Life | Work | Style [1] • July 31, 2008 • Email [2] Print [3]

Bostonian Kristin Barrali of the Nonprofit Quarterly [4]posed this hilarious question: Why do men in the nonprofit sector wear such bad shoes?  Our three favorite reader responses are below (note: this photo and the third photo are of real nonprofit men wearing their real shoes; their names and organizations are being kept anonymous for their protection).

Men in nonprofits wear such bad shoes because we have transcended the need to be judged by our outward appearances. That's why we drive bombed-out cars, live in tiny houses, and rarely go see "the Lion King" on Broadway when we are in New York for a nonprofit conference. Or it could be that we are willing to do a tremendous amount of work for diddly pay and our spouses don't have the time to be our fashion consultants because they are working two jobs to pay the mortgage. ...or is that just me?? -- Ken Dall (see his shoes to right), Prevention Network [5], Lansing, Michigan

The wonderful, superbly talented artistic director and conductor of our nonprofit choral arts organization . . . wears clogs! The running joke is that if there is enough money in the budget at the end of the season, we will buy him a new pair of clogs! He also wears "engineer-striped" bib overalls - over his tuxedo shirt and pants - in the hour or so before a concert. This protects his clothing while he adjusts the risers, microphones, and warms up the musicians. The combination of clogs and overalls is a real hoot! -- Diane Campbell, Boise Master Chorale [6] [7]

Why do women in the nonprofit sector care about our shoes? -- Tim Wolfred, CompassPoint Nonprofit Services [7]

Readers: post your comments below!