Restoration Week: A Retreat Designed for Nonprofit Leaders Who Give Everything
They run your local library. They keep your symphony alive. They steward museums, theatres, conservatories, and the cultural institutions that hold communities together — especially during uncertain times. And quietly, they are burning out.
The data is impossible to ignore. The Center for Effective Philanthropy reports that 95% of nonprofit leaders express concern about staff burnout, while one-third say they are "very much" concerned about their own burnout. The National Council of Nonprofits finds that 50.2% of nonprofits identify stress and burnout as significant contributors to workforce shortages and retention challenges. And Gallup's latest workplace research shows that employee engagement has fallen to its lowest level in over a decade — a trend nonprofit workforce experts warn is deepening the crisis of morale and turnover inside mission-driven organizations.
These are the people who have sustained my career over the decades. That reality made the question personal: How do I give back?
That question led to Restoration Week.
What Is Restoration Week?
Restoration Week is an evidence-based residential retreat — five days and four nights — deliberately designed to facilitate personal and professional renewal for nonprofit leaders.
The program is grounded in the DRAMMA Model, a research-backed framework for wellbeing and recovery. Each day weaves together guided group reflection, structured introspection, and unscheduled space — because recovery doesn't happen on a packed agenda.
And the setting matters. Columbia, NC is the ideal host for this kind of work.
Why Columbia — and Why Blue Juniper Inn?
Columbia offers something increasingly rare: meaningful quiet without isolation. There are few distractions, yet the town and surrounding landscape offer an abundance of restorative possibilities.
For those drawn to movement and nature:
Biking and hiking through the region's stunning coastal terrain
Kayaking on the water
A peaceful walk along the Scuppernong Nature Trail at Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
For those who need stillness:
Relaxing on the Inn's wraparound porch
Slowly savoring a specialty coffee at Inner Banks Mercantile or Black Dirt Coffee and Café
For those craving creative expression:
A metalworking class at Pocosin Arts / School of Fine Craft
A tour of the historic Columbia Theatre
Picking and arranging flowers at Sand in Bloom
Blue Juniper Inn anchors it all — a beautifully appointed space where participants feel genuinely cared for, fed well, and free from logistical worry.
The Inaugural Restoration Week: April 26–30
Restoration Week launched in partnership with Partners in Performance and its Impetus initiative. The inaugural gathering brought together nonprofit leaders from across the country, including a museum director from Michigan, an orchestra CEO from Virginia, a dean from Savannah College of Art and Design, and others.
Here is what participants said:
"I appreciated the facilitation and guidance in the daily meetings. John did an excellent job asking thoughtful follow-up questions that helped draw out additional insights from all of us and get to the heart of the issues we were discussing."
"Columbia was actually lovely. I LOVED that local businesses were a part of the experience — the arts center, shopping, yoga, all of it. Made it so purposeful and intentional."
"I was able to find space to think, and breathe; to connect and listen; to learn about others, and to question my own assumptions of what I am 'good' at or what I 'am supposed to do.'"
"The Blue Juniper Inn is such a beautiful space. Each room is nicely managed, and well situated. I felt well fed and cared for and appreciated not having to think about it!”
Join Us for the Next Restoration Week
We learned a great deal from our inaugural gathering, and we are already incorporating those insights into future programming. If you are a nonprofit leader who is ready to rest, reflect, and return to your work renewed — this retreat was made for you.
Click here to learn more and sign up for early bird notification about our next Restoration Week.
Restoration Week is hosted at Blue Juniper Inn in Columbia, NC, in partnership with Partners in Performance and the Impetus initiative.
