Our Commitment to One Another
The WOCA Sabbatical Fund was created for WOCA members to divest from capitalism and lean into rest. The fund currently provides a six (6) month, paid period of rest for WOCA members with no expectations of labor or to produce “work.”
The WOCA Sabbatical Fund was created to help combat the enduring burnout that women leaders of color disproportionately experience. WOCA witnessed women of color leaders being pushed out of the field and workforce at alarmingly high rates from exhaustion, burnout and sometimes, death. We wanted to develop a vehicle of mutual aid for our community care. We understood that no-one was coming to save us. We knew our commitment was to one another.
Developed Out of Necessity
The WOCA Sabbatical fund was developed directly from the critical needs of our community. From both lived experience and empirical statistics, there is clear data that shows that women of color, in their natural and professional leadership roles, commonly carry the weight of managing and shepherding communities, organizations, institutions and movements - often to their own detriment. That, coupled with the cumulative impact of systemic racism and sexism on women of color, our health and well-being is regularly compromised. As an organization and as a community, WOCA is pushing back against the systems that bind women of color to the endless cycle of productivity without rest. We rest because it is our right.
Intentional Design
The Sabbatical Fund was designed with the intention to provide women of color in the arts a much-needed reprieve for a personal and professional reset. The program offers financial support, coaching, wellness resources, and community-building opportunities to ensure that recipients can disengage from the pressures of capitalist productivity, prioritize their health and wellness, deepen personal relationships, and develop creative practices. This comprehensive program is tailored to honor rest as a critical component of wellbeing and as a transformative act of resistance. empowering participants to unearth renewed energy, vision, and purpose. The Sabbatical Fund empowers women of color in the arts, offering time and resources for healing, rest, creativity, and reflection.
We are honored to be in community with you. To engage with the WOCA Sabbatical Fund, you must hold a current WOCA membership.
If you're reconnecting or utilizing our membership resources for the first time, start by renewing or activating your membership through our membership WOCA Membership Portal.
Not yet a WOCA member? Become a member today!
Once your membership is activated or renewed, you will be able to access the Sabbatical Fund application inside our WOCA Membership Portal.
Honor Rest as a Practice of Refusal and Reclamation
The Sabbatical Fund empowers women of color in the arts, offering time and resources for healing, rest, creativity, and reflection.*
$60,000 Direct Grant
Financial stability through structured support distributed over six months.
Wellness Resources
Access to tools and practitioners for ancestral care and cultural wisdom.
Cohort Gatherings
Opportunities to connect with peers for reflection and relationship building.
*There is no expectation for The Sabbatical Fund recipients to produce or present any work during their participation.
TIMELINE
Application Open Period
November 17, 2025 through January 19, 2026
Application Deadline
Monday, January 19, 2026
Informational Webinar
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 3pm ET
Selection and Notification
February 2026
Sabbatical Start Date
April 2026
Sabbatical End Date
September 2026
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
What is The Sabbatical Fund?
The Sabbatical Fund is a three-year initiative that provides paid rest periods, coaching, and cohort support for women of color in the arts. It is a practice site to test rest-centered policies, gather learning practices, and share models that advance cultural and organizational repair.
Who is eligible to apply?
Current dues-paying WOCA members (or those with an approved dues waiver) who have maintained non-continuous
membership for at least two years and are U.S. citizens or hold permanent resident status in the U.S. (Green Card Holder).
What makes someone eligible beyond membership?
Applicants must show active engagement in at least one (1) WOCA activity such as attending programs, serving on committees, participating in peer circles, or supporting events.
What does “active engagement” include specifically?
Activities such as attending or presenting at WOCA events, sitting on planning committees, participating in peer workshops, co-hosting convenings, or contributing to internal member working groups.
How long do I need to be a WOCA member before applying?
You must have maintained active WOCA membership for at least two years at the time of application; these years do not need to be consecutive.
Can I apply more than once?
If you are not selected, you may re-apply in future cycles as long as you remain eligible. If awarded, the sabbatical can only be received once.
When does the next application window open?
The next application cycle will open on November 17, 2025, and close on January 19, 2026.
When will decisions be announced?
Applicants will be notified after the review process concludes. Grantees are formally announced in March/April 2026.
What documents or information do I need to prepare before applying?
Prepare a reflective narrative that includes your:
● lived experience
● rest-readiness
● sabbatical intentions
● current caregiving responsibilities
● planned support if awarded the sabbatical
Who reviews the applications?
Applications are reviewed by an intergenerational panel of WOCA members who bring lived experience, cultural insight, and field-based knowledge into the process. This panel uses a standardized rubric to assess each applicant’s readiness for rest, alignment with WOCA values, and evidence of active engagement in the WOCA community.
How much funding do selected recipients receive?
6-month sabbatical recipients receive $60,000.
How are the funds disbursed?
Grant funds are distributed in three payments: 40% at the beginning of the sabbatical, 30% midway, and 30% upon completion.
Are the sabbatical funds taxable?
Recipients are encouraged to consult a tax professional based on their personal circumstances, as these funds may be taxable.
Can I work during my sabbatical?
Paid labor is NOT allowed during the sabbatical period. The intention is to fully step away from professional obligations.
Can I volunteer during my sabbatical?
Limited, unpaid, low-stress volunteer activities are acceptable as long as they do not interfere with your rest goals or the no-paid-labor policy.
What support will I receive beyond the grant?
Monthly coaching sessions, two virtual cohort gatherings, and one in-person retreat are included to support rest, integration, and collective care.
For further inquiries or any questions, please feel free to reach out to The WOCA Sabbatical Fund Team.
For further inquires or any questions, please feel free to reach out to The WOCA Sabbatical Fund Team.
