Ever wonder if it’s time to step back in order to move forward?
Have you considered a mid-career sabbatical?
Could be a month. Could be a year. Could look like deep rest, a full pivot, or just enough space to ask better questions.
Nick Martin pulled together 13 funded programs that make space for reflection, reinvention, and recommitment to purpose.
And even if none are a perfect fit, they’re a powerful reminder: stepping back is a choice you can make. To unplug. Rethink. Recalibrate. Reimagine your life’s work.
Why It Matters:
In the hustle of civic service and nonprofit work, burnout is real. Sabbaticals and fellowships aren’t just about taking time off—they’re about resetting purpose, rediscovering creativity, and reimagining impact. These programs support the long arc of social change by creating space to step back, reflect, and re-engage with greater clarity.
Alignment with The Change Lab:
This curated list supports our Reflection & Personal Values and Civic Identity frameworks by helping users explore periods of structured pause as part of their civic journey. These programs emphasize regeneration, lifelong learning, and cross-sector collaboration—values core to Change Lab’s mission to build a more just and connected society.
Upcoming 2025 Deadlines
MacDowell Fellowship (Fall/Winter)
A storied creative retreat in New Hampshire for writers, composers, and artists.
📅 Deadline: September 10, 2025
🔗 https://www.macdowell.org/apply/apply-for-a-fellowshipRadcliffe Fellowship at Harvard – Humanities/Social Sciences/Arts
A fully funded year for bold thinkers & doers from diverse fields.
📅 Deadline: September 11, 2025
🔗 https://radcliffe.harvard.edu/radcliffe-fellowship/applyRadcliffe Fellowship – Science & Technology
Same incredible program, STEM focus.
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2025
🔗 https://radcliffe.harvard.edu/radcliffe-fellowship/applyObama Foundation Scholars Program
A year-long leadership development program in NYC or Chicago.
📅 Opens: October 2025
🔗 https://www.obama.org/programs/scholars/AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships
For scientists and engineers shaping federal policy.
📅 Deadline: November 1, 2025
🔗 https://www.aaas.org/programs/science-technology-policy-fellowshipsO2 Sabbatical Award (Bay Area)
$50K for you, $15K for your team. One of the most generous sabbatical awards out there.
📅 Deadline: August 13, 2025
🔗 https://www.sff.org/o2-initiatives/Rasmuson Sabbatical Program (Alaska)
Rest and reset for long-serving nonprofit and tribal leaders.
📅 Opens: June 20, 2025
🔗 https://www.rasmuson.org/grants/sabbatical/
🗓️ Estimated Early 2026 Deadlines
New America Fellows Program
For public interest researchers, storytellers, and change agents.
📅 Est. Deadline: February 2, 2026
🔗 https://www.newamerica.org/fellows/fellowship/MacDowell Fellowship (Spring/Summer)
Same incredible retreat, March–August residencies.
📅 Est. Deadline: February 10, 2026
🔗 https://www.macdowell.org/apply/apply-for-a-fellowshipRockefeller Bellagio Center Residency
A month in Italy for artists, academics, and changemakers.
📅 Est. Deadline: March 24, 2026
🔗 https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/bellagio-center/residency/Eisenhower Fellowships Global Program
6-week immersive leadership experience for mid-career professionals.
📅 Deadline: May 16, 2026 (Spring 2027 cohort)
🔗 https://www.efworld.org/Atlantic Fellows Programs
Global equity-centered fellowships focused on long-term impact and connection.
📅 Varies – many open Fall 2025
🔗 https://www.atlanticfellows.org/programs
🌱 BONUS
Know another program like this? Drop it in the comments.
Tag someone dreaming of a break, a shift, or a season to breathe.
And if this resonated—SAVE and SHARE widely.
Engagement Level:
Level 1 – Awareness & Access
Level 2 – Exploration & Expression
Pathways:
