Letters to (not always of) Joy

Canada’s voluntary sector does a magnificent, even enviable job of taking care of others. People know that the voluntary sector is trustworthy and that it understands the needs of Canadians. At the same time, Canada’s voluntary sector does a particularly bad job of taking care of itself. While this focus on others is one of the hallmarks of the voluntary sector—and is, indeed, a requirement to become a charity—it puts one in mind of “the shoemaker’s son.” The problem is that the hole in that shoe is getting larger all the time. Across all aspects of the sector, voluntary organizations are being asked to do more work all the time—whether that work is finding volunteers, raising dollars, or actually delivering service. Often, senior managers and board members will refer to the fact that they are always “fighting fires.” (excerpt pp xiii)