Our work

The best way to understand what GoForth Partners does is to see it in practice. The work described here spans nearly four decades — building organizations, developing programs, securing funding, strengthening networks, and helping leaders navigate complex transitions. Every engagement is different, but the thread running through all of it is the same: mission-driven organizations getting stronger and delivering more.

Program spotlights

Two programs from the Clean Fuels Ohio years are worth spotlighting for what they demonstrate about program design, stakeholder engagement, and organizational impact.

Ohio Green Fleets

A data-driven certification and recognition program that helped public and private fleets document, demonstrate, and build on their commitments to cleaner, more fuel-efficient operations. Fleets embraced it because it made their progress visible — inside their own organizations and to the clients and customers who cared about it. That visibility built strong, lasting relationships between Clean Fuels Ohio and the fleets it served, which in turn made CFO more attractive to industry partners and opened the door to membership revenue and deeper industry engagement. Ohio Green Fleets was mission-aligned from the ground up — and it drove organizational growth at the same time.

Project CLEAR

A regional air quality initiative developed while at the Columbus Health Department — built around structured community deliberations that engaged residents, advocates, and stakeholders in identifying shared priorities and building commitment to action. Project CLEAR demonstrated the power of genuine community engagement as a foundation for lasting environmental progress, and informed the approach to stakeholder and community engagement that has characterized the work ever since.

What colleagues and partners say

Here’s what peers, partners, and colleagues report about working alongside GoForth Partners founder Sam Spofforth.

  • “We brought Sam to the U.S. Department of Energy because our country needed his proven experience and ideas to strengthen and grow Clean Cities into the force needed to deliver benefits of clean transportation in all communities. Sam provided exactly the leadership the network needed. Today, Clean Cities is larger and coalitions are more effective because of his work. He will make a difference for any motivated organization.”

    – Michael Berube, President & CEO, CALSTART

  • “Sam’s success over many years in building a powerful nonprofit has been an inspiration and model for so many of us in the Clean Cities and Communities network. He’s been a mentor to me and others. While at DOE, he used persistence, effective communications, and political skill to help us successfully navigate tricky challenges with another group in Colorado. I’m excited he’ll be able to actively support more coalitions and nonprofits through GoForth Partners.” 

    — Bonnie Trowbridge, Executive Director, Drive Clean Colorado

  • “Over many years working with Clean Cities and Communities coalitions across the country, Sam Spofforth consistently stood out — as a builder, a strategic thinker, and a genuine partner to the organizations he worked alongside. He has mentored many others in developing innovative, high-impact programs. He understands this network from the inside out, and as a thought partner, Sam helped NREL explore and implement new ways to support coalitions and advance our collective mission.” 

    — Wendy Dafoe, Senior Project Leader, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

  • “In 2024, our state government walked away from Iowa Clean Cities Coalition, but Sam’s intervention helped us turn this crisis into a golden opportunity. He reached out to me and other stakeholders, then facilitated development of a first-time coalition advisory board. He supported us as we identified, vetted, then selected a new host organization. Today, the coalition is newly energized and delivering the kind of impact Iowans deserve.” 

    — Allison Riley, Chair, Iowa Clean Cities Coalition Advisory Board

  • “As a long-time national and Michigan Clean Cities stakeholder, I’ve admired Sam Spofforth’s work across our southern border, then the impact he made at the DOE to grow and strengthen CC&C across the country. He brings people together across sectors, and has the knowledge and skills to help build strong organizations that last and deliver the results we need.” 

    — Beth Ardisana, Owner, ASG Renaissance, and President, NextEnergy

  • “My co-director, leadership, and I deeply appreciate Sam’s support and guidance to help us get our new coalition off the ground. Certainly, he brings strong organization-building expertise. But even more than that, he was always approachable, warm, and accessible. Sam believes in us and our mission in what can feel like a forgotten part of Texas. We always knew he was in our corner.” 

    — Melisa Gonzales-Rosas, Director for South Texas Clean Cities and Communities

  • “As a fleet leader, I always valued and enjoyed working with Sam Spofforth and his team at Clean Fuels Ohio. Beyond his strong technical knowledge, it’s Sam’s way of working — always focused on listening and understanding our goals and needs, rather than coming in with predetermined solutions. I’m confident Sam will work with GoForth’s clients using this same collaborative approach — building trust and confidence, then delivering results.” 

    — Taki Darakos

Ready to talk about your organization?

Whether you’re navigating a challenge, building something new, or simply curious about what working together might look like — we’d welcome a conversation.

Get in touch →