Does One Bio Fits All?

Should I have separate bios for my career and my volunteer work? 

Yes.

Your bio should speak to a specific group of people and written for a particular purpose.
 
Today, it is common for a person to have multiple activities and responsibilities in his or her life.  One person can have several versions of his or her bio for various audiences–career or business, academic, hobbies and volunteer work. 

Therefore, the bio should be written to focus on the audience that will read or hear that bio.  Trying to have one general bio that includes all your activities is just too much information and will turn people off or bore them. 

If you are being honored for your charitable work then using a bio that only focuses on your career achievements is not suitable for that setting.  In this case, the primary message and focus of your bio should be about the ways, places and capacities that you have worked in and for charitable organizations with the minor emphasis on your career and other areas of your life. 

The most important rule to remember when drafting your bio is to always write it for your audience.