowship: 11 months

Compensation and benefits: Participants receive payments equivalent to their current salary plus 5 percent, up to $80,000; minimum compensation is $50,000. Other benefits include a living allowance during their stay in Baltimore, health insurance, travel expenses, an office at the foundation, and use of a laptop computer and Internet access for one year.

What participants do: Fellows participate in training sessions to improve their skills, such as learning to work with the news media or plan a meeting more effectively and attend five weeklong seminars across the country focused on how to be better leaders, and build strong organizations.

How many have gone back to their jobs: Of the 29 fellows to date, four initially returned to their organizations. Currently, however, none hold the same job as when they started: Two of the four now have more senior jobs at the same organizations; the other two left later for new jobs elsewhere.

Application deadline: April 28

For more information: Donna Stark, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 701 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, 21202; (410) 547-6600; fax (410) 223-2956; e-mail webmail@aecf.org; World-Wide Web http://www.aecf.org

Year started: 1982

Location: Chicago; fellows can also use their fellowships to travel.

Eligibility: Fellows must work for a non-profit or government organization in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Number of applicants: About 110 people apply for 2 to 3 slots.

Length of fellowship: From 3 to 15 months; determined by the individual fellow.

Compensation and benefits: Up to $100,000 which covers salary and fringe benefits; it can also be used for travel or study. Some money can also be used to compensate the individual’s organization for the loss of their time.

What participants do: They are expected to undertake a self-directed course of study, travel, or find other ways to reflect on ways to improve their organizations.

How many have gone back to their jobs: About 50 percent return to their jobs and 50 percent leave.

Application deadline February 2001

For more information, contact: Marie Whelan, Chicago Community Trust, 222 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 1400, Chicago 60601-1009; (312) 372-3356; fax (312) 580-7411; e-mail info@cct.org; World-Wide Web http://www.cct.org

Year started: Originally offered in 1990 on a one-time basis. Started as a formal program in 1997.

Location: Participants may spend their sabbatical anywhere.

Eligibility requirements: Must be the full-time leader of a non-profit social-service or arts organization who lives and works in Los Angeles County and must have worked a minimum of seven consecutive years at a non-profit group

Number of applicants: 40-45 apply for 6 slots

Length of fellowship: Two to five months

Compensation and benefits: A $25,000 grant is awarded to cover salary, benefits, and any expenses for travel or other activities.

What participants do: No restrictions; grant recipients travel and undertake other activities.

How many have gone back to their jobs: 16 of 18 fellows have returned to their jobs since the program began.

Application deadline: April 9, 2000

For more information, contact: Claire Peeps, Executive Director, the Durfee Foundation 1453 Third Street, Suite 312, Santa Monica, Calif. 90401; (310) 899-5120; e-mail admin@durfee.org; World-Wide Web http://www.durfee.org.

Year started: 1990

Location: The Windcall Institute, a retreat center located outside Bozeman, Mont.

Eligibility requirements: Must have at least five years of experience as a social activist.

Length of fellowship: 2-4 weeks, as requested by applicant.

Compensation and benefits: Participants stay at the center free. A travel stipend covering approximately two-thirds of the cost of travel to and from Windcall is also provided to most recipients.

What participants do: Fellows can go horseback riding, hike in a national forest, and participate in other outdoor activities. The center also has two art studios, and small writing areas with computers.

How many have gone back to their jobs: The institute does not keep track, but says most return to their jobs

Next application deadline: April 10, 2000.

For more information: Sue Hutchinson, Common Counsel, 1221 Preservation Park Way, Suite 101, Oakland, Calif. 94612; (510) 834-2995; fax (510) 834-2998, e-mail ccounsel@igc.org; World-Wide Web http://www.commoncounsel.org/windcall.html