2026 Cohort Members
NEW YORK (March 6, 2026) – Galaxy Gives, the philanthropic arm of the Mike and Sukey Novogratz family, proudly announces the 2026 cohort of Galaxy Leader Fellows, an accomplished group of advocates, organizers, artists, lawyers, educators, and writers who are collectively charting the way toward a more just, caring, and compassionate society.
The 17 members of this year’s cohort — the seventh cohort since the program’s launch in 2019 — are based in nine different states across the country and are taking on some of the most challenging issues of the day. The cohort includes advocates working to expose and address the nexus between gender-based violence and incarceration; artists deploying their craft to help us understand how this country’s culture of punishment and control has impacted our lives; educators who aim to uplift some of the most promising methods for addressing harm and promoting accountability in our communities; and organizers looking to draw upon local knowledge and expertise in developing responses to violence and crime.
“As we are witnessing in real time, this country has lost its way, in terms of how to best achieve safety in our communities,” said Aliyah Salim, Director of the Galaxy Leader Fellowship. “But we also clearly see, now more than ever, the need to make sure that the people devoting their lives to justice and fairness are well-supported and are given the time, space, and resources to show us a better way."
The Galaxy Leader Fellowship was founded to support directly-impacted and visionary leaders who are dedicated to transforming the U.S. criminal legal system. The two-year fellowship gives these leaders the opportunity to delve into their work, deepen their skills and connections, and maximize their impact.
To support their work, fellows’ organizations each receive a grant of $150,000, with the fellows also receiving additional resources to address their professional growth and development. The Galaxy Leader Fellowship seeks to elevate the visibility and capacity of those most directly impacted by this country’s carceral policies and practices, recognizing that their leadership must be central in any effort to bring about change. The fellowship also looks to ensure that leaders in this sector have what they need to sustain themselves and carry on the work for years to come.
Since its founding, the fellowship has dedicated more than $14 million to support those on the front lines in this struggle. This year, the Galaxy Leader Fellowship is especially pleased to salute its partnerships with the Crank start Foundation, the Navigation Fund, the Porticus Foundation, the Meadow Fund, and the Mellon Foundation — which together build on efforts by other philanthropic organizations that have in recent years collaborated with Galaxy Gives to further a common agenda that advances justice, heals our communities, and transforms our future.
“We know that there are real, attainable and common-sense solutions for achieving safety, healing and care in our communities – solutions that do not involve harsh, costly, and stigmatizing punishment. And in so many ways, Galaxy Leader Fellows are the embodiment of what is possible,” said Sukey Novogratz, Founder and Co-Chair of Galaxy Gives. “We’re proud to support them and are excited to see them continue to grow and thrive.”
To learn more about the Galaxy Leader Fellowship, please visit our website galaxygives.com/fellows or send an email to GLFellowship@galaxygives.com