Our Greatest Asset in Any Season
December 10, 2025by Victor Valentine, CEO of NHSA
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” — Mother Teresa
As we move into the heart of the holiday season, I’m reminded that the greatest asset in any organization—especially in ours—is not a program, a strategy, or a budget line. It’s people. The nonprofit workforce shows up every day with compassion, resilience, and a commitment to strengthening communities, even as they carry their own personal and family responsibilities. This time of year can amplify pressures for both those we serve and those who serve alongside us. As leaders, we have a responsibility to ensure our teams are supported, valued, and cared for in ways that reflect the humanity of our mission.
Prioritizing employee well-being is not an optional gesture—it’s a strategic imperative. Simple, intentional actions like offering flexible schedules, creating space for rest, acknowledging extraordinary work, and checking in on how staff are really doing can make a profound difference. When we safeguard the well-being of our people, we sustain the impact of our organizations. This season offers us an opportunity to model what service leadership truly means: putting people first so that our teams—and the communities we serve—can thrive.
On behalf of all of us at the National Human Services Assembly, we wish each of you—and the teams who make your work possible—a season of peace, restoration, and connection, and a bright start to the new year ahead.