About Us
Bluhm Forward was founded with a clear vision: to bridge the critical information gap faced by boards of directors in nonprofit organizations when hiring executive leaders.
This gap often leads to mismatches between an organization’s needs and the skills, experiences and interests of its new leader, hindering the nonprofit's potential and impact, and setting new leaders up for failure.
Julie Bluhm's journey as the founder of Bluhm Forward began when she accepted the role of CEO at a nonprofit. During the hiring process, the organization was described as entering a phase of rapid growth, with an established infrastructure and a strong leadership team in place. However, she quickly faced a completely different reality:
Most of the leadership team had departed, and the infrastructure required a complete overhaul. This unexpected challenge became a pivotal moment, revealing a systemic issue that she soon realized was not unique to her experience.
Since then, Julie has repeatedly encountered similar stories from other nonprofit leaders who faced significant discrepancies between the job they accepted and the reality they encountered on day one. It became clear that navigating a leadership transition without a clear understanding of an organization's operational strengths and challenges was a daunting task, and when done poorly, it can have serious consequences for the organization.
Bluhm Forward emerged from this recognition. The approach is twofold: First, we provide a comprehensive visualization of an organization’s current state to identify the strengths and qualities required in a new leader. This clarity enables a more informed and transparent recruitment process. Second, we leverage the leadership transition as an opportunity for organizational development, guiding teams through a process that encourages reflection, assessment of the current state, and envisioning the future, resulting in excitement and anticipation for the new leader’s arrival. Finally, we support the organization after the new leader’s on-boarding through coaching support for both the new leader and the board.
Our Values
Authenticity
What you see is what you get. When you work with us, you will quickly feel like we've been colleagues for years. You can expect direct, clear communication, real-time observations and insights, and deliverables that will be consistent with what we have promised.
Courage
We will always deliver a candid assessment of your situation, and are comfortable with ambiguity, discomfort, and making difficult recommendations when necessary. We will guide your organization through the path you determine with clarity, empathy and decisiveness.
Sustainability
Successful nonprofits are sustainable both financially and operationally. Policies, workflows, processes and protocols need to be documented and maintained as tools critical for successful transitions. In addition to the assessment of financial stability, when you work with us, information will be passed on, work will be documented, and your team will be trained through this lens.