Channel Foundation
Channel Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington. It supports organizations and projects championing women’s human rights and feminist movements, with a focus on advancing human rights and gender equality globally.
Channel Foundation at a glance
In short: Channel Foundation gave $575K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $575,000
- +300.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +360.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,000
- -12.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $14,504,114
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (39% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Channel Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. New proposals are considered by invitation only. It makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 84246, Seattle, WA 98124
Phone: (206) 850-5251
Website: https://channelfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Channel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Women Win Foundation - N Amer ($75K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $300K.
Grant Size Distribution
172 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 105 grants of 172 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its work as supporting feminist movements around the world. Its grantee listings cover North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia. In 2025, the largest reported shares of grant dollars by recipient state were New York (39%), District of Columbia (13%), Washington (9%), and Oregon (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Channel Foundation gives
- Giving fell 70% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 126% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $144K (2024) to $3.8M (2023). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $575K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Asia Feminist LBQ Network Foundation | Human Rights and Inclusion of LBQ Persons | $25,000 |
| Assoc for Women's Rights in Development | Fiscal Sponsor for Alliance for Feminist Movements | $25,000 |
| Climate 2025 Ltd | Fiscal Sponsor for Substratum Initiative | $25,000 |
| Femena USA Washington, DC | Women Human Rights Defenders in the Mena/Asia Regions | $25,000 |
| Global Justice Center New York, NY | Gender Equality via International Law | $25,000 |
| Haitian Women's Collective Inc Brooklyn, NY | Fund for Hatian Women | $25,000 |
| Inroads Spokane, WA | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Mobility International USA Eugene, OR | Women's Empowerment Programs | $25,000 |
| Numun Fund | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Outright International New York, NY | Leadership and Rights of LBQ Women | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Channel Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $14,504,114 | $2,008,673 | $915,981 | $575,000 | 23 | $812,123 | $193,351 | $642,815 |
| 2024 | $12,887,860 | $1,104,502 | $465,187 | $143,500 | 5 | $393,281 | $1,018,764 | $611,446 |
| 2023 | $12,141,720 | $979,810 | $4,086,387 | $3,779,281 | 51 | $4,001,362 | $880,297 | $635,655 |
| 2022 | $14,594,975 | $326,911 | $2,247,954 | $1,930,000 | 44 | $2,153,174 | $181,123 | $844,725 |
| 2021 | $19,081,590 | $9,341,928 | $2,217,506 | $1,923,175 | 49 | $2,132,951 | $1,002,320 | $599,915 |
| 2020 | $12,132,801 | $2,572,789 | $1,658,093 | $1,345,000 | 33 | — | $1,439,954 | $552,748 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Channel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $643K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s grantmaking promotes leadership in international women’s human rights. Its stated focus areas include advancing Indigenous women’s rights and leadership; ending violence against women and protecting women human rights defenders; eradicating legal inequality; promoting the rights of women with disabilities; strengthening women’s funds; amplifying gender equality in media and technology; supporting women’s participation in peacebuilding; feminist crisis response; sexual and reproductive rights and justice; and women’s leadership and human rights institutes.
The foundation lists support for legal, legislative, and policy advocacy; capacity, network, and coalition building; human rights education and leadership development; seed grants; sustainable activism and integrated security; and training on multilateral engagement. Its website says grants have ranged from $2,000 to $50,000. It does not fund individuals, service-delivery projects, programs promoting religious beliefs, or capital or electoral campaigns.
Among its grantees, the Global Justice Center describes itself as a legal human rights organization using international law to achieve gender equality and dismantle systems of oppression. Mobility International USA says it empowers people with disabilities worldwide to achieve their human rights through international exchange and development. Outright International describes its work as advancing human rights for LGBTIQ people around the world.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $575,000. Each listed grant was $25,000, the median grant was $25,000, and the foundation’s website states that grants have ranged from $2,000 to $50,000.
Examples of 2025 grants include $25,000 to Global Justice Center for gender equality via international law; $25,000 to Mobility International USA for women’s empowerment programs; $25,000 to Outright International for the leadership and rights of LBQ women; and $25,000 to Peace Development Fund as fiscal sponsor for Women Living Under Muslim Laws. Other grants included $25,000 to Panorama Global as fiscal sponsor for Gender Funders Collaborative and $25,000 to Inroads for general operating support. Peace Development Fund describes its mission as promoting peace and social justice through partnerships with community-based organizations and social justice movements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Katrin Wilde as trustee and executive director.
Channel Foundation is led by Katrin Wilde, Trustee & Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020) — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Katrin Wilde
Trustee & Executive Director
Executive Director → Trustee & Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$110K (2020) → $135K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Elaine Nonneman (2020–2024) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $135K, to Katrin Wilde (Trustee/Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Channel Foundation
How much does Channel Foundation give each year?
Channel Foundation gave $575K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $144K across 5 grants.
What is Channel Foundation's typical grant size?
Channel Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $25,000, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Channel Foundation give grants?
Channel Foundation's top state is New York, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (13%) and Washington (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Does Channel Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 30% of Channel Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Channel Foundation's largest grantees?
Channel Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Women Win Foundation - N Amer ($75,000 across 3 grants), Asia Feminist LBQ Network Foundation ($25,000) and Assoc for Women's Rights in Development ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Channel Foundation?
Channel Foundation reported $14.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $812K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $643K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Channel Foundation fund?
The foundation’s grantmaking promotes leadership in international women’s human rights. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Channel Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Channel Foundation's EIN?
Channel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-6478055. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Channel Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Channel Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
American Jewish World Service Inc
New York, NY
American Jewish World Service funds grassroots and advocacy organizations advancing human rights and ending poverty, with a focus on sexual health and rights, civil and political rights, land and climate justice, and humanitarian response. Its international focus is Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean; listed grants ranged from $9,500 to $562,865, with a median of $25,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$78.9M
Grants
31
Total Given
$2.2M
Foundation to Promote Open Society
New York, NY
The Foundation to Promote Open Society funds organizations advancing human rights, civil society, democratic practice, equity, research, and education, with grants spanning the United States and six global regions. In 2024, its grants ranged from $5,000 to $44.9 million, with a median of $257,214. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$10.8B
Grants
738
Total Given
$481.5M
Foundation for a Just Society
New York, NY
The Foundation for a Just Society funds organizations and networks advancing the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQI people and working for gender and racial justice, locally, nationally, regionally, and globally. Its 2024 grants had a median of $125,000, with awards ranging from $100 to $1.1 million. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
357
Total Given
$63.1M
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund Inc
New York, NY
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund supports human rights and social and economic justice, including work on climate, the environment, civic engagement, and Jewish causes, in the United States and internationally. Its 2024 grants had a median of $200,000, with amounts ranging from $500 to $9.75 million. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests; it plans to end grantmaking by the end of 2028.
Assets
$134.4M
Grants
1,101
Total Given
$326.0M
Humanity United
San Francisco, CA
Humanity United funds systemic-change work in forced labor and human trafficking, peacebuilding, racial justice and equity, and public engagement, including journalism and policy work. It works globally, typically gives about $150,000, and reports annual grantmaking of roughly $18 million to $20 million. Requests are by invitation only; it does not accept unsolicited proposals, though its Asia-Pacific Seafood Supply Chains team accepts limited inquiries for closely aligned work.
Assets
$15.4M
Grants
209
Total Given
$16.7M
Open Society Institute
New York, NY
The Open Society Institute funds organizations and individuals advancing democracy, human rights, equity, and justice, including work on civic engagement, independent media, and digital rights. Its 2024 grants had a median of $15,000, though awards ranged widely, and it supports work nationally and globally. Application processes vary by program; most grants go to groups approached directly, and the Latin America and Caribbean program rarely funds unsolicited proposals.
Assets
$5.4B
Grants
559
Total Given
$146.9M
More similar funders
More Funders in Washington
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Channel Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/channel-foundation-morg_c2decdec6fb440289cfec3a830c5a0fb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_916478055_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Channel Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/channel-foundation-morg_c2decdec6fb440289cfec3a830c5a0fb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Channel Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Channel Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?