Our History
Founded in Seattle, Washington in 1998 by Elaine Nonneman, the Channel Foundation supported grassroots leadership for its first several years. Starting in 2005, the Foundation focused its grantmaking on women’s human rights.
Elaine Nonneman
Elaine Nonneman passed away in late 2024. Our memorial page includes photos and tributes from partners.
Select Past Grantees, 1998-2005
Organization listed by Focus Area.
Population, Poverty and Gender Equity
Indigenous People Rights
Conservation of Biodiversity, Protection of Indigenous Peoples Land Rights, Sustainable Economic Development
Women’s Leadership Scholarship (WLS)
The Women’s Leadership Scholarship (WLS) program (formerly the Native Leadership Scholarship) supported non-doctoral graduate education for women activists, grassroots leaders, and organizers from the Global South and/or from Indigenous groups. Between 2001 and 2009 Channel invested in remarkable leaders studying human rights, sustainable development, and public health in many places around the world. The program supported 40 women leaders from around the world and, prior to 2005, also supported 12 male recipients.
“The human rights of women and of the girl-child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights. The full and equal participation of women in political, civil, economic, social and cultural life, at the national, regional and international levels, and the eradication of all forms of discrimination on grounds of sex are priority objectives of the