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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

There's No One Way to Stand Up for Nature


August 31, 2026

Environmental activism doesn't follow one strict blueprint. Discover four of the tactics that Goldman Environmental Prize winners have used to make a lasting difference.

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Five Environmental Terms Explained


August 4, 2026

Read on to discover five key terms shaping the environmental movement of 2026.

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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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