About the Sabbatical Program

The Black & Indigenous Resistance Fund’s Sabbatical Program has been created for executive leaders who identify as Black and/or Indigenous and who lead social justice organizations rooted in BIPOC communities in Massachusetts. The Sabbatical Program offers these leaders the opportunity to take space and time for reflection, review, and renewal, absent the stress of financial concerns and operational demands. The sabbatical program is also committed to helping to support the applicant organization’s needs during the sabbatical period. 

Program Goals: 

• To recognize and reward committed Black & Indigenous nonprofit leaders by providing them with an extended break from their work for professional and personal rejuvenation.
• To support participating organizations in fostering a sustainable leadership environment.
• To support the skills development and capacity of executive-level staff at participating organizations.
• To promote the well-being of and reduce stress & potential burn-out of organizational leadership
• The sabbatical program will grant the host organization $25K to support salary, TA, and other organizational needs for the duration of the sabbatical.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered:

• 
  Be an executive level Black and/or Indigenous leader at  a justice/equity centered or community service oriented organization rooted in a BIPOC community in Massachusetts
• Have served in a leadership position at your organization for a minimum of 3  years
• A minimum of 51% of your organization’s  leadership (executive leadership, management and trustees/board) identifies as BIPOC

Why is a sabbatical program necessary for Black and Indigenous leaders?

The Black & Indigenous Resistance Fund believes in the liberating and rejuvenating power of “rest as resistance” (a term made popular by activist, artist, theologian, and author Tricia Hersey). 

We understand that Black and Indigenous communities, organizations, and leaders suffer greatly under capitalism, white supremacy, gender violence, environmental racism, and the lingering & persistent impact of this country’s history of genocide and enslavement. 

It will take intentional, strategic, and ongoing coalition building, grassroots engagement, leadership development, resource development, organizing, advocating and agitating to achieve reparative justice, restitution and redress. 

To achieve these goals, we must look to, work with, support, trust and amplify Black & Indigenous leadership and voices. Black & Indigenous leaders are tasked with developing solutions to the deeply entrenched racial, ethnic, gender and economic inequities in our society, while having to navigate these inequities daily. This work is exhausting. We risk losing these leaders to burnout if they don’t have the ability to periodically take time away to reflect and rejuvenate. With this understanding, and in partnership with justice centered philanthropy, we have developed the BIRF Sabbatical Program.

Information about the Sabbatical Program:

During the 2024-2025 year, the BIRF Sabbatical Program will support four Black & Indigenous leaders.

The sabbatical program will grant the host organization $25K to support salary, TA, and other organizational needs for the duration of the sabbatical. We will provide a directory of BIPOC consultants who have been vetted by BIPOC led social movement organizations.We will be available throughout the sabbatical period to provide movement infrastructure support for any new and/or emerging needs.

Apply online at:  Candidates for the B.I.R.F Sabbatical Program Grant can apply online at https://forms.gle/uqjrLc47pk2N1dUN8, www.blackmc.org, or contact Jason Boyd of the Black Mass. Coalition for further information. Applicants will be reviewed by the Black & Indigenous Resistance Fund Advisory Committee.

Timeline: 

•  We will be accepting applications until August 17th, 2024. Applicants will receive email confirmation of their submission.
• Review, deliberation and candidate conversation process  will be September - October 2024
• Announcement and grant disbursement November 2024

The targets we developed were the result of many conversations with organizations from across the state. Here are some of the members who have signed on in support of this initiative. This list will grow as more organizations gain the support of their leadership and/or membership.

• Black Economic Council of Massachusetts
• Boston Ujima Project
• City Life/Vida Urbana
• Families for Justice as Healing
• King Boston
• North American Indian Center of Boston
• Young Abolitionists
• Next Leadership Development