Sabbaticals for Nonprofit Leaders: How to Lean Into Authentic Self Care
July 30 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Virtual Workshop – Live/Online
Fee: $50 for MCN members / $70 for nonmembers
At this session you’ll learn how to develop an authentic culture of self-care that will deliver benefits to the organization and to the leader. We’ll take you from adopting a policy, to preparing and running the organization through the sabbatical, to returning to lead the organization. Tonya Brownlow will share her recent experience guiding Emma Norton Services through an Executive Director sabbatical – continuing its critical community services while allowing her time and space to reset her leadership approach and bring a rejuvenated commitment back to the organization and role. She’ll be joined by her Interim ED Amy Brendmoen from Mighty Consulting who will share her insights on managing and leading through a sabbatical transition. Engage with these two leaders who will convince you that in these stressed and stretched times, the question isn’t whether your organization can afford to provide a sabbatical, it’s more a question of can it afford not to.
Learning Outcomes
- Learn how to create organizational buy in and board buy in for sabbaticals
- Learn how to budget for sabbaticals
- Learn how to plan and prepare for sabbaticals
- Learn how to select an interim executive director
- Lean how to successfully transition out and then back in
Event Details
This virtual event will take place on the Zoom platform.
Your access link will be emailed to you the day before the event after 12 p.m.
This session will be recorded. The recording will be made available to registrants after the live event.
Captioning is provided automatically through Zoom. For information on requesting CART, ASL, or another accommodation, please visit our Registration Policies page.
To learn more about events, registration, and payment, visit our Event & Registration FAQ page.
Speaker Information
Amy Brendmoen is a skilled leader and consultant with an extensive background in executive leadership, government relations, and communications. She served as a Saint Paul City Councilmember from 2012 to 2023 and as Council President from 2017 to 2024, where she led budget negotiations, managed a 21-person staff, and advanced equity-centered economic development and planning initiatives. Through her firm, Amy Brendmoen Strategies, and partnerships with organizations like Mighty Consulting, she supports clients in public relations and leadership strategy. Amy has also held interim executive roles at MAVA and Emma Norton Services and currently serves on the board of the Saint Paul Port Authority. Her career also includes launching the Rice Larpenteur Alliance in 2015 and leading communications for Children’s Home Society & Family Services 2009 to 2012, a $30 million nonprofit.
Tonya Brownlow, MSW, LISW has led Emma Norton as its Executive Director since 2014. Her passion and vision for the organization is to create an environment of self-care and recovery for anyone who walks through its doors on their life journey – including clients, staff, volunteers and community members. Prior to Emma Norton, Tonya had over 20 years of experience working in social services, serving children, families, and single adults. Since 2003, she has focused her efforts on serving those experiencing homelessness for various agencies offering emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing to single adults in Hennepin County. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Social Work from St. Catherine University/University of St. Thomas in 2003.
