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Rachel Gelman

February 17, 2026

Rachel Gelman is a community organizer and philanthropist who works to build and resource social movements that fight for a world where all beings can thrive and live in alignment with one another and the planet. She is the founder of the Willow Fund and serves on the board of the Walter and Elise Haas Fund. She was a founding member of Climate Cousins, a project that grants money to organizations worldwide working to stop climate change. She has worked for various social justice nonprofits, including Jewish Youth for Community Action, Showing Up for Racial Justice, and Resource Generation. She received a BA from Wesleyan University. She lives in Berkeley, California, with her partner and kids.

Recent Posts

The Green Transition Cannot Be Built on Poisoned Rivers 


June 15, 2026 – By Pianporn (Pai) Deetes

Goldman Prize winners participated in a six-day march in Thailand to raise awareness about polluted rivers. The issue is complex, as the contamination is linked to mining for metals that are essential to renewable energy production.

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How Women Past and Present Drive the Environmental Movement


June 9, 2026

Women are increasingly leading grassroots environmental campaigns around the world. Discover why this is no coincidence.

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A Q&A with Sarah Finch on Reshaping Climate Policy in the UK


May 19, 2026

The Goldman Environmental Prize sat down with UK climate activist Sarah Finch to discuss her motivation to take on Big Oil, and her tenacity to see a multi-year judicial battle through to the finish line.

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