“Recognizing good stewardship but with an eye toward continuous improvement, [Sam Watts] articulately challenges his CBNP compatriots to strive for excellence ... Eloquent tough love for nonprofit leaders.”
--Kirkus Reviews
“I met Sam Watts several years ago when, as Mayor, I proposed a high-priority plan to end homelessness in our city. The great Maya Angelou once said that “people will forget what you said and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I truly believe that Sam has a great impact on people because of his values, his altruism and his humanity. He leaves no one indifferent. When a person decides to give back to the community by placing their experience and talents at the service of the less fortunate it is commendable. Sam has taken a further step by encouraging us to change the way we think about the community-based non-profit sector. He also offers a breath of fresh air and new ideas for those who work in the sector and are seeking better outcomes and lasting solutions. Good Work Done Better is a must read.”
—The Honourable Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal from 2013-2017. Denis served from 1997 to 2013 as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Bourassa in the Canadian House of Commons and held a number of different ministerial portfolios in the governments of Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin
​“I can vouch for the principles, orientations, and pointers contained in this book. They have been applied in my own organization for the past decade and I can confirm they work. They move the yardsticks. They make us stronger. They challenge, enlighten, and engage. Community organizations have an obligation and an accountability to those we serve and to those who choose to support us whether they are donors, foundations, or public institutions. Take Sam’s book and run with it! You won’t be sorry.”
​—Matthew Pearce, President and CEO, Old Brewery Mission. A recognized leader in the Montreal community, Matthew has been the CEO of OBM for more than twelve years and has also served on a variety of boards in the non-profit sector
“Community-based non-profit organizations operate on a daily basis in our society, grappling with difficult social problems and trying to serve vulnerable people in our midst. As a rule, they rarely find the time to step back and reflect on their mission and their outcomes. Sam Watts believes this must change, and in this insightful book proposes many avenues to improve how CBNPs operate. He calls for an end to “patch work” charitable efforts, and calls for a much stronger emphasis on research and outcomes if we are going to achieve lasting change. This book should be read by all who work and volunteer in these organizations and those people interested in finding solutions to the social issues we face.”
​—Geoff Kelley, former Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (2005-2007, 2011-12, and 2014-2018). Geoff was elected to seven consecutive mandates as a Member of the Quebec National Assembly for the riding of Jacques-Cartier from 1994-2018
“As the leader of a community organization, my experience is that putting the principles in place that Sam Watts has outlined in Good Work Done Better guarantees significant, positive and measureable impacts and outcomes. We need to be bold and Sam puts forward bold solutions for us to embrace. Community Based Non-Profits are quick to address societal gaps, but slow to change many of their own practices, even though a change of practices would more effectively impact client outcomes.  We have traditionally been rooted in volunteerism, but we operate in continually changing and evolving environments and need to be nimble in order to adapt. CBNPs are regularly publicly criticized if they are not perceived to be doing more with less.  In no other sector are organizations expected to operate in starvation cycles, and, in fact, are rewarded for doing so.  This has had an enormous impact on how we are perceived by the public, media, donors, influencers and decision makers.  It negatively affects our ability to achieve meaningful and lasting results for those we assist. Our traditional reliance on government funding, with philanthropic help to fully address the needs of our client bases, often puts us in a “master-servant” relationship that is detrimental to achieving outcomes needed to do the right thing – which in some cases means putting ourselves out of business because we’ve solved the issue.  We need to be unapologetic about resourcing our sector properly and putting people in positions with the appropriate skills and abilities to solve these issues, as opposed to being satisfied with band aid solutions.  It’s the only way that we that will improve the lives of those we assist; those who need us the most.”
​—Deirdre Freiheit, President & CEO Shepherds of Good Hope and Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation, a well-respected community-based non-profit serving the city of Ottawa
“Good Work Done Better is required reading for any member of the media who wants to have a better understanding of how community-based non-profit organizations operate as well as to better understand the challenges these organizations face. Sam Watts presents solutions to long-standing problems that are well reasoned, well argued, and make sense. I hope that people read this book and see that change for the better is possible.”
​—Dave Kaufman, radio host, CJAD 800 and creator of the Kaufman podcasts
“Good Work Done Better respectfully challenges many of our preconceived ideas and invites us to examine a fresh approach – one that will help us address the complex social problems of the 21st century. Sam Watts invites us to reconsider a variety of assumptions about the way the community-based non-profit sector should operate. He also provides some interesting, actionable ideas. These ideas will help everyone who cares about the vulnerable and disenfranchised to move away from a purely charitable approach and move towards a problem-solving approach. My personal favourite was the key takeaway from the “Good Samaritan” story. Addressing a crisis isn’t enough! To be truly helpful we must accompany those in need to a safer place and provide for a continuum of care”
​—Sybil Dahan, President, Altius Healthcare. Chair of the Board of ANEB, a community-based non-profit organization that provides support for people who struggle with eating disorders 
“I routinely get to observe hundreds of community-based non-profit leaders doing faith-focused work in the social justice sector. Sam Watts is one of them—but he is in a special class. Sam “gets it” on a completely different level. He understands that life transformation efforts must supersede disaster-relief work. He grasps the importance of collaboration without compromise in community initiatives. I have observed first-hand what’s happening at Welcome Hall Mission. It’s quite amazing. Sam pulls in the interest of politicians and patrons and people from every walk who want to help because he pushes the envelope with his honest assessments and creative solutions. And now, Good Work Done Better puts it all out there for others who want to follow a similar path to serving the poor and powerless.”
​—John Ashmen, President and CEO of Citygate Network. Founded in 1913, headquartered in Colorado, it has 300 member organizations across North America. Annually, its members serve approximately 66 million meals, provide more than 20 million nights of shelter and housing, and assist some 45,000 people in finding employment
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