Dr. Barbara Harman Receives the 2026 New Futures Award

At Night Out with New Futures on June 5, 2026, New Futures will proudly honor Dr. Barbara Harman with the 2026 New Futures Award in recognition of her extraordinary leadership and lasting impact on communities across the Washington, DC region.

For decades, Barbara has been a champion for community-based nonprofits and equitable access to opportunity. Through her leadership, philanthropy, and advocacy, she has helped strengthen pathways to economic mobility and long-term community impact for countless individuals throughout the DMV.

About the New Futures Award

The New Futures Award recognizes individuals and institutions whose leadership and service have expanded access to postsecondary education and created pathways to life-sustaining careers for young adults across the DC region.

Recipients of this prestigious award represent an incredible group of changemakers whose work has positively shaped our communities over the years. Previous honorees include Dr. Maurice Edington of the University of the District of Columbia, Dr. DeRionne Pollard of Montgomery College, chef and humanitarian José Andrés, Antonio Tijerino of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, Don Graham of The Washington Post and TheDream.US, Anthony Carnevale of Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, and Katherine Bradley of CityBridge Education.

To receive this award is to join a distinguished community of leaders whose vision and advocacy have helped expand opportunities for young people throughout our region.

A Champion for Community

As Co-Trustee of the Harman Family Foundation and its longtime Executive Director, Barbara has spent decades investing in organizations that strengthen communities and create access to opportunity. In 2003, with support from the Harman Family Foundation, she founded the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington, now known as Spur Local.

Through this work, Barbara helped elevate high-impact local nonprofits and generate more than $70 million to fuel their growth and impact across Washington, DC.

Her leadership has consistently reflected a deep belief in the power of community organizations to create meaningful, lasting change. Through her service, generosity, and advocacy, Barbara has helped strengthen the nonprofit sector throughout the DMV and positively impacted countless lives.

We are deeply grateful for Barbara Harman’s extraordinary leadership and honored to recognize her as the recipient of the 2026 New Futures Award.