Announcing our 2025 Clare Rose Sabbatical Recipients
Investing in Leadership. Strengthening Organizations. Building a Vibrant Nonprofit Community.
Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego and the Clare Rose Foundation are proud to announce the 2025 recipients of the Clare Rose Sabbatical Program:
Jen Nation and Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center
and
Ben McCue and Outdoor Outreach.
These outstanding leaders have been selected to receive a fully funded sabbatical experience, designed not only to provide them with a period of personal renewal but also to support a comprehensive capacity-building experience for their entire organizations. The grant includes funds to provide salary and benefits for the leader for the three months they are away, development opportunities for those leading in the absence of the executive director, additional compensation for those leading, and a consultant to help with the planning, execution and return phases of the program. Jen and Ben were selected from a rich candidate pool by a committee comprised of past Clare Rose Sabbatical-Takers, including Fiona Chatwin, Tanya Danielly, Renato Paiva, Pauline Martinson and Barbara Reuer. Past sabbatical-takers also participated in the surprise announcements to welcome the newest members of our Clare Rose Sabbatical Community.
Since its inception, the Clare Rose Sabbatical Program has recognized that the sustainability of nonprofit leadership requires intentional rest, distributed leadership, and organizational resilience. By focusing on both the individual leader and the wider organization, the program strengthens the leadership bench, fosters innovation, and enhances long-term effectiveness. Fieldstone and the Clare Rose Foundation joined forces in 2014 to offer the Clare Rose Sabbatical Program as part of the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego. To date, we have provided nearly 40 sabbaticals to nonprofit leaders across San Diego, resulting in stronger, more adaptive organizations and communities.
Meet the 2025 Recipients
Jen Nation
Executive Director, Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center
Located on a 7.85-acre historic property in National City, Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center has been a hub for health, environmental, and community education since 2008. Under Jen’s leadership, the organization has deepened its commitment to its mission to nourish communities and cultivate a deep connection to the environment through nutrition education, sustainable urban agriculture, collective advocacy, and intergenerational leadership.
This work supports a bold vision of a community free of diet-related health conditions and a thriving environment.
Jen brings more than 20 years of nonprofit experience to her role and holds degrees in nonprofit administration and nonprofit leadership. She is dedicated to building healthy, engaged communities and fostering long-lasting relationships, both locally and beyond. The sabbatical will allow Jen and her team to further develop leadership capacity within the organization and continue Olivewood’s tradition of community-rooted impact.
Ben McCue
Executive Director, Outdoor Outreach
Since 1999, Outdoor Outreach has provided life-changing experiences to more than 20,000 San Diego youth, connecting them to the transformative power of the outdoors. The organization’s mission is clear:
To connect youth to the transformative power of the outdoors, with a vision for an outdoors for all that inspires and sustains healthy, vibrant communities.
Ben joined Outdoor Outreach in 2013, bringing his passion for environmental equity and youth development to the organization. Under his leadership, Outdoor Outreach has expanded its reach and strengthened its commitment to making nature accessible to all youth, regardless of background or barriers. His recent recognition with the Prebys Leadership Award affirms the impact of his work.
Through the sabbatical, Ben and his team will focus on enhancing leadership throughout the organization, investing in professional growth and long-term sustainability, and ensuring Outdoor Outreach continues to thrive as a platform for youth empowerment.
Looking Ahead
The next application cycle for the Clare Rose Sabbatical Program is anticipated to open in January 2027. During this interim period, Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego and the Clare Rose Foundation will undertake a thoughtful evaluation and restructuring of the program to ensure it continues to meet the evolving needs of nonprofit leaders and organizations.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jen Nation and Ben McCue, and to the entire teams at Olivewood Gardens and Outdoor Outreach, for their remarkable leadership and deep commitment to community. We expect that their sabbatical journeys will strengthen not only their organizations but the entire fabric of San Diego’s nonprofit sector.
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