The document outlines both the strengths and weaknesses of the voluntary sector. The key strengths are its roles in service delivery, innovation, advocacy, expressive and leadership development, and community building. However, it also notes weaknesses such as particularism, paternalism, issues with amateurism or professionalism, insufficient resources, and accountability gaps. The document references literature on the nonprofit sector to support its analysis of the voluntary sector's impact.

1. The State
(Public Agencies)
The Market
(Private Firms)
The Community
(Households,
Families)
Public
Private
Voluntary
Sector
Source: Evers & Laville, 2004
Public sector
mutuals etc
Civil society

2. The voluntary sector’s strengths…
1. The Service delivery role
• Quality; equity; efficiency; specialisation
2. The innovation role
• New ways of working, meeting new needs
3. The advocacy role
• Independence from government and market; ‘linking’ role
4. The expressive & leadership development role
• Guardian of public values, culture & traditions; enable individual expression
• Encourage leadership development
5. The community building role
• fostering trust and reciprocity to build communities and support economic growth
Source: Salamon et al (2000) The nonprofit sector: for what and for whom

3. …and our weaknesses
1. Particularism
• Hostility to broader public interest
• Discrimination/exclusivity of action
• Policy development that reinforces inequality
2. Paternalism
• Use policy/services to reinforce dependence of beneficiaries/users
3. Excessive amateurism or professionalism
• Ineffective contribution to policy development through lack of time or understanding of process
• Inability to scale-up contribution
• Professional capture – lack of user involvement
4. Resource insufficiency
• Capacity least where policy problems most severe
5. The accountability gap
• Ineffective accountability mechanisms
• Board oversight often weak
Source: Salamon et al (2000) The nonprofit sector: for what and for whom